Puzzling bald patches on the body of a dog may be cause for concern. The patches may be dry or wet. They are called dog hot spots and can cause a lot of discomfort.
They are very often caused by bacteria. If the dog is kept in an area conducive to the breeding of bacteria, this condition may be quite bad. Bacteria are not necessarily the cause though. Food or something in its environment may cause allergic reactions or something as simple as insufficient grooming or attention can also contribute to the formation of hot spots.
If the pet is allergic to something, the resulting itching on the skin may cause the animal to lick or bite the affected areas a lot. A damp and warm spot may form. Perfect conditions are created for bacteria in this way. They will breed and the irritation for the dog will become worse. Hair loss will follow. If the pet is anxious or bored, it may also start licking and biting, causing hot spots.
To treat this, the hair around the area must be cut away using clippers. A cream can then be applied to stop bacteria and possible infection. This should ideally be done by a vet. He or she will know the correct treatment. It may happen that the dog must wear an e-collar. This looks like a lamp shade and is placed around the neck to prevent the dog from reaching problem areas. In this way the area is kept dry.
In some cases one treatment may not do the trick. If the dog is in contact with allergens on a regular basis, healing may be very slow if at all possible. The vet may have to conduct more tests to see if the root cause can be found.
Regular and more frequent grooming can help if the problem is caused due to improper care. Grooming should be done at least two times a week using the right kind of grooming material. Pets with long, thick fur should be groomed more frequently than ordinary ones. Fur should be clipped at regular intervals during warm weather. Services of a groomer can be availed if found necessary. When groomed at home, it is essential to use the right kind of brush.
Finding out what caused the problem in the fist place may be a bit of a mission. If something in the dog's food causes an allergy, different foods will have to be tried. It will also be necessary to treat against fleas to make sure this is not the problem.
The task to find other causes of allergies is a daunting one. A good place to begin would be to try another diet. Maybe there is something in the garden causing it. Restrict the pet's movement to exclude certain areas. If there is no improvement move on the the next one. This can be time consuming and difficult. The only way to win is to persevere.
A healthy, happy dog is one who receives adequate, loving attention. Give him toys to play with to alleviate boredom. He and his environment must be kept hygienically clean. Regular brushing is essential. Keep an eye open for the appearance of lesions and treat these immediately before those nasty dog hot spots have a chance to develop.
Jennifer is an expert in dog skin problems and commonly writes informative articles that describe various conditions affecting dogs and how to treat them.