Heal Hotspots At-Home with Natural Remedies
If you’re a dog parent, you’ve probably discovered a hotspot on your pup at some point in their lives and felt unsure on how to treat their delicate skin - You’re not alone! Hotspots are one of the most common skin conditions dogs suffer from and are most commonly self-induced - An itchy pup will scratch an itch so vigorously that it creates an open wound, a.k.a the hotspot. The initial itchiness may be prompted by various reasons, so consider your pup’s lifestyle and any recent changes to it - Your dog may have food or environmental allergies, fleas, a dirty or matted coat, moisture trapped beneath the coat from swimming or bathing, stress or boredom resulting in excessive licking, or a skin infection that is causing the hotspot.
These painful, oozing sores can appear suddenly and spread to surrounding areas quickly if left untreated. While tending to hotspots can feel difficult to approach on your own, they can be prevented and treated with proper routine care and management (however, if your pup develops hot spots frequently, consult with your veterinarian to determine if there’s a larger underlying health issue!). We hope that after reviewing the following information you’ll feel you have the tools and knowledge needed to confidently further prevent, treat at home, and know when to seek out veterinary help for advanced hotspot treatment.
Treatment-Prep
When treating your dog's hot spot at home, there are a few steps to prep and cleanse the area:
Trim the surrounding fur before applying treatment. Ensure that you trim the hair around the area, at least an inch around the wound - Doing so will boost the effectiveness of topical ointments to soak into the skin, prevent hair from causing further irritation, and prevent moisture from being trapped there later, which will prevent future hot spots and spreading.
Clean the infected hot spot area with a non-irritating solution, such as a mild antiseptic soap (baby shampoo, or unscented hand soap) or antiseptic spray, and warm water. Pat dry and allow it to dry completely before applying topical treatment.
Run a lukewarm bath and soak the injury, or soak in a medicated bath. Cleansing with something like an oatmeal bath can relax your dog and soothe their itchy skin. Be sure to clean thoroughly and brush well - If there are matted areas on their coat, it can lead to a spread of hot spots in those areas as well (*mats trap moisture and debris beneath the fur, which prevent the skin from breathing and healing*)
Natural Healing Topicals
Organic Coconut Oil is a great antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal topical for hot spots. Use unrefined, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil, such as this one by Wholistic Pets. Apply the coconut oil to a cotton ball and dab on affected area multiple times per day.
Natural Dog Co. Skin Soother Balm is great for nourishing the skin. This all-organic balm not only treats and heals hot spots, but also redness and inflammation, rashes, allergy irritations, cuts and wounds, bug bites, and more. Antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory, Skin Soother does it all! Learn more about this product
Manuka Honey is known for its natural healing and antifungal properties. When applied to minor wounds and cuts, honey helps eliminate bacterial infections, reduce inflammation, swelling and pain, along with stimulating the growth of new skin cells. Apply the honey directly onto the wound, but do not wrap it - To heal properly, hotspots need to breathe. Instead, bring out the cone of shame (sorry puppa😣) to redirect your dog from licking, scratching, or itching the area while it’s healing. Learn more about Manuka Honey for dogs
Preventative Care
Consistent groom schedule - Professionally bathing your pup on a 4-6 week schedule is a wonderful way to monitor their skin health on a routine basis. Your groomer will examine their ears, nails, skin and more, and can often spot potential skin abnormalities or inflammation while there’s still time to act. Read more about the benefits of monthly grooming.
Daily exercise and playtime - Keep boredom to a minimum by taking your dog on walks, park dates, play dates; and ensure they have plenty of their favorite toys to play with or a bone/interactive treat toy to keep them busy.
Allergy and skin irritation management - The most important preventative care of hotspots is avoiding continued irritation of the area and skin. Keep a close eye on your pup, their skin condition, and determine the cause for your dog’s case. If the hotspot cause appears to be allergy based, daily allergy chews and feeding local, organic honey are an effective way to manage environmental allergies naturally (though allergy medication may be necessary in some cases). Regular grooming will help with this, but always ensure to dry thoroughly when their coat becomes wet from bathing or swimming.
When to Call Your Vet
If there is any sign of infection (pus, significant bleeding, the site is very red and tender).
If it's your dog's first hot spot (Your dog may have risk factors that predispose them or a previously unknown allergy)
If your dog gets hot spots regularly - Your dog may have a food or environmental allergy, suffer from anxiety, or lick in a specific area due to pain. Your veterinarian will know what steps to take next.
* Please note, not all hotspot cases are solvable at home, depending on the primary cause. If you take your dog to the vet, you can expect your veterinarian to likely treat the hotspot using a combination of oral antibiotics, anti-itch medication, and an e-collar, depending upon the severity. Additional medications may be necessary to treat the underlying cause (flea prevention, allergy medication, and ear medication, etc.)