How To Care For Your Dog’s Hot Spot

Dog hot spots can develop incredibly quickly. These inflamed, red, oozy areas of the skin cause a dog to lick, scratch or bite to find relief – and they can be a real nightmare for you and your pup. Read about how smart pet owners use the Banixx Pet Care hot spot treatment to aid in hot spot recovery – and actions you can take to prevent future hot spots from plaguing your dog.

How To Care For Your Dog’s Hot Spot

Dog hot spots are areas of infected and inflamed skin. Also referred to as superficial pyoderma or moist dermatitis, hot spots develop rapidly. Your dog may be perfectly fine in the morning and a few hours later, be constantly scratching one area of the body that has become irritated and infected.

Why do dogs get hot spots?

When your dog gets a hot spot, your first question is sure to be, “Why did this happen?” There are a number of causes:

•Most hot spots develop as a result of allergies

•Older dogs with weakened immune systems are targets for hot spots.

•Seasonal changes with their related coat changes may contribute, since a thick, matted area of coat that needs to be shed may develop moisture build-up and clogged pores – a perfect hot spot environment.

•Boredom, loneliness or stress can be culprits. Large dogs, in particular, may “entertain” themselves by obsessively chewing, biting or licking at little spots on their bodies like minor insect bites.

The most effective way to treat hot spots

Many veterinarians recommend using the Banixx Pet Care spray for disinfection and treatment. It’s commonly sold at pet stores and at many outlets online. It does a great job of controlling skin bacteria and has no known side effects. Because it has no odor, burn or sting upon application, it’s well-tolerated by even the most skittish dogs.

The Banixx Pet Care solution comes in a spray bottle that makes it easy to apply the solution to the affected area. If your dog does not like the spray, simply apply with a cotton ball.

The process of disinfecting and treating with Banixx Pet Care is easy and straightforward:

• Saturate the entire affected area, including the surrounding immediate skin, since the hot spot is probably bigger than it first appears.

• Removing the surrounding hair may be beneficial, but due to your dog’s current discomfort level, this may only serve to exacerbate the problem.

• In the first day or two of treating the hot spot, it may ooze as part of the natural healing process. You'll want to carry out the disinfecting procedure 2-3 times a day to keep further infection at bay.

• The hot spot will start to dry up and scab over. Make no attempt to remove the scabs, as they are Mother Nature’s band-aids.

• If your dog is inclined to lick Banixx, distract him or her with a walk or play time. Owners have had good luck applying peanut butter to the roof of the pup’s mouth as a distraction. Another method is to apply peanut butter to the inside of a Kong or similar toy that keeps your dog amused for a while. Vets may recommend an E-collar, or you can also try tying a light wrap over the affected area. Some people also improvise by having their pets put on tee shirts to prevent them from accessing the wounds on their coats.

If the infection does not improve in 3-4 days, you may want to seek veterinary care since you may be dealing with something more difficult than a hot spot.

Finding the root cause of your dog's hot spot

While Banixx works on treating your dog’s hot spot, it’s a good idea to take some time to identify the root cause of the irritation to prevent recurrences. Here are areas to explore and actions you can take to help your pet:

1. Allergic sensitivities
Food allergies

Did you know that while dog (or cat) food allergies may cause gastrointestinal problems, it’s typically their skin that is most often affected?

Dogs are by nature meat eaters. Many dog food “fillers,” such as corn or soy, can lead to a dietary imbalance resulting in skin irritations. For dogs diagnosed with food allergies or sensitivities, making the switch to a grain-free diet can often go a long way toward resolving hot spot issues. But because a successful change in diet affects the dog’s internal system, success may take several weeks. Using Banixx in conjunction with the change in diet can provide your pet with quick, soothing, topical relief throughout the healing process.

Environmental allergies

Molds, pollens, grasses and ragweed are all common allergens. Monitor your dog’s health along with changes in his environment. Many dogs have allergies to grass; if your dog is in this category, limit time outside during the appropriate months.

Allergy/sensitivity to flea or tick bites

If your dog is allergic to flea or tick bites (also known as allergic dermatitis), apply a flea/tick treatment. But did you know that some flea/tick treatments require the pest to bite its host before it dies? This irritation can lead to hot spots.

To provide your pet with quick, soothing, topical relief throughout the flea/tick treatment and healing process, apply Banixx in conjunction with the flea/tick treatment.

In addition, you must also treat your dog’s environment, including your house, the dog’s bedding, and other animals in the home. Generally, the only fleas you will see are the adult fleas that represent about 5 percent of a flea infestation – the remaining 95 percent is made up of flea eggs, larvae and pupae. To eliminate these, wash your dog’s bedding in a bleach solution and apply apple cider vinegar to your dog’s environment.

2. Seasonal or hormonal changes

As seasons change, many dogs shed or grow heavier coats. Some will not shed well, particularly older dogs. These changes of the coat may lead to some matting that creates a warm moist area on your dog – perfect conditions for a bacterial infection or a hot spot. Be aware of these coat changes, be vigilant in spotting problem areas and brush the coat to prevent these conditions. Watch your dog for behavioral changes (licking, scratching) to catch impending hot spots early. Keep your pet-friendly Banixx on hand as a preventive measure.

As seasons change, if your pup has not been spayed or neutered, he/she will experience hormonal changes that could potentially be responsible for hot spots. Again, staying ahead of the curve and being aware of this association may ward off a nasty hot spot infection by being prepared with treatment options.

3. Boredom, emotional and mental causes

Sometimes hot spots can be caused by underlying emotional or mental issues in your dog, such as boredom, separation anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These can result in chewing and biting that causes hot spots. Turn on a radio or TV, limit your dog’s time alone, find the dog a “friend,” send her to doggie day-care, or provide a series of toys and bones to capture attention. It may be a combination of all of the above.

Dog hot spots have the potential to make life miserable for your pet and for you. Knowing how to treat them while working to prevent future hot spots is one key to ensuring Man’s Best Friend remains healthy and happy. For more information about hot spots and effective solutions, visit https://banixx.com