Golden Retriever Hot Spots Treatment: Golden Guide 2021
Even dogs may experience various skin issues especially if you own a dog breed that has a beautiful, thick coat. Included in the list of these dog breeds are, no doubt, the Golden Retriever. They generally have a lustrous, long thick coat that makes them really adorable. Because of that, they are highly susceptible to have hot spots. With that, it is very important as a pet owner to know the Golden Retriever hot spots treatment.
In this blog post, we detailed the different approaches for the treatment of hot spots on Golden Retriever. To deeply understand what treatment youll have to employ, we also have here a quick overview of it discussing the causes of hot spots and their symptoms. So, if you are ready to give your Goldies the care that they need, check on it below.
Veterinary Treatment Of Hot Spots
If your dogs hot spot is very painful or not responding to treatment at home, then a prompt visit to the vet is necessary.
1. Sedation may be given in order to reduce pain and stress during treatment. Your veterinarian may recommend fasting your dog for up to 12 hours before the appointment.
2. After sedation and pain relief have been given, the surrounding fur will be shaved, and the wound will be thoroughly cleaned.
3. Systemic antibiotics and pain medication will often be prescribed by your vet to get the infection and inflammation under control.
4. An Elizabethan collar may be needed, depending on the location of the hot spot.
5. Your veterinarian will also examine your dog for signs of an underlying cause for the hot spot, such as allergies, ear infection or skin parasites. Further treatment recommendations can then be made, based on their findings.
Treating Hot Spots In Dogs
Anything that irritates your dog’s skin will cause him to scratch and chew to relieve the itching. While scratching can create lesions on the skin, chewing can be even worse. The moisture left behind stays in the fur and irritates the skin underneath.
When your dog chews insistently at the same spot, that moisture can cause a hot spot. The affected area will be itchy, resulting in more chewing. Thus, the issue will quickly spread.
Proper grooming can help to prevent hot spots on dogs. Dogs with matted hair and dirty coats are more susceptible to skin irritation. Because hot spots are caused by moisture, dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors in wet weather or enjoy swimming often are also more prone to developing hot spots.
Treating this skin condition can usually be done at home without a trip to the vet, but if your dog suffers from severe or chronic hot spots regularly, a chat with your veterinarian is a good idea. If your dog isn’t a chronic sufferer, the best hot spot dog home remedy treatments will save you time and money.
Don’t Miss: Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel Cross
Dog Hot Spot Home Remedy: 9 Easy Remedies & Treatments
Perhaps youre familiar with the dog hot spot drama: you come home and call your dogs name, only to find them digging their teeth into their own skin with frightening force. You try to get them to stop, and maybe they do for a minute, but theyre right back at it as soon as youre not looking. You finally take a look at whats bothering them and discover a red, hot, oozing, sore that looks painful to touch. You panic, and your dog continues to lick the area aggressively. Eventually, ask yourself, Is there a home remedy for these hot spots on my dog?
No one enjoys seeing their dog suffer, and the sight of an infectious hot spot is almost just as unbearable. These spots are a major pain for your dog, but theyre easy to treat at home with the right ingredients.
Address Underlying Health Conditions
If your Golden Retriever suffers with chronic hot spots, it can be frustrating. Your conventional vet may treat your furry frequent flyer with antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines which heal the sores, but dont address the underlying reasons for those frequent hot spots. A skin condition is not simply a skin condition it is the symptom of an underlying problem. Medications like oral steroids suppress the immune system, but dont address the reason that immune system is not doing its job.
Treating those underlying conditions is the third step in managing your dogs hot spots. If your conventional vet doesnt want to look for underlying causes of chronic hot spots, consider adding a Holistic Vet to your dogs health care team.
A skin condition isnt just a skin condition it is the symptom of an underlying problem.
Also Check: Golden Retriever Puppies Ohio Rescue
What Are Hot Spots
Medically classified as a form of acute moist dermatitis, Hot Spots are infected areas of the skin that appear abruptly with no early warning signs. Hot Spots can occur anywhere on the Goldens body, but they are most commonly located on the neck, face, hips, or limbs.
Left untreated, these red, itchy, and inflamed areas of the skin will double in size in a matter of hours and can spread rapidly to the rest of the dogs body.
Can A Hot Spot Heal On Its Own
Not likely.
If a dogs skin has gotten to the point where he cannot naturally heal an infection, he will need our help.
A growing bacterial infection is worsened with moisture and warmth. Since dogs want to scratch and lick the area , the wounds will be difficult to heal without our assistance.
If the wound is not kept clean and dry, it can develop into a deep tissue wound. When this happens, your dog will be in significant pain and at risk of the infection growing and entering his bloodstream. Blood infections can potentially be serious, and even fatal.
Hot spots can be treated naturally without harsh, conventional treatments like steroids, antihistamines and antibiotics. Heres how.
You May Like: Sketch Of Golden Retriever
Final Thoughts Golden Retriever Rash On Belly
Sometimes the golden retriever rash on the belly and other parts does not come from one source, it may come from multiple sources. The best way to fight them if the situation still under control is to make sure that your dog is healthy and well-groomed.
There is actually no better way to prevent rashes and other health conditions if you are just consistently maintaining your dogs health. Proper diet, meeting nutritional needs, and intake of dog supplements play a vital role in diminishing any problems that may arise in your dogs health.
Apple Cider Vinegar Coconut Oil
1 User Review
As soon as the weather warmed up, my dog developed a large red spot on his back around his tail area. It was very painful. I cut the hair away, washed the area with half water half Apple Cider Vinegar and oil of lavender. It DID NOT burn or sting him, in fact I could tell it felt good. In one day all redness was gone and two days later it was scabbed over and not bothering him at all. I put this on him 2x per day and it resolved the problem. I also started giving him a spoon of coconut oil everyday with his food. It helps keep his skin and hair moist. Whenever I forget to give him the coconut oil, his skin gets very dry and he starts itching like crazy. It really helps to prevent skin issues when given regularly. It should be cold pressed coconut oil.
I believe this solution would work for a cat also in that all of the ingredients have been used on cats with benefit whereas many natural products can harm a cat since their liver can’t process some things like a human or dog can. DMSO doesn’t smell good but is preferable to watching your dog/cat suffer and/or spending lots of money on ineffective things from the vet and the scent doesn’t last all that long.
Suggestion for all those dogs with hot spots:
Just dissolve epsom salts in Heinz ACV until no more will dissolve and swab those hot spots out about 4 times a day. I am sure that neither ES or ACV will harm your dog.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Read Also: How Much Food Should I Feed My Golden Retriever Puppy
What Causes Hot Spots On Golden Retriever
Hot Spots on dogs are usually caused by an underlying condition that causes excessive licking or itchiness. They will excessively scratch or lick inflamed or painful parts of their skin to ease the discomfort. This can be a vicious circle as they will further spread the infection and make it worse.
The most common causes of Hot Spots are:
- Excessive chewing, scratching, or licking of skin area
- Matted and moisty hair around lesions
- Treatment for Hot Spots
When you start suspecting your Golden Retriever might have a Hot Spot, act quickly and decisively. Any delay will cause worsening of the problem and will cause considerable discomfort and pain to your dog.
The first thing you need to do is to visit your vet. He will then perform an extensive physical examination to determine an underlying cause. Once the main culprit has been found, your vet will prescribe appropriate treatment. In most cases, the dogs condition will improve rapidly. Typically it takes 3-7 days from the start of the treatment to resolve the Hot Spots.
Few steps will help treat, ease, and prevent the spreading of the Hot Spots on your Golden Retriever.
- Clean the infected area with antiseptic
- Apply an Elizabethan collar to prevent further scratching and licking
- Clip the hair around lesions to prevent matting
- Use Antibiotics and steroids to treat and control secondary bacterial infections and inflammation
What Causes Hot Spots On Dogs
Youll need to watch your dog closely to figure this out. Try to remember what has happened recently in his life that might have caused the hot spot:
Insect Bite Has he been somewhere where he might have been bitten by an insect?
Summer Heat Is his coat matted so the skin underneath cant breathe? This might happen to a thick or double-coated dog in summer.
Food sensitivities Has he eaten anything unusual that might have caused an allergic reaction?
Environmental allergens Has he been around grass, pollen or mold? What about swimming in scummy pond water?
Injury or instability in the body Does he have a sore spot, such as an achy hip or knee that hes been licking or chewing?
Fleas Does he have fleas? Flea allergy dermatitis can also cause hot spots.
Skin infection is your dog prone to skin problems? Excessive scratching or chewing can cause a hot spot.
Hot spots can be triggered by stress as well:
- Does he get upset being home alone?
- Is there some other change in his home situation that could have caused stress?
Theres one other thing thats good to know, and thats whether the hot spots are acute or chronic
You May Like: Lab Vs Golden Retriever Pros And Cons
Oatmeal Bath For Itchy Dogs
- Oatmeal is an age-old remedy for our dry, itchy skin that happens to be safe for use on our canine friends too! In fact, most doggy hypoallergenic shampoos include oatmeal as an active ingredient to soothe and fight irritation.
- Start by grinding plain oatmeal into a powder to sprinkle in your dogs warm bath. The oatmeal will typically take 10 to 15 minutes to cool down red, angry skin, no matter the cause. It is also nontoxic, so its okay if your pet licks some off during their long bath. If this sounds like a long time for your pup to be in the tub without a struggle, try some of our techniques to Curb Bath Time Fears.
- Another option to avoid a full-on bath is to make an oatmeal paste. Take your ground oatmeal and gradually add a little bit of water until you are left with a paste that has a spreadable consistency. Target spots that have been bothering your dog and make sure the paste is in contact with the skin on longer-haired dogs for maximum relief.
How To Prevent Hot Spots On Golden Retrievers
As we mentioned above, treating Hot Spots is fairly easy and quick if you find an underlying problem. If you want to prevent the reoccurrence of Hot Spots, you need to pinpoint what caused them in the first place.
These are the things you need to pay attention to in order to prevent Hot Spots on your Golden Retriever:
- Hygiene and Grooming
- Daily activity and exercise
- Good treatment of skin infections
- A proper and quality diet
- Using supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acid, coconut oil, Vitamin E, etc.
Also Check: Are Golden Retrievers Easy To Potty Train
Hot And Humid Conditions
Excessive moisture and heat foster the perfect environment for bacterial overgrowth. The bacteria infects the hair follicles and causes itchiness and irritation to your dog. The itchiness causes your dog to scratch like a maniac, and soon enough you have a hot spot on your hands.
Dogs with longer, more dense coats are more prone to this issue than dogs with shorter coats. And of course, the climate of your region affects the chances of your dog developing a hot spot due to humidity. If your dog tends to get mats in their fur, you should be extra careful and make sure that their coat is always well-maintained and dry. Mats can lock moisture close to your dogs skin and become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
Never Worry About Your Pets Health Care Again
Affordable alternative to pet insurance.
No price hikes. A complete pet healthcare plan.
Use promo code: HEAT for 2 free months
Nutrition and Health
Your dogs health is largely a function of his diet. Nutrients support the health of his skin and fur and his ability to fight infection and eliminate toxins.
Skin conditions are often a sign of underlying health conditions such as:
- food allergies
Food Allergies
GrainsOne of the most common culprits in skin conditions is a grain allergy. Unfortunately, grains are a cheap filler used in numerous dog food products, but arent necessary or useful for most dogs nutritional needs.
Try removing all grains from your dogs diet for at least two months. You may notice a slight uptick in skin problems as those grains are being eliminated from his system. However, many people notice improved skin health after 1-2 months.
Keep track of what your dog is eating and when he gets hot spots. Did you slip him a piece of pizza crust? Use a dog treat with grains? Its actually easy and inexpensive to make your own grain-free dog treats. We love this recipe for La-La-Lavender Dreams dog treats. You can leave out the herbs if you prefer, but they are calming and healing for skin conditions.
Cooling foods include:
Inner Health & Eliminating Toxins
Keeping your dog healthy enough to combat occasional infections requires good health from the inside out.
In addition to a whole foods diet, help your dog eliminate toxins naturally by:
Grooming
Pain
Don’t Miss: How To Trim Golden Retriever Paws
Apply A Soothing Treatment
After the hot spot wound is clean, you can apply a soothing treatment. Avoid using anything with stinging or astringent properties on an open wound. For a natural approach, try raw aloe or apply a cool chamomile tea bag to the infected area.
If you choose to use a cream or spray, make sure its pet-safe and veterinarian approved, like this hot spot spray for dogs by Great Life.
When Should You Go To The Veterinarian
Its important to go to the vet if you dont see improvement or if your dog has a fever or acts lethargic. A veterinarian can help determine the source of your dogs hot spots, whether its allergies, insect bites or otherwise.
You should see a doctor if there is bleeding, pus or excessive moisture if the symptoms dont improve within a day or two, adds Bern. Anything more than a small area of reddened skin should be looked at.
You May Like: Best Way To Train Golden Retriever Puppy
How Do Hot Spots Form
When the skin is pruritic , scratching and licking will occur, which often leads to secondary trauma of the skin. The coat traps moisture that allows an opportunistic bacterial infection, usually caused by Staphylococcus intermedius. The infection causes hot spots and often leads to further irritation. If not treated, the dog will continue to scratch, and thereby spread the infection to other areas of the skin.
The following is the simplest conventional treatment that inflicts the least stress on dogs. And it almost always works!
Hot Spot Healing Stages
Once your vet has started treating the hot spot, your dog will likely improve rapidly. It usually takes between three and seven days for a hot spot to dry out and start to heal. Your pets fur should start growing back in about two weeks. If your pup is still having issues after a week or two, be sure to get in touch with your vet.
Unfortunately, if your dog has experienced hot spots once, chances are they might get them again. Taking preventive measures like flea control and proper grooming can help decrease the risk of recurrence.
If your pet experiences chronic hot spots, it might be a good idea to speak to your vet about getting your pup tested for food and skin allergies, joint problems, and hypothyroidism.
Also Check: Pyrenees Golden Mix
What Is The Cost Of Treating Hot Spots On Dogs
If you treat the hot spots with urgency then the costs should be relatively inexpensive. The main costs incurred would be from the veterinarians consultation and possible drug costs. However, if the hot spots are left untreated, severely damaged skin can die off and leave a wound. This can significantly increase costs as well as increase the time required to heal.