Alex Seilis
Hot spots on dogs can be painful and stressful for both you and your dog. These irritated, red sores can show up quickly and spread fast, causing your dog a lot of discomfort.
Luckily, with the right care, you can help your dog feel better naturally and get rid of the hot spots.
In today's guide, we’ll talk about what hot spots are, what causes them, and how you can help your dog heal naturally.
What Are Hot Spots On Dogs?
Hot spots, also called acute moist dermatitis, are red, itchy, and sometimes oozy spots on your dog’s skin. They can start small but grow big very quickly ... often in just a few hours!
When your dog keeps licking, scratching, or chewing the area, it can make the hot spot worse.
Hot spots usually show up on your dog’s face, neck, chest, or legs, but they can appear anywhere on her body.
These sores can be painful and might get infected if not treated right away. It’s important to catch them early and start helping your dog heal.
What Causes Hot Spots On Dogs?
To help your dog’s hot spot heal, you first need to figure out what caused them.
Hot spots can come from many things, like bug bites, poor grooming, or allergies.
Things like hot weather or humidity can also make hot spots worse, especially for dogs with thick fur.
Fleas, food allergies, or things like pollen or mold can also cause a reaction that leads to hot spots.
Even stress and boredom can cause hot spots because some dogs lick or chew themselves when they’re anxious.
Regardless of the cause, getting some idea of why the hot spot happened will help you stop it from coming back in the future.
Acute Vs. Chronic Hot Spots
Before you try to treat hot spots, it's also key to understand that they can be either acute or chronic.
Acute hot spots come on quickly and may clear up fast if treated properly. These are often caused by things like bug bites, allergies, or even a sudden change in your dog’s routine.
Chronic hot spots, however, keep coming back. They might be a sign of a deeper issue, like stress, liver imbalance, or muscle pain. If your dog gets hot spots often, it’s important to talk to a holistic vet to figure out what’s causing the problem
The Best Natural Treatment For Hot Spots On Dogs
So how can you treat dog hot spots naturally? It's all about healing both the outside of your dog’s body and the inside.
Here's what you need to do to get those canine hot spots treated ... so you can prevent hair loss and other problems.
Natural Rinses
Natural rinses are great for soothing hot spots and helping them heal. You can make a simple rinse at home.
Before making your rise, start by trimming the hair around the hot spot so the area can stay clean and dry. Then, gently clean the area to remove pus and any dead skin.
Now you can apply an herbal rinse using ingredients like salt, water, and herbal tinctures such as self-heal or echinacea.
Here's a recipe we like:
- 8 oz boiled, cooled filtered water
- 20 drops Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris)
- 10 drops echinacea tincture
- 10 drops crab apple flower essence
- 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
Simply apply as a mist and let it dry. You can do this 3 or 4 times in the first 24 hours.
These herbs have calming and cleansing properties that help stop bacteria from growing. Just spray or gently dab the rinse onto the hot spot a few times a day. Always make sure to let the area dry properly after rinsing.
Healing Powders And Topical Remedies
Using healing powders and topical remedies can also speed up your dog’s recovery.
Powders made from natural ingredients like bentonite clay and plantain help dry out the hot spot and soothe irritated skin.
We recommend sprinkling bentonite clay alone on the area to start, and letting it sit for 30 to 45 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water or the herbal rinse above. You can do this 2 or 3 times a day.
You can also apply an herbal salve made from calendula or St. John’s wort to ease itching and promote skin repair.
Just be sure to wait until the hot spot has started to heal before applying any thick creams, so you don’t trap moisture in the sore.
Healing From The Inside Out
Hot spot treatment isn’t just about treating the skin conditions of the affected area. You also need to help your dog heal from the inside out. This will help prevent the issue from recurring in the future. Feeding your dog fresh, whole foods is a great start.
It’s also important to support your dog’s immune system and digestive health to stop hot spots from coming back. Feeding whole, fresh foods and giving your dog natural supplements, like probiotics and enzymes, can help strengthen his body from the inside out.
Together, these nutrients can help support your dog’s immune system, support digestion, and give the body what it needs to repair itself, making future hot spots less likely.
Supporting Detoxification And Lymphatic Health
Detoxification is important to get rid of toxins that might be causing your dog’s hot spots. The lymphatic system plays a key role in healing by removing waste and transporting white blood cells.
Herbs like calendula and cleavers can help stimulate the lymphatic system, support a healthy inflammatory response and the body’s natural ability to fight off infections.
You can also support your dog’s liver and kidneys with herbs like milk thistle and dandelion, which may help these organs detox better.
Why Use Natural Alternatives For Treating Hot Spots?
It's tempting to immediately grab Neosporin, peroxide, or Benadryl for your dog's hot spot. But these things should generally be avoided.
- Neosporin isn’t made for dogs and comes with a long list of side effects that can do more harm than good.
- Peroxide can damage the skin and delay healing.
- Benadryl is an anti-histamine that suppresses the body’s natural healing response ... and it's easy to overuse.
Natural remedies are often safer and more effective than these conventional treatments.
Herbs like calendula and hypericum (St. John’s Wort) are great for soothing the skin, reducing itching, and promoting fast healing.
You can also use black tea to help dry out the hot spot, as its tannins fight bacteria and soothe irritation.
Another option is colostrum, which helps support the immune system and repair the skin when applied as a paste.
These natural alternatives treat the underlying cause of the hot spot, and can help your dog heal fully without the use of harsher medications.
FAQ
How do you treat hotspots on dogs? To treat hot spots on dogs, start by cleaning the area, trimming matted fur, and using natural remedies like calendula or herbal rinses to soothe irritation and support a healthy skin barrier. In some cases, you may need to prevent your dog from scratching with an Elizabethan collar to promote healing.
Will a dogs hot spot go away on its own? Hot spots will not go away on their own; if untreated, they can worsen due to persistent licking or scratching, especially in dogs with thick coats or those who swim frequently.
What does a hot spot look like on a dog? A hot spot on a dog appears as a red, moist, and irritated area of skin, often with hair loss and oozing, which worsens when the dog scratches or licks it.
Can you put Neosporin on a dog's hot spot? Neosporin is not recommended for treating a dog's hot spot as it can cause more harm than good; it can be better to use natural alternatives that support healing before turning to oral antibiotics or topical medication.
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