Hot Spots!

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Lovely

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Two days ago, I noticed a slick, roundish patch of raw skin under a large mat where Pierre's tail hits his back. He had been chewing the skin and matted the fur (which has NEVER before had mats and I'd fully groomed him this past weekend). I clipped away the mat because it was pulling the raw skin when I tried to detangle it. I applied some neosporin and thought that was that.

But yesterday, I noticed one on Duncan! His was dry and looked more like irritation from a scratch or something. Today, though, it was slick and there was missing fur. I clipped some of the fur to give it air and used a very thin layer of neosporin on it. Pierre's is almost healed as of this morning.

I haven't been able to find any specific cause. Ideas? I've ruled out fleas (with very thorough checks and we JUST put on their meds). A search of Abbie found no hot spots. Is there a remedy I should be using?
 
It seems weird that they would both get their first hot spots at the same time. I don't know much about dog skin diseases, but could it be something contagious...like a fungus like ringworm?

If it is a hot spot, that could be treated with steroids. My parent's dog gets bad hot spots in the fall because of allergies, and he takes steroids to clear it up.
 
I'm hoping that they heal up nicely. But it IS weird that they both got their first hot spot right about the same time. I had a friend who is a nurse look at Duncan's yesterday and she doesn't believe it is ringworm, especially when I described Pierre's slick spot. The spots aren't large, so I think this is one of those "wait and see" moments. If they clear up, we'll just make sure to check them often for the start of one. If they recur, then I think a vet visit is in order to rule out dietary issues and other irritants. I was just hoping something would pop out to me... like pollen or heat. We have plenty of both in Florida and it could be an issue with the boys.
 
I think that moisture and high humidity levels are also a factor.

My lab used to get them in skin folds of her neck below her collar; and my brother's lab has just been treated for one on his face. He apparently was scratching to get at an ear infection. My brother tried a home remedy that he found of hydrogen peroxide and something else, but ended up taking him to the vet, as it didn't improve sufficiently.
 
Mine get hot spots irregularly, esp Mr D. Usually when they get them together its because of an allergy - like at the start of spring this year we had a lot of rain and the grass was causing a lot of allergies and both mine got hot spots. I think Mr D gets them more because of his thick coat I am more likely to miss a sore spot before it gets inflammed. Sometimes it because they scratched themselves on something, Deska got one last weekend in Sydney and I am wondering if he got a flea, and Tully had a bad one from an insect sting. I know a number of people with retrievers who cannot put a collar on them when they have a flea treatment because they get a hot spot.

More often than not I can't work out the cause. I keep some neosporin on hand now and use that and give them an antihistamine to help the itching. If it gets infected they go off to the vet for a steroid shot.
 
Virbac makes a topical spray called Genesis that is used for itching associated with allergies. I use it when Gypsy has an outbreak and the BF's vet prescribed it for his Westies hot spots so you may want to give you vet a call and ask if it would work in your case. I use it twice daily as needed. Hope you find the cause. I am wondering though did this occur before or after you gave them their flea meds. Could that be the cause?
 
Did they both recently get a bath? Sometimes with Shelties it is hard to get them completely dry down to the skin after a bath and then with humid air, it could stay damp. This irritates the skin and causes itchiness, rawness, and eventually hair loss. Just a thought.........
 
Lovely said:
Two days ago, I noticed a slick, roundish patch of raw skin under a large mat where Pierre's tail hits his back. He had been chewing the skin and matted the fur (which has NEVER before had mats and I'd fully groomed him this past weekend). I clipped away the mat because it was pulling the raw skin when I tried to detangle it. I applied some neosporin and thought that was that.

But yesterday, I noticed one on Duncan! His was dry and looked more like irritation from a scratch or something. Today, though, it was slick and there was missing fur. I clipped some of the fur to give it air and used a very thin layer of neosporin on it. Pierre's is almost healed as of this morning.

I haven't been able to find any specific cause. Ideas? I've ruled out fleas (with very thorough checks and we JUST put on their meds). A search of Abbie found no hot spots. Is there a remedy I should be using?
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Prior to Trapp coming home,Earnhardt would suffer from hot spots terrible.It was an every year thing with him,often times showing on the tail,and hind feet.At the time,just before Trapp came home,Earnie had 2,quarter size areas on both hind legs.

A vet visit confirmed indeed hot spots,but what I had in first aid box for them,was not helping at all,becuase he could reach them,and chew himself raw.
Vet put him on a short cycle of steroids,and gave me this medication to apply.It only took a drop of it.At the time it also was confirmed an allergy to corn,wheat. The liquid medication,we only used a drop of it on each area,and it immediately dried to produce a layer of protection,and stopped the itch,so he would leave it alone.
He was so bad,that not only were we treating externally & also internal,to get it under control.,so he would begin to heal.

We always thought it was just a seasonal enviormental thing,since it really only happened big outbursts in spring,summer.But it was'nt.

So with a good bath,change of foods,tablespoon of local honey,& meds..he was a new dog in 2 weeks or less.It is also when I started using VP.

Thankfully he has not had one hotspot in almost 2 years~

I always had used Sulfadene(Walmart)~ and with great success most times.
 
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