dog hot spots are treatable

Dog Hot Spots are Treatable I remember when i was 10 we had a dog with hot spots, he wouldn't stop licking and chewing his arm until he had a raw sore without any fur. He was still a young pup and I didn't know what to do about it. My solution was to rub aloe vera gel on the irritated area and distract him for awhile so he would leave it alone. Luckily my methods worked and we haven't had to revisit this issue but hot spots on dogs are common. Also known as acute moist dermatitis, these inflamed, raw areas of skin can spread quickly when your pet won't stop licking, scratching and chewing. They look ugly and feel miserable to your pet. So what can you do about dog hot spots? Well, let’s first look at the causes. What Causes Hot Spots on Dogs? What we call "hot spots" are actually bacterial infections that can be caused by: Allergies Flea infestations Trapped dead hair--especially in humid climates Boredom/Stress Other Reasons Long haired breeds are most susceptible to dog hot spots. See, once the irritated area develops, it's important to get it air. The infected area needs to dry out. Long haired dogs have such heavy coats they can hide the developing spot from you until it's a real mess. Treatment These irritated areas can spread quickly and your dog may not be nice about your getting near it because it hurts. The first thing you want to do is clean it up and keep your dog from worrying it into a bigger problem. This will take some patience and persistence. (And maybe a lot of yummy dog treats!) Here are the steps recommended to start healing your pet: Take a damp cloth and gently pat the area to clean it Clip the fur around the infected area so air can get to it and dry it out Choose one or more of the below treatments to help dry and heal the area Use cool black or green tea bags to cool and comfort the area--tea bags have tannic acid in them which will dry out the area. Make an oatmeal paste to dry it out by mixing oatmeal with water until you get a pasty texture (but you'll have to keep your dog from eating the treatment!)