Hot spots are one of the most common skin conditions in dogs, it can become painful and very itchy particularly in the summer months, and if you have a breed that has a long, beautiful, and thick coat, like Golden Retrievers, you have probably asked yourself what causes Hot spot on Golden Retriever, and what should you do to prevent it.
Luckily, in this article, we are going to share with you everything you need to know about hot spots on Golden Retriever—from what are hot spots and what causes hot spots on Golden Retrievers to how to treat hot spot on Golden Retriever and several ways to prevent it.
Table of Contents
What Are Hot Spots?
Hot Spots are a form of canine pyoderma which also known as canine Pyo traumatic dermatitis, acute moist dermatitis, or summer sores. These names accurately describe the infected area of skin that is moist, red, itchy, and very painful.
Since these hot spots are on the outer layer of skin, you can easily spot them anywhere on a dog’s body, but the most common sites are the head, legs, and hips. These painful, smelly sores may be very obvious or maybe hidden beneath matted fur, so it is very important to check your golden coat once in a while because a hot spot on Golden Retriever can double in size within hours and can spread quickly if not treated.
What Causes Hot Spots On Golden Retrievers?
Hot spots are often triggered by self-trauma, when a dog scratches an itchy spot vigorously he creates an open wound which can result in inflammation and secondary bacterial infections.
Unfortunately, this self-trauma only makes the infected area itchier, which causes more itching followed by more licking, biting, and scratching. This unfortunate cycle is the main cause of the self-trauma that creates hot spots. Thus, any condition that causes your dog to feel itchy has the potential to result in a hot spot on Golden Retriever. Here are some Common reasons that cause hot spots on golden retrievers;
- Coat that is dirty or matted
- Contact irritants
- Parasites
- Food allergies
- Anal sac disease
- Moisture trapped
Many of these conditions are chronic problems that can lead to recurring hot spots if they are not appropriately treated. In a very short period of time, hot spots can dramatically increase in size, so if you ignored a pinpoint area of redness on your beloved dog, be sure that at the end of the day you will find that pinpoint area of redness triple the size so by addressing and identifying what causes hot spots on golden retrievers you will be preventing any future skin problems.
Symptoms Of Hot Spot On Golden Retriever
Your Golden Retriever’s behavior might be the first hint he has a hot spot. Obsessive, licking, scratching, or biting is a telltale sign that something is wrong with your dog, however, many skin conditions have similar symptoms, so it is important to visit your vet if you have any concerns.
Any dog regardless of age or breed can get a hot spot, but shepherds, rottweilers, Labradors, and long-haired breeds such as Saint Bernard and Golden Retrievers tend to be more susceptible than other breeds, hot spots are also more common in warm weather, case numbers rise more in the summer months.
Here are some indicators of a hot spot that may help you avoid a hot spot on Golden Retriever;
- Swelling of skin area
- Hair Loss
- Itchy painful skin area
- Moist, Matted Hair around lesions
- Dry Scaly Skin
- Redness of skin area
How To Prevent Hot Spot On Golden Retriever
Preventing hot spots is always best. Hot spots don’t just occur, but rather develop from skin damage and irritation from underlying conditions, So, here are a few ways to help prevent your Golden from ever having to deal with itchy and painful hot spots;
a. Firstly, exercise your dog more often, it is important to make sure that your dog is getting plenty of mental and physical exercise every day, so he won’t get a hot spot from boredom, in other words, distract your golden with activities such as hiking, morning walks and put all your dog’s food in stuffed toys to protect him from hot spots.
b. Secondly, brush your golden regularly to help prevent mats and get air to the skin, golden retrievers are known for having long-haired. So by brushing them you are giving them the best hot spot golden retriever treatment that they will ever need, it’s also the best way to check on your dog’s health, prevent hot spots, and bond.
c. Thirdly, make sure you are giving your dog a proper diet. What you feed your dog can make a big difference as to how healthy your golden can be. So feed your golden balanced meals to promote a healthy immune system
d. Fourthly, try to add some supplements, giving supplements like fatty acids is another option to prevent and manage skin disease because Omega-3 contains fatty acids, ALA, and EPA which you can only get them from fish oil.
These fatty acids not only help promote a healthy skin, but also have anti-inflammatory properties, making your dog less susceptible to allergies and infection.
Topical aloe vera may also help decrease itching and damaged skin, it is going to ensure your dog does not ingest the aloe, which can result in vomiting and diarrhea.
How To Treat Hot Spot On Golden Retriever?
When you are trying to treat your golden retriever from a hot spot, you need to be very cautious because hot spots can be extremely painful, thus, you may need some drugs and, prescription antibiotics if the infection is severe, hence you need to visit a veterinarian to evaluate the hot spot.
In case you can’t make it to the vet right away, there are a few hot spot golden retriever treatment you can try at home to give your Golden some relief. Here’s five-steps on how to treat hot spot on golden retriever;
a. Trim carefully the fur around the lesion. If you’re using scissors, make sure to hold them, so the blades are parallel to your dog’s skin, so you won’t accidentally injure your dog if they jump or move suddenly. If the affected area is big, consider shaving it. Because Golden retrievers coat traps moisture easily, you need to dry their fur thoroughly.
b. Use warm water to clean the affected area, and gently dry them with a paper towel or clean cloth.
c. Apply a small amount of an over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment to stop itching and aid healing. However, be aware that OTC medications are not as effective as vet-prescribed hydrocortisone sprays and creams, so if your dog doesn’t seem more comfortable in a day or two, you must take him to the vet immediately.
d. Ensure your golden isn’t biting, licking, or scratching the hot spot. Hot spots heal better when they are dry and clean. Basically, you must avoid bandages, and make sure the hot spot is in exposure to air. However, that means an Elizabethan collar, or plastic cone, will probably be necessary. In some cases, your vet may prescribe a short course of an anti-inflammatory or allergy medication to make your dog more comfortable.
e. You need to keep an eye on the hot spot. Visit the vet as soon as the hot sport spreads, for some oral antibiotics, another topical medication, pain medications, or allergy medications.
Hot spots are a painful and itchy problem for your Golden Retriever and may become a dangerous issue if the underlying condition is not addressed. Fortunately, with good hot spot golden retriever treatment, your dog’s problem will resolve fast and will not result in any permanent damage.
