COOLING DOWN HOT SPOTS Is your pet scratching, lickening or chewing? Know when to turn to your veterinarian for treatment. Mrs. Barry brought Zena into our office for an exam. The dog had created a "hot spot," which veterinarians also call pyotraumatic dermatitis or acute moist dermatitis. A hot spot is a surface bacterial infection of the skin created by itching (in the form of chewing, licking and scratching), which allows normal bacteria to overgrow. The hair around the area is matted down by the licking and exudate, or fluid from the wound. Does Your Pet Have Hot Spots? Hot spots are diagnosed by their symptoms, appearance and the events that happened before the problem was noticed. The response to therapy, along with the identification and treatment of the underlying cause, are also very important to resolve the problem and prevent relapse. Hot spots are common in dogs and rare in cats. Any dog or cat can develop this problem, but hot spots are more common in pets with heavy, long hair coats and histories of allergies, ear infections, fleas or other parasite infestations, eye issues and irritated anal sacs. Grooming problems, such as hair tangles and mats, also predispose a pet to the condition. Pets in warm, humid climates may develop hot spots when they shed their undercoats if the dead hair is trapped next to the skin. Pets with behavior problems or bone/muscle pain may mutilate themselves by licking, which encourages infection. Hot spots can occur on the flanks, rump, face, ears, neck, chest, legs and feet. When we examined Zena, we found fleas and a dirt-like substance on her lower back and belly. Mrs. Barry had not given Zena any flea medication in about two months. Additionally, a stray cat from the neighborhood had recently been spending more time in the Barrys' yard. Stray cats and other wild animals are like flea "salt and pepper shakers," dropping flea eggs wherever they go. These eggs later develop into the fleas that jump on your pet and cause skin problems, intestinal worms and transmit diseases. Diagnostic tests such as skin scraping and impression smears did not reveal any other parasites on Zena, but bacteria were found. Also, Zena's anal sacs were empty. This was important to check on her physical exam, since the hot spot was located near that area. We treated Zena based on the principles below. She was sent home with antibiotics for three weeks plus a steroid topical spray, and her owner started flea prevention again. To avoid this problem in the future, we advised Mrs. Barry to keep a calendar of when her flea and heartworm prevention is due or to register online with a medication reminder program. Treating Hot Spots There are many ways to treat hot spots, but the basic steps are the same. If you notice a hot spot on your pet, your veterinarian will likely follow this course of treatment. 1. CLIP the surrounding area to uncover the entire affected region and determine if systemic antibiotics will be necessary. 2. CLEAN the area, using antibacterial shampoos oe cleaners, such as chlorhexidine. 3. DRY the area using astringents after cleaning, then two to three times daily. 4. KEEP IT CLEAN with antibacterial cleansers/ shampoos and/or sprays. 5. BREAK THE ITCH CYCLE using steroid sprays (often combined with antibiotics. 6. FIND AND REMOVE THE UNDERLYING CAUSE, such as fleas, other parasites, ear infections, anal sac issues, itching due to allergies or grooming. 7. SYSTEMIC ANTIBIOTICS may sometimes be needed, if the infection goes deeper into the skin and hair follicles. After treatment, you should see improvement within days. The hair will start to grow back in about two weeks, as long as everything has been resolved.