Hot Spot Teatments

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Home Remedies for Hot Spot Treatments

Following a dog hot spot treatment right in your own home can save you a trip to the vet. Administering a home remedy such as apple cider vinegar or Vitamin E oil can help prevent a small irritation from turning into a large hot spot. In some cases, oral antibiotics may be required to clear up the infection.

For starters, look for the preliminary signs of a hot spot before treating your dog at home:

* Hair loss
* Red skin
* Excessive licking
* Moist skin

Help relieve these symptoms with everything from witch hazel to tea bags, here's how:
Cut the Hair Surrounding the Infected Area

It's more challenging for long-haired dogs to heal from these open sores. As soon as you discover the hot spot, trim your dog's hair. You need to clip the hair that is covering the lesion or it will further irritate your dog. Sometimes a hot spot may get larger or fill up with puss if the hair is matted over it.

Trimming the dog's hair also helps the healing process by letting air get to the area. In some cases you may need to shave a portion of your dog's hair to uncover a larger infection.
Cleanse the Hot Spot

After clipping away the hair, you need to cleanse the inflamed or red area. At the first sign of even as slight hot spot, apply a warm compress to the irritated section of the skin.
Make a Salt Water Solution

Fill a mid-sized bowl with warm water and a spoonful of salt. Then, adequately soak a wash cloth in the mixture. Place the wet cloth onto the hot spot, and let it sit for a few minutes. This technique helps to reduce the swelling and remove the puss from the hot spot.
Tea Bag Remedy for Drying Out Spots

Tea contains special properties called tannic acids that help relieve sores. You can create a compress and apply it to your dog's hot spot. Use either black or green tea, which works to dry out the moist skin lesion.

To use a tea bag as a healing compress, dip the tea bag in hot water. After it cools, place it directly on the hot spot for a few minutes. For best results, repeat this process a few times a day until you see the area starting to dry up and heal.
Hydrocortisone Creams for Serious Hot Spots

Your dog may need a stronger solution to clear up his skin lesion. If he's prone to hot spots, keep your medicine cabinet well stocked with skin creams. At the first sign of a hot spot, rub a bit of cortisone cream onto the inflamed area. Doing so can help prevent a small irritation from formulating into an open wound.

Cortisone helps prevent your dog from itching. In some case, the dog's skin becomes raw and infected from scratching.
Prevent Your Dog from Irritating the Hot Spot

* Provide your dog with plenty of activities to take the focus off scratching.
* Consider a special collar to prevent him from scratching the rest of his body.
* Keep your dog's nails well trimmed.
* Cool his skin and soothe his itch with a little witch hazel.

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