What is a hot spot on a dog?

A hot spot — also called pyotraumatic or moist dermatitis — is a patch of skin that's become inflamed and infected. It typically looks like a wet, oozing, reddened patch, often with hair loss. It's painful and very uncomfortable, and continued licking and chewing makes it worse fast.

What causes hot spots in dogs?

Anything that irritates the skin. Common triggers include allergies to grasses, trees, weeds, and dust mites; food allergies; fleas; mites; insect bites; and skin wounds. Once the skin is broken and inflamed, a bacterial infection takes hold underneath.

Why does a hot spot smell?

The infection is usually deep in the skin, and bacterial activity produces a distinct odour. Combined with the wet, oozing look, the smell is one of the giveaway signs that there's an active infection — not just irritated skin.

Can hot spots be prevented?

Largely, yes. Manage the triggers: stay on top of flea protection, watch for grass and pollen sensitivity, address food allergies, and treat any wound or bite immediately before it turns into a full hot spot. Applying Skin Rescue Lotion at the first sign of a bite or sore prevents the bacterial cascade.

How do I treat a hot spot at home?

Clip the hair around the spot short — don't shave it. Clean the area gently. Apply DERMagic Hot Spot Salve directly to the spot once or twice a day. The salve kills the bacteria, yeast, and fungus driving the infection, and the spot dries up and heals over within days.

Hot Spots on Dogs and How to Treat Them

July 13, 2013 · Skin Conditions, Hot Spots, The Dermagic System

Hot spots on dogs — what triggers them, why they spread so quickly, and the natural treatment that clears the infection and lets the skin heal.

A hot spot is a wet, painful, infected patch of skin that can spread alarmingly fast. Here’s what triggers them, how to stop the cycle, and the natural treatment that clears the infection.

What a hot spot is

A hot spot — also referred to as pyotraumatic or moist dermatitis — is a condition where a patch of skin has become inflamed and infected.

The affected skin is typically seen as a wet, oozing, reddened patch that’s painful and very uncomfortable for the dog. Hair loss may also be visible across the spot.

Continued licking and chewing at the affected area worsens the condition dramatically. That’s why a hot spot you spotted yesterday morning can look twice as bad by the evening.

What causes hot spots — and can they be prevented?

Hot spots in dogs are caused by anything that aggravates or itches the skin. Some common triggers:

Allergies — grasses, trees, weeds, dust mites, and other environmental allergens
Food allergies
Fleas and mites
Insect bites
Skin wounds and minor abrasions

Once the skin is broken and inflamed, a bacterial infection moves in — taking advantage of the disrupted skin barrier. The infection is usually deep within the dog’s skin, and in addition to the wet, oozing appearance, there’s often a distinct odour present.

Prevention is largely about catching the triggers early. Stay on top of flea protection. Watch for grass and pollen sensitivity in season. Address food allergies through an elimination diet. And treat any bite, sore, or red patch the moment you see it — before it gets bad enough to call a hot spot.

How DERMagic treats hot spots

DERMagic products kill bacteria, yeast, and most types of fungus quickly. They’re the first line of defence against dog hot spots and other canine and feline dermatitis.

The protocol is straightforward:

Trim the hair short over and around the hot spot — but do not shave. Shaving introduces more fungus and irritates the skin further.
Clean the area gently with the Peppermint & Tea Tree Oil Shampoo or the Skin Rescue Shampoo Bar.
Apply DERMagic Hot Spot Salve directly to the hot spot once or twice daily. The salve is concentrated and made to stick — it stays on the spot and goes to work.
Keep the dog from licking it off with a soft t-shirt or similar cover. Nothing in the salve is harmful if ingested — it just works better when it stays put.

DERMagic works fast, and it’s guaranteed. Most hot spots dry up and start to heal within a few days of consistent application.

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For help with a particularly stubborn hot spot, email info@dermagic.eu or call 01624 829575.

Frequently asked questions

What is a hot spot on a dog?: A hot spot — also called pyotraumatic or moist dermatitis — is a patch of skin that’s become inflamed and infected. It typically looks like a wet, oozing, reddened patch, often with hair loss. It’s painful and very uncomfortable, and continued licking and chewing makes it worse fast.
What causes hot spots in dogs?: Anything that irritates the skin. Common triggers include allergies to grasses, trees, weeds, and dust mites; food allergies; fleas; mites; insect bites; and skin wounds. Once the skin is broken and inflamed, a bacterial infection takes hold underneath.
Why does a hot spot smell?: The infection is usually deep in the skin, and bacterial activity produces a distinct odour. Combined with the wet, oozing look, the smell is one of the giveaway signs that there’s an active infection — not just irritated skin.
Can hot spots be prevented?: Largely, yes. Manage the triggers: stay on top of flea protection, watch for grass and pollen sensitivity, address food allergies, and treat any wound or bite immediately before it turns into a full hot spot. Applying Skin Rescue Lotion at the first sign of a bite or sore prevents the bacterial cascade.
How do I treat a hot spot at home?: Clip the hair around the spot short — don’t shave it. Clean the area gently. Apply DERMagic Hot Spot Salve directly to the spot once or twice a day. The salve kills the bacteria, yeast, and fungus driving the infection, and the spot dries up and heals over within days.

#Hot Spots #Pyotraumatic Dermatitis #Moist Dermatitis #Dog Skin Infection #Hot Spot Salve #Skin Rescue Lotion