Hot Spots
Keep It Clean
Clean the area with an antibacterial soap like phisoderm or any mild, nonperfumed soap.
Another way to keep it clean is to dab it with a cotton swab soaked in an antiseptic solution such as Betadine Solution.
If you can trim the hair away from the spot it will help you keep the spot clean.
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Remedies
1. 2 Adult Aspirin
1 Tablespoon Rubbing Alcohol
1 Tea Bag [made into 1 cup of warm water]
Dissolve aspirin in alcohol; add to cup of tea. Let cool. Clip hair around spot. Apply to area with cotton ball. Follow with over-the-counter cortisone spray or creme. Repeat as necessary.
2. Soak a cotton ball in cooled, brewed "black tea". It's contains tannic acid which helps to dry up the area, and aid in healing.
3. Burow's Solution (aluminum acetate) three times a day will keep the area dry and promote healing. Burow's solution is available in pharmacies.
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Ease the Inflammation
1. Apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream. 1% concentration, twice daily.
2. Apply vitamin E gel (buy the capsules and open them) to the hot spot twice a day.
3. Apply the gel from an aloe vera plant.
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If the hot spot has not improved in 24 hours you should call a veterinarian. Hot spots can turn into dangerous bacterial infections.
Hot Spots
Hot Spots happen more often than not on a broken or rough coated dog who, for one reason or another, is exposed to more heat or humidity than his/her system likes.
Some people maintain that they are the result of an allergy -- generally to fleas. I don't know how valid this is. I do know that in order to keep a hot spot from getting too severe, you must take immediate action.
If possible, clip the fur shorter so that heat/humidity isn't trapped under the outer coat. Then, to help with the itching, add Vitamin C which is a natural antihistamine to help control the irritation. Add essential fatty acids to the dog's diet. You can go to your vet and pay a lot of money for Omega 3 EFA's -- or you can go to the drug store and pick up cod liver oil which is Omega 3 EFA's. Salmon oil is also good. If you want to take into account the full spectrum of EFA's , both the Omega 3 and the Omega 6, then you should visit your health food store. They should have something suitable.
If the hot spot is oozing, then apply powdered goldenseal or a mixture of goldenseal and myrrh. This will help dry the area out and heal at the same time. Don't worry if your dog licks at this powder. It won't hurt him/her and will even help her heal if taken internally. I have found, however, that dog's don't like the taste of this all by itself, so it actually can be a deterrent to licking of the area.
If the area is scabby and dry, apply the goldenseal/myrrh ointment that you make yourself or that you have purchased in a health food store. You can also use an antibiotic ointment that you get in the drug store, but be aware that the base for those ointments is petroleum based and not necessarily good for your dog to ingest.
Ointment Recipe
1/3 cup of Olive or other vegetable oil
1 tbls beeswax
1 tbls myrrh powder
1 tbls goldenseal [cut herb is best]
pinch of citric acid [optional] [used as a preservative]
· Gently heat oil, myrrh and goldenseal over low heat for about 20 minutes.
· Strain oil through a coffee filter. [This can take a while]
· Re-measure the oil. Restore to 1/3 cup
· In a double boiler, heat the oil and beeswax until the wax is completely melted
· Remove from heat. Stir in citric acid.
· Pour into sterilized jar and allow to cool before capping
· Store in the refrigerator.
Note: If you have vitamin E capsules around, pierce it and substitute the contents for the citric acid.
Lemon Skin Tonic
· bring 1 pint of water to a boil and remove from heat
· add 1 thinly sliced lemon
· allow to steep overnight or all day
· strain liquid
The liquid can be put into a spray bottle, squeeze bottle or just a container. Apply liberally to the coat of the dog and rub in so that the skin is wet.
Lemons are very good for the skin and contain limonene which is an effective insect repellent. The Lemon actually dissolves fleas' waxy coating causing dehydration and death of the flea.