A hot spot that is left untreated may turn into a lick granuloma, which can be difficult to get rid of.
Hot spots are not likely to go away on their own, but the good news is that they can be easily treated. The best thing to do when you notice hot spots is book an appointment with your vet and try to stop your dog scratching too much.
Hot spots on dogs can be relatively minor and heal quickly. But they do have the potential to cause more serious issues, such as widespread infection or deeper skin ulcerations.
One symptom of an infected hot spot is a foul odor coming from the wound on their skin surface. While dogs have a distinctive smell that isn't always endearing to non-dog-lovers, a foul odor should be a cause for concern. As they worsen, hot spot wounds may become damp to the touch.
After starting treatment, you should expect most hot spots to improve rapidly over about three to seven days. For more severe hot spots, it may take about one week for the skin lesion to dry up and look more like a scab.
Due to bacteria that builds up in the hot spots, they can quickly spread to other parts of the dog's body. These affected areas will be painful and result in your dog itching and licking the area. Many of these symptoms overlap with other skin conditions so it's important you contact your veterinarian right away.
Once your vet has started treating the hot spot, your dog will likely improve rapidly. It usually takes between three and seven days for a hot spot to dry out and start to heal. Your pet's fur should start growing back in about two weeks.
Hotspots look like painful scrapes or patches of raw skin. They are typically raised, red, and often hairless. They can ooze, bleed, or contain pus. If your dog has hotspots, they will lick, bite and scratch at them incessantly.
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.
The first stage of a hot spot causes the skin to be red, moist and itchy. As the infection sets in, you may see pus oozing from the area. As it continues to get worse, you may see dried pus and a damaged skin surface. Thus creating a crust and they will likely start losing fur on the infected area.
Identifying the Dog Hot Spot Healing Time in Stages
Stage One: Within 72 hours, the hot spot should soften from bright red or yellow to pink or pale pink. Stage Two: Swelling should go down and the hot spot should not be hot to the touch. The color will continue to turn paler pink to white.
Fortunately, once your veterinarian has initiated treatment for the hot spot, most dogs improve rapidly. In many cases, the hot spot resolves in as little as 3 to 7 days after the start of treatment.
Hot spots are itchy, painful, and messy, and can appear suddenly in both dogs and cats, but are seen more frequently in dogs. With appropriate treatment, they can be resolved quickly.
The moist, inflamed area is a prime site for secondary bacterial infections. If you see signs of infection (worsening redness, lack of healing, more heat, swelling or oozing) your veterinarian may need to prescribe an antibiotic medicine or antibiotic cream.
To heal properly, hot spots need to breathe so you don't want to wrap or bandage the area. You do, however, need to protect the area from your dog.
It does drain your battery; whether it's worth it for you to turn it off is up to you and how long your battery last. Also something worth noting is that by leaving it on and walking around other people can see your hotspot and might try to connect. Even if they're unsuccessful it will drain your battery even faster.
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.
McKenna says it's not just what you treat dog hot spots with but how. "The most important thing is keeping the area clean and dry," she says. "As tempting as it is to cover up these ugly lesions, refrain from placing bandages or other coverings, which will just trap in the moisture and delay healing."
If the dog's hot spot is small, non-painful, recognized early, and uncomplicated, it may be possible to begin treatment at home with over-the-counter products such as topical sprays, medicated shampoos, herbal therapies, and more.
How Long Dogs Should Wear the Cone. A cone should stay on for about a week while your dog is healing. "Usually about seven to 10 days is all you need," Ochoa says. The cone needs to stay on the entire time the dog is healing, especially if you won't be around to watch her.
As soon as you notice a hot spot, it's best to contact your family veterinarian. Since a hot spot results in the scratch-itch cycle, it's important to stop further self-traumatization (licking, scratching, and biting).
The dog will chew or lick at the area and it is usually quite painful. This condition can result in a skin infection and can cause lethargy, inappetence and fever depending upon the severity.
Causes such as skin allergy in dogs, scratching, skin infection due to bacteria, skin inflammation due to skin parasites, and self-trauma by dogs with activities such as scratching, rubbing, licking, and biting at their own skin are commonly seen in dogs with skin problems. These all can lead to hyperpigmentation.
How are hot spots treated? topical or oral steroids and antihistamines to reduce the itching. Consult your veterinarian before using any medications intended for humans as they are often toxic to dogs. It often takes a combination of all options to stop the trauma.