Hot spots on dogs, also known as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis, are painful, fast-spreading skin infections. They can grow from a tiny red patch to an oozing sore in just hours, especially if your dog keeps licking or scratching. 

Left untreated, they can develop into deeper bacterial skin lesions and recurring issues. Let’s talk more about it so we can protect our dogs from these painful sores.

What Causes Hot Spots on Dogs?

Hot spots don’t just pop up for no reason. There’s always a trigger, a cause, that should be looked into. But here’s the good news: most of these causes are easy to spot once you know what to look for.

Let’s break it down into medically relevant categories. Here are the common causes of hot spots on dogs:

Skin Allergies

Skin allergies are a common enemy, just like hot spots. These can include:

• Environmental allergies. Pollen, grass, mold, and dust can cause itching and irritation.

• Food allergies. Specific ingredients, including chicken, beef, and soy. 

• Flea allergies. Flea bites can introduce the saliva, which some dogs are allergic to. 

External Parasites

Fleas, ticks, and mites are parasites that can cause a lot of itching for dogs. When these parasites bite or burrow into the skin, they can cause irritation that causes excessive scratching or licking. This behavior damages the skin and creates the perfect conditions for bacteria to take hold and form a hot spot.

Poor Grooming

When a dog’s coat is neglected, mats and tangles can form, trapping dirt, bacteria, and moisture close to the skin. This creates irritation and inflammation, increasing the likelihood of hot spots in your dog. Because of this, regular grooming is very important, especially for dogs with thick fur.

Additionally, dogs with thick or long fur are particularly vulnerable to hot spots caused by trapped moisture. After swimming, bathing, or even getting caught in the rain, moisture can linger under their coat if they aren’t dried thoroughly. 

This means that it’s important to dry your dog off after a swim or bath.

The damp environment encourages bacterial growth, which can quickly lead to a hot spot. Yes, even leaving your dog wet can be a problem. It’s all in the little things.

Skin Trauma

Matted fur, post-surgery licking, and even small wounds can create localized irritation. When dogs start chewing or licking, these areas start to become a bigger problem, hot spots. This is also a way for opportunistic bacteria to come and cause secondary infections.

Infections

Sometimes, hot spots are secondary to another issue, such as a skin or ear infection. For example, a dog with an ear infection might scratch or rub the area excessively, creating the conditions for a hot spot to form. Hot spots can start small and, if not addressed, can worsen and lead to more infections.

Infections in other parts of the body can also cause localized irritation that leads to these lesions.

Stress or Boredom

Dogs can bite or chew on their skin whenever they get too stressed or bored. This can damage the skin’s barrier and result in lesions, wounds, and hot spots in dogs. 

Stress often comes from changes in their lives, illness, separation anxiety, and more. Boredom happens when dogs don’t get the fulfilling exercise or stimulation they require. 

Orthopedic Pain or Underlying Disease

Dogs with joint pain, such as arthritis, may lick the affected area excessively, especially on the elbows or hips. Other issues, including hypothyroidism, can dry their skin, prompting them to bite and chew the affected areas.

Any health issue that affects their skin and irritates it can cause dogs chew on it to alleviate the pain. 

What Do Hot Spots Look Like on Dogs?

Acute moist dermatitis spreads rapidly and presents intense itching. These areas look like painful, red, inflamed, and raw lesions. The sores are often moist or oozing pus, making the surrounding skin matted or crusty. They may also feel warm or even hot to the touch. 

Additionally, there’ll be other signs that accompany the main sores. 

Behavioral Changes

One of the first signs of hot spots is how a dog’s behavior changes. Dogs with hot spots will be visibly disturbed and uncomfortable. They tend to lick it nonstop in an attempt to relieve the irritation. Unfortunately, this only makes the problem worse. 

Obvious Irritation

Constant licking, chewing, or scratching creates more problems and worsens the condition of your dog’s skin. 

Skin Changes and Hair Loss

As the hot spot progresses, you might see swelling or thickened skin around the area. In severe cases, scabs or crusty patches can develop as the skin tries to repair itself. This repetitive activity can cause fur to fall out, resulting in bald spots and thinning fur.