What is hot spots?
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
A hot spot, or acute moist dermatitis, is a red, wet, painful patch of skin that a dog creates by licking, chewing or scratching at an itch or sore. It can grow large in hours. The usual triggers are fleas, allergies, ear infections and damp, matted fur. A vet clips and cleans it and treats the cause.
Also called acute moist dermatitis, pyotraumatic dermatitis, wet eczema in dogs, moist skin sore.
Key facts
- Hot spots, also called pyotraumatic or acute moist dermatitis, are red, inflamed sores that appear quickly, ooze and may contain pus. VCA Animal Hospitals
- They can grow dramatically in a very short time, most often on the head, legs and hips, and can hide under matted fur. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Common triggers are allergies, fleas and mites, ear infections, skin infections, inflamed anal glands, joint pain and boredom. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Matted fur holds water after a dog swims or is caught in the rain. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Warm, moist skin areas carry more bacteria, and anything that makes the coat more humid can let bacteria overgrow. Merck Veterinary Manual
Why do dogs get hot spots, especially in the monsoon?
A hot spot is the dog's own doing. Something itches or hurts, the dog licks and scratches, the skin breaks, and bacteria and moisture do the rest.
The itch can come from fleas or ticks, an allergy to food or something in the environment, an ear infection, inflamed anal glands or a sore joint. The licking keeps the patch wet, the damaged skin weeps, and the sore spreads outwards, sometimes doubling in size within a day.
India's monsoon is the classic season. Humid air, daily wet walks and a thick or long coat that never fully dries create the warm, damp skin in which bacteria overgrow. Thick and long coats make it easy to miss: matted fur holds water after rain, and the sore can sit under a mat of hair until it smells.
What should you do if you find a hot spot?
See a vet the same day or next day. Hot spots are painful, and a vet may need to sedate the dog to clip and clean properly.
Do
- Stop the licking with a cone (Elizabethan collar) or a loose, clean covering until the vet sees it. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Let the vet clip the hair around the sore with clippers and clean it with an antiseptic. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Treat the cause your vet finds: flea and tick control, ear treatment, allergy management or pain relief. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Dry the coat right down to the skin after rain, swims and baths, especially in thick-coated breeds.
Don’t
- Do not cut the hair with scissors: it is easy to cut the skin of a sore, squirming dog. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Do not put human creams or medicines on the sore or give them by mouth without a vet's advice. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Do not cover the sore with a tight, airtight bandage that keeps it wet.
How do you prevent hot spots coming back?
Hot spots return when the trigger is not found. Prevention means removing the itch and keeping the coat dry and tidy.
- Keep up flea and tick prevention as your vet advises, so parasites do not start the itch. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Brush often and have long or dense coats groomed so mats cannot form. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Dry paws, skin folds, armpits and ears after wet walks. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Ask your vet about allergy testing or a diet trial if hot spots keep returning. VCA Animal Hospitals
- Give enough exercise and play: boredom licking can start a hot spot. VCA Animal Hospitals
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Questions owners ask
What does a hot spot look like on a dog?
- A red, moist, raw-looking patch of skin, often with matted or missing hair, a sticky discharge and sometimes a bad smell. It is usually painful to touch. Hot spots appear most often on the head, legs and hips, and can grow quickly. Long-haired dogs may hide one under a mat of fur.
Will a hot spot heal on its own?
- Rarely, because the dog keeps licking it and the cause is still there. A vet will usually clip and clean the area, stop the licking, and treat the trigger, such as fleas, an allergy or an ear infection, sometimes with medicine. Early treatment means a smaller, less painful sore.
Why do hot spots appear in the monsoon?
- Humid weather and wet walks keep the coat and skin damp, and warm, moist skin lets bacteria overgrow. Matted fur holds water for hours after rain. Drying the coat thoroughly after every wet walk and keeping it groomed helps prevent them.
Can I put coconut oil or turmeric on a hot spot?
- It is best not to put anything on a hot spot before a vet sees it. Oils and pastes trap moisture and invite more licking, and some products are harmful if swallowed. Use a cone to stop licking and see your vet, who will clean it properly and treat the cause.
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