Everything you need to know about hot spot

What is hot spot?

Hot spot, also known as moist dermatitis, is a skin infection and inflammation caused by moisture. It can be found anywhere on the dog’s body and is very itchy and painful for the dog.

A hot spot is mostly caused by licking and biting an itchy and irritated spot. These spots can be triggered by

• Allergies
• fleas or insect bites
• skin wounds
• a dirty or poorly groomed coat
• moisture that doesn’t completely dry (sweat or water)
• licking from stress of boredom

The breed of your dog also plays a big part in hot spot. Dogs with a longer coat, or even a double coat, are more likely to have moist dermatitis than short-haired dogs. But this does not mean that short-haired dogs never get hot spots. When the weather is very humid, it’s a good idea to check your dog more often on hot spots.

How to recognize a hot spot?

If you notice that your dog is biting and licking the same spot all the time, it’s good to check the spot. Hot spot is recognizable by a red, warm, and wet spot. In some cases, moist dermatitis can cause hair loss and starts to bleed. Other symptoms of hot sports are fever, listlessness, squealing and an oozing, scabby skin. The dog could also be a bit different in his behavior, or even more grumpy by the constant itch and pain. 

How to treat hot spots?

Luckily, hot spot is not contagious for other dogs. However, if you think your dog has a hot spot, it’s important to immediately call your veterinary. Moist dermatitis can rapidly expand with no, or the wrong, treatment. If you can’t see the vet directly, you can start by keeping the wound clean and dry. If you have an anti-bacterial ointment like honey ointment, you could ask your vet over the phone if you’re allowed to use it for now. This ointment will also prevent the dog from licking the wound as it does not taste nice. To keep your dog from licking the skin, you can use a cone or an old sock or sweater. When you’ve seen the vet, you can follow his treatment and your dog will be back to normal in 3 to 7 days.

How to prevent hot spot?

Prevention is better than cure, therefore we’ve got some tips to prevent moist dermatitis.

• If the hotspot is caused by allergies, try to figure out what your dog is allergic to. Consult your vet to see what you need to change in your daily life.
• As fleas and ticks are the cause of an itchy feeling, it’s important to stay up to date with flea and tick prevention.
• Try to groom your dog at least once a week. By doing this, you can check the condition of the skin as well as noticing parasites. It’s also important to check the coat for knots as these can cause hot spots too.
• Good hygiene is very important to prevent moist dermatitis. Do not only wash your dog regularly but also his bed, toys, and walking gear. Every Kentucky product can be washed at 30 degrees (no dryer). Always check the care guide first for precise instructions.
• When you wash your dog, make sure to always rinse very carefully. If there’re still some soap leftovers, this will also start to itch.
• After you washed your dog, or when he played in water thoroughly dry your dog. You can use our dog coat towel to dry your dog in no time!
• If you need to walk your dog in the rain and have no time to properly dry him afterward, you can use our dog raincoat to keep him protected from humid weather.
• Even in winter, you must be careful with moist dermatitis. Snow that’s not properly dried can also cause hot spots, especially in the undercoat and when it’s warm inside. The dog coat reflective and water repellent can help your dog to stay dry and thanks to the reflecting layer, also makes your dog more visible to other passengers.
• If your dog is licking out of boredom, use a toy to get him distracted. Kentucky Dogwear has a wide range of fun and entertaining dog toys that will keep your dog busy for quite some time.