Dosage wise, add one teaspoon of the salt to one cup of warm water. Then gently wash the hot spot and dry with a soft towel. Repeat the process a few times a day.
If your dog allows you to touch the affected area, you can temporarily treat hot spots at home by cleaning the area with warm water and applying a saltwater solution to the lesion to gently draw out pus.
The most effective treatment for an uncomplicated hot spot is a mild steroid/antibiotic cream, which you can purchase over the counter. Neosporin is an effective and safe ointment to use on dogs, but the biggest problem is that most dogs will lick creams off if not watched closely.
Salt water can be used to treat itchy, allergic skin, on your dog, or skin affected by parasites such as fleas. You can make salt water at home, or head out to the beach if you live near the ocean, to get your dog his saltwater fix.
What should I clean the wound with? Warm tap water is recommended for cleaning most wounds. Warm saline (salt solution) may also be used. This may be made by adding approximately one level teaspoonful (5 mL) of salt (or Epsom salts) to two cups (500 mL) of water.
Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic used on dogs to remove unwanted bacterial or fungal growth from the skin. It can be used for a number of reasons, from keeping wounds clean to treating skin infections.
Natural antiseptics include turmeric, coconut oil, aloe vera and witch hazel. For a spicy antiseptic concoction that will also help with inflammation—and prevent licking, because most dogs don't love the smell—mix turmeric from your spice cabinet with aloe vera in a 1:1 ratio and smooth it on the scrape.
Magnesium, calcium, and potassium are all skin-friendly minerals that can be found in sea salt. These minerals are great benefits of salt water since they help combat acne-causing bacteria and skin infections, as well as speed up the healing process.
To apply betadine on your dog, gently wipe the wound with a washcloth saturated with the betadine solution. You can do this up to twice a day for minor sores or skin infections. One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it's ingested.
Use a mild soap and water solution and rinse the area well. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, as these can actually delay healing. Once the wound is clean, you will want to apply an antibiotic ointment or cream. This will help to prevent infection and will also help the wound heal faster.
Topical antibiotics, desiccating sprays, and soothing reagents will be more effective when applied to a clipped, clean skin surface. Oral antibiotics and steroids/antihistamines may also be in order for serious hot spots.
For painful, dry or healing hot spots use a calendula and goldenseal spray. To make your own spray, add 15 drops of each tincture to one cup of water. Use the mixture to mist your dog's hot spots 3 to 4 times a day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
It has a plethora of benefits, including aiding skin problems and hot spots. I have found that raw, unpasteurized ACV, helps relieve the actual itching part the fastest. Simply take a Q-tip or cotton ball and dab some apple cider vinegar onto the irritated skin.
It often takes about a week after treatment begins for a hot spot to dry out and begin to heal. Once a hot spot is dry and no longer oozes, continue to keep the area clean and dry. In about two weeks, your dog's fur will begin to grow back.
Disinfecting the Hot Spot
Most veterinarians recommend using povidone-iodine (brand name Betadine®). This is an organic iodine with no side effects and does a good job controlling most skin bacteria. Apply the solution directly to the hot spot.
Savlon's Antiseptic cream is a form of topical medication that can be used for minor-wound care and cuts. It helps with the healing process and prevents infections from developing. If there is a scrape or cut on your dog's skin, you should be able to use this over-the-counter antiseptic cream as a one-off.
Dettol Can Be Toxic To Animals.
If available, apply a small amount of antiseptic wound cream such as Savlon or Germolene to prevent infection. Do this just prior to a walk or feeding to distract your pet from licking it off. Prevent your pet from grooming the area using a Buster collar, T-shirt or sock, depending on the area affected.
Salt draws water out of the tissues in a process called osmosis- causing a 'drying' effect. When the salt concentration is high enough, salt kills bacteria through effectively sucking the water out of the cell.
She actually advises not to let salt water into open wounds — and here's why. Not only will it majorly sting and burn, but there may also be germs in seawater that could actually make your cut worse, Dr. Jen notes. "You could get bacteria in [the cut]," she tells us.
This is why it's important to create a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution for cleaning a wound. For each part of 3% hydrogen peroxide, use 3 parts water. So for example, you could mix one tablespoon of 3% strength hydrogen peroxide with 3 tablespoons of water, to keep it simple.
Apply an antibacterial ointment to the wound. Triple antibiotic ointments containing bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B are widely available. AVOID any product that contains a corticosteroid like hydrocortisone.