By Dr. Emma Bush
As mentioned in my previous blog post, one of the best parts of summer is being able to enjoy the lovely warm days outdoors with our pets. Whether this is through hiking, playing in the yard or the dog park, or going for a swim, outdoor time, especially in the Maritimes, is almost always better in the summer.
However, with all of the pros of summer weather, come some cons. One of these cons are hot-spots. These skin lesions, though possible to occur year round, are certainly more commonly noted in the summer months with hot and humid weather.
What is a hot spot?
A hot spot is a colloquial term for pyotraumatic dermatitis or an moist inflammation and infection of the skin. This is a superficial skin infection, often secondary to chewing or scratching, that leads to normal bacterial flora on the skin causing an infection on and in the damaged skin surface. The chewing and scratching is commonly incited by an underlying irritation such as fly bites, allergies, persistent moisture in the hair coat such as from swimming and not being thoroughly dried, and matted hair. In some cases, they can also be caused by boredom and obsessive behaviors, pain (licking at a painful area) or inflammation. Because of this the location of a hot spot can be helpful to your veterinarian in figuring out the underlying cause. Hot spots can occur in both dogs and cats; though longer haired animals are more likely to develop this than short-haired ones.
How do they start, and how are they treated?
Hot spot infections start off as moist and inflamed areas of skin that are both itchy and painful to the pet. This area of moisture will then dry and stick to the underlying skin and form a crust. This area can get much bigger very quickly.
The goal of treatment starts with clipping and cleaning the affected area for the veterinarian to assess the extent and severity of the infection. Clipping the area is also important to remove surrounding hair. This is because the hair holds in moisture which contributes to the vicious cycle of the hotspot, so needs to be removed to prevent further perpetuation and spread. Sometimes pets can be so painful from their hot spots that sedation is required to achieve this. From there, your veterinarian may recommend taking samples for cytology or even culture (a culture is where your veterinarian takes a sample and see what grows on it to assess what type of bacteria is present, and what antibiotic is most appropriate to use for it).
How bad are they…really?
Though involved, the lesions often look worse than they are, and many are able to be treated topically. Alongside topical therapy, anti-inflammatories are also often recommended to address the pain and itch. It is also important to use a cone or some similar tool like a t-shirt or sock to prevent the pet from licking at the area, as licking will further the moist environment and trauma that perpetuates infection and spread.
Topical treatments can include creams, sprays, foams and shampoos. It is important when using shampoos to rinse and dry thoroughly after application and appropriate contact time. It is also important to use pet specific products as may human products are toxic to pets, either through contact or (more commonly) consumption. In some cases, with multiple hot spots, more systemic medications and/or antibiotics may be indicated. This is a decision that your veterinarian will discuss with you.
Resolution and Prevention
Once the hot spot is resolved, it is important to discuss with your veterinarian underlying factors as if there is an underlying cause this should be addressed. The ultimate goal being to prevent further future dermatological concerns as much as possible for your pet. These can include, but are not limited to:
- addressing appropriate parasite prevention (including flea control)
- allergies
- appropriately drying after swimming
- assessing for possible pain and/or obsessive behaviours
If you have an itchy pet, or think that your pet has a hot spot, please contact your veterinarian.
References Used:
- Hot Spots in Dogs and Cats:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102899&id=4952729
- Hot Spots (Pyotraumatic Dermatitis) in Dogs and Cats:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952981 - VCA Hot Spots in Dogs:
https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/hot-spots-in-dogs