Hot Spots Symptoms Dogs | Hot Spots Symptoms Canine

When asking the question; Is your canine is suffering from hot spots? Your undivided attention is paid to certain spots of their coat. Seeing dogs constantly licking, scratching and biting a particular part of their body is cause for further investigation. Although all dogs scratch and lick themselves as part of their self grooming regiment, more aggressive and targeted attacks on themselves should be addressed immediately.

You may also notice a change in their behavior. Some dogs that were once timid or docile; suddenly become more agitated and snap when approached. This is an obvious indication that something is off kilter. Should your pet display this kind of unusual behavior, take a look at the areas they are trying to get at, but be careful because hot spots on dogs will put them in an irritated state and your pet may not take too kindly to being touched.

To identify hot spots on dogs, examine their fur and look first to the spots that are wet and raw by your dog’s chewing and licking. Most likely you will see a loss of hair where they have managed to pull it out in order to get to the infection. The afflicted spots will most likely be circular in shape and the skin red and even bleeding. Typical of this condition will be a raw texture to the hide which can be attributed to both the infection and the dog’s constant self mutilation to find relief. Often the hot spots will ooze slimy pus which can be clear in color but will change to yellow and green as the infection deepens. These infected areas will be quite painful to your pet and are accompanied by a foul odor.

Pets that suffer from hot spots are usually afflicted with other ailments. Flea infestations, bug bites and ear mites are common partners to superficial pyoderma. One affliction doesn’t always preclude the other however when dogs are affected by insect invasions they very often will create further infection and hot spots on dogs will appear. Allergies can be developed are a result of skin infections especially if there is an over use of antibiotics as part of the treatment.

Sometimes hot spots on dogs can be an indication of developing illnesses or may be the result of simply coming into contact with an environmental antagonist such as brier brush, stickers or any manner of rough plant life that can scratch and embed itself under the flesh. Once that happens dogs will attempt to extract the seed pod or matter from their fur. In most cases it is a simple task to get rid of hot spots on dogs. But if left untreated, the natural instinct of the animal is to continue attacking the area. Because dogs don’t reason as humans do, they will go on with this behavior even if the result is more damage than relief.