As far as my experience goes, hot spots are an infection with unknown causes and can spread rapidly - my dog had one on his cheek and within 3 days it had doubled in size. Within a day of getting the correct anti biotics from the vets, his hot spot was noticably less raw and angry looking. I am not the expert here, but I do not think there is a natural remedy for hot spots.

OP, I have used an oatmeal shampoo to bathe my dog who had perpetually itchy skin condition. It helped the old guy ALOT.

Maybe there is also an anti-itch oatmeal spray.

Another thought is a product Aveeno makes (for humans), that is a blend of oatmeal and calamine lotion. I think calamine is okay to use topically for dogs, but is probably toxic if ingested. It isn't "natural".

My Saint Bernard gets hot spots on his hind quarters. I use Gold Bond powder. It clears right up.

I'll get some tonight. I've been using a prescription antibiotic powder from the vet and it appears to be working. I want something to work really fast because it's so difficult to keep him from licking the spot. First he had on the plastic cone and even with the largest one he managed to lick his back upper thigh. Then I bought this expensive one that wraps around the neck and the premise is because it's stiff it should hold his head straight and he not be able to turn it. NOT!! What I've finnally done and I know it's not real comfortable for him, is to put this thing, then a hand towel to thicken the area and then another wrap with the neck thing. This is one time I wish he was too fat to reach his hind legs. LOL

Thanks again.

it would help if you knew or told us what caused the hot spot. a bite, an allergy, sore bone or joint underneath the area, etc.

Well, I had to resort to going by the ER tonight to get even a larger plastic e-collar that he couldn't lick around. The other contraption is going back to UPCO for a credit. Too bad I also paid $25 next day air to get it here only to have it not work. I'm going to contact the company who makes them and see if they'll refund my shipping also. I'm furious, to say the least.

The cone from the ER is huge, but it keeps his mouth away from the spot.

I have been concerned about my groomer and what she may be using on the dogs. Recently I find their fur is not as soft and shiny as it should be. Also, I notice a lot of scratching when they have no fleas. I asked her to use oatmeal shampoo and not perfumes, but that lasted once and when I picked them up this last time they were full of that perfume. I don't trust her. So I'll have to struggle to bathe them myself till I find a competent groomer. Use to have the world's best groomer and she moved away.

I brought them to this one guy one time and he was a nut job. Told me I could stay while he groomed them. Actually one of the dogs was so freaked I had to. He whipped out a bottle of Ivory dish soap and I almost died. Maybe some dogs can handle being washed with that, but mine surely can't. They were so dried out. It's tough finding a competent groomer and one who doesn't abuse the animals.

Thanks everyone for your help.

I had a Shepard/Lab that had a history of skin issues. Hot spots were one of her specialties.

Out of extreme desperation for a corn allergy (and numerous mis-diagnosis from my vets) I discovered DMSO.

When I made this discovery 18 years ago, I was told that it was originally used for race horses to heal wounds on their sides. I tried it and it worked.

You can research the stuff on Google.

Good luck!

SG

todancewithwolves, the Gold Bond is a miracle cure! I took his e-collar off so he could eat in comfort and then put the Gold Bond on the hot spot. He never once has been annoyed by the spot since I put the powder on it. I swear that is amazing. Previously whenever I took the collar off to give him a break from it, he immediately tried to go back to licking the spot. I guess the GB has some great anti inflammatory properties. I'm going to put his e-collar on tonight before bedtime just to ensure the hot spot is safe from him during the night. I swear that Gold Bond is fabulous. I can't wait to tell my vet, she'll love hearing this news.

I'll have to start recommending that. Now I Rx antibiotics if infected (most are), plus a spray with hydrocortisone to stop itching, which works really well since I rarely have to Rx e-collars too. Sometimes for really bad cases I even Rx oral systemic steroids. GB sounds like a MUCH better option- I hate using steroids and it doesn't have any. Thanks for the tip!

meghane, I think it's still itching him because he does keep turning to mess with it. He doesn't do much however because the Gold Bond is so nasty tasting. The cortisone spray wasn't helping that I could tell. He's still on the antibiotics. It looks like it's healed, but he's still turning his head to "check it out". What is my next step, if you don't mind me imposing on your for an answer, if he keeps messing with it and it shows signs of being healed? I have him on Temeril P also, along with a low dose 4mg. of OTC antihistimine. Should I start considering the cause of maybe being food? What's weird is he doesn't scratch any place else, only licks this one spot.

He does have an anal gland problem and I thought that might be contributing to the problem or what brought it on. His groomer is suppose to express them when he goes for a grooming, but I don't think it's happening. The vet expressed them the other day when I brought him for the hot spot.

As soon as his hot spot is healed all the way I was going to bathe him with some oatmeal shampoo. Again, that groomer, was not bathing him with oatmeal like I asked. I also asked for her not to use perfume sprays, but that falls on deaf ears. LOL

He has a history of sensitive skin. In the past when he's gottten stung by a bee or just had some type of irratation on his toe, it was a big deal for him. It took cortizone injections to get him cleared up. The vet did give him only 20 mg (I think that's how they measure it), which is a very low dose for him. He weighs 65#. Do you think he should get another injection, but this time, the full dose?

Thanks for any recommendations you have for my next step at getting this problem cleared up.

Something else to consider is emu oil. I have had great success in using it on chronic cracked nose as well as when my ridgeback had 2 open sores on her foot that she licked ALOT. I applied 2x a day for about a month and they healed up beautifully. One of the perks of emu oil with dogs is a) it's natural and not a problem as far as ingestion ( not that you want them eating it, but licking will do no harm) and b) it stays on very well....takes 10ish hand washings to get it off completely and absorbs well.
LBF

He has a history of sensitive skin. In the past when he's gottten stung by a bee or just had some type of irratation on his toe, it was a big deal for him

your above statment makes me wonder if your dog has a staph hypersensitive issue. Check out this link below and discuss it with your vet.

Here is a link that might be useful: staph dermatitis & hypersensitity

Thanks for the information, but oh God I hope it's not that serious. I already have a cat I've been treating for 4 months who has feline leprosy. I don't need a dog with a serious skin problem too. LOL

Where is the hotspot? Lots of times there are patterns to location of hotspot and cause. A dog that scratches the heck out of its head and/or neck usually has an ear infection. Hotspots at the base of the tail are almost always caused by fleas. I have no idea why fleas prefer biting the butt-end, but it does seem to be that way. In a hypersensitive dog, you wouldn't need to see any fleas for the one errant flea to wreak major havoc. My own Aleksander was like that- one flea bite, and instant hotspot and ear infection +/- conjunctivitis. He was on TopSpot year round every single month, but in really bad flea seasons he'd still manage to get bit once or twice. I've seen hotspots over joints that the dog caused because of joint pain, but definitely more rare than flea, food, or environmental allergies (in that order).

I'd eliminate the flea and food possibilities immediately and simultaneously, since they are most common. I've posted how to do a proper food trial several times, so won't bother with that again. If there is no relief once those issues are resolved, then you may consider allergy testing and immunotherapy shots, or atopica/cyclosporin which is expensive but safer than chronic steroids.

As far as steroids, I much prefer oral pred to shots, just because if an animal starts to have some steroid-related problem, I can stop giving them or adjust the dose. Many of my clients can live through a couple of days or week of increased thirst and urination, but with steroid shots it could take months for that side effect to resolve and they are typically not happy. I also like knowing exactly the dose the dog is getting, and being able to control how long the steroids last. A steroid shot lasts 4-16 weeks. Most animals don't need 16 weeks of steroid.

In a 65# dog, I'd probably hit a REALLY itchy dog with pred 20 mg twice a day for 3 days, then 20 mg once a day for 7 days, then 20 mg every other day for 7 more doses. Depends on the dog, how itchy, how widespread the skin problem is, if there are concurrent ear issues, etc. Sometimes I go lower and sometimes I go higher. I also use Abx for 4 weeks in most hotspot cases because stopping earlier has come back to bite me too many times.

If you get another steroid shot or orally, stop the temaril p, since that has steroid in it.

Derm issues are fun, but challenging to the general vet because they take time and require lots of client compliance (some clients are better than others). I like them though- you can see the problem and the improvement right there in front of you, and the animal is SO much happier once resolved.

Brutuses...That link supplied had 2 scenerios, the second more complicated than the other.
I wouldn't worry about the second one if your dog responds well to the antibiotics. I agree with Meghane if this hot spot is at the base of the tail more than likely your looking at a flea bite, however if it's a bite sensitivity problem any insect and or bee could bring on this type of reaction at the puncture sight.

Thanks Meghane. My keyboard died and I'm using this dinky one so excuse lots of typos

The hot spot is on his back leg, I guess you would call it his upper outer thigh. It's about 3 inches above his knee joint (to give you an idea of it's proximinity)

He never has fleas because i keep frontline or advantage on him all the time. he's very clean and lives indoors.

If his problem is an allergy, fish oil may help in the long term. I had read about treating with it, then a few days later we were at the vet and she recommended it. My dog's problem is seasonal and he chews his feet. She recommended 600 mg for a twenty pound dog, so I just poke a hole in the 1000 mg ones I buy for myself and split it between my two dogs. It boosts their immune systems and is good for their hearts, too. I just started this a few days ago, so can't tell yet if it's working. He also takes Benadryl for it.

He never has fleas because i keep frontline or advantage on him all the time. he's very clean and lives indoors

A dog can still get fleas on them even with chemical prevenatives. And in a case where a dog is allergic it only takes 1 tiny bite to cause this kind of reaction. A bite BTW he could have picked up at the groomers, vet's office even. Simply put you do not have to see a single flea on him...it could have bit the dog died from the flea prevenative after biting therefore not seen and still have been able to left it's mark. It's just that simple.

I used an amazing product called CALM COAT. It is an all natural spray that helped with my dogs itching & dry skin as well as hot spot relief. It even helped the hair grow back from where he scratched sooo much. The hot spot was gone within days!

Where can you purchase Calm Coat or do you have to order it on the net? I would really like to give it a try.

TIA

This is not really a natural remedy, but it is a simple one that has worked well for us for many years. We use Solarcaine spray for hot spots. Solarcaine is made for sunburn, so the spray has a cooling anesthetic effect, which seems to help it feel better for the pup. It also has an antiseptic to keep it clean and promote healing. Finally, it (apparently, judging by my dogs' reactions) tastes really nasty, so it discourages licking.

Hope this helps!

somebody told me to use apple cider vinegar on hot spots. my dogs never have them so i've never tried it, don't know if it works.

I wanted to post the reason for my dog's hot spot just for general information. I had suspected all along it was due to his inability to get to his butt because his anal glands were clogged. Sure enough, I found a vet who went internally and expressed the glands. Oh what a relief that was for Brutus. He immediately stopped worrying with the hot spot and it's now cured. Only problem is he damaged the skin so much with his licking I don't think the fur will grow back as it was. Anyone have any thoughts on getting the fur to grow back?

Great information Brutuses ... I just made an appointment this AM to take my 10.5 year old guy to the vet to have his anal glands expressed and hot spot looked at.

Hot spot is on his hip ... so now that I read this I assume it's because I took too long to get his anal glands expressed. What a Bad Mommy I am.

He is itchy all over though right now ... he's always have sensitive skin. And since he's been itching his neck a lot, I'll definitely be getting his ears checked too.

The last hot spot he had, that he licked to death ... the fur eventually grew back just fine. It did take a while.

Pam, that's exactly where Brutus had his. I had brought him to his regular vet and he expressed the glands from the outside and didn't get much. He gave Brutus stuff for the hot spot and it didn't help. I brought him back to an associate of that vet and she gave me something else. Again, didn't go inside to express the glands Third visit back to the orgiginal vet and still no expressing the glands properly.

This went on for weeks. Poor Brutus had to live with a cone on his head and it was miserable. I finally brought him to another vet that I knew would get to the root of the problem. Sure enough, when he expressed the glands all kinds of junk came out. Brutus felt relief immediately. He also recommended the Neo-Predef powder and within a week Brutus had stopped licking at the spot and it was healed. Now he's ready to go back to get them expressed again. I wish my vet would do the expressing correctly so I wouldn't have to bring him way out of my way to another vet. Who by the way charges me a small fortune just to do this. Ugh!! Good luck with your baby.

Brutueses - I can;t even imagine trying to express anal glands from the outside. Can you ask your regular vet to do it from the inside?

That's how my vet does it ... my neighbor told me I should learn how to do it, and I said No Thank You! I'll gladly pay someone medically trained to stick their finger in there! LOL!

Now to see why he's feeling itchy everywhere else! Poor guy.

I use to be able to do it on my smaller dogs, but Brutus, having such a suspicious personality (thinks everyone wants to hurt him), I'm not able to do his. When I bring him to the vet the tech has to practically sit on him to keep him still so the vet can do it.

I am also dealing with allergies and hot spots in two of my dogs. One is a Great Pyrenees and the other a Chow mix, both have really thick undercoats. I have switched both of them to grain free salmon, which is tolerated by the Chow, but the Pyr hates it. We are still working with him to find something that he likes....for such a big dog., he's so finicky! I also was told by my vet not to use oatmeal products on a dog with skin allergies of unknown origin.......just in case they are allergic to grains. Thanks for all the tips!!

Sue

My dog has a hot spot in between one of her toes she's on amoxicillin don't know if I should ask vet for keflex or primor she's also taking omega 3 6 supplement and neo pref powder to dry it up I cover it after I apply but don't know if I should let it air out or bandage it she doesn't like the powder so she leaves it alone don't want to give apoquel unless I have to any suggestions or thoughts

My golden retriever Camden had anal gland issues where I was taking her to get them purged at the vet every 3 weeks…. Before learning to do it myself. Ewww. Ha! I started her on “Perfect Form” by honest kitchen - it’s a supplement powder you mix into her food. No more issues with her butt ever since! Highly recommend. She is 9 now and we’ve been using this powder since she was around 2. She has “loose” glands so the perfect form made her have to work just a little harder and squeeze her stool out which lets her purge her glands naturally and on her own now! Praise be!

My other golden retriever Cara is 12 and has been battling some type of undiagnosed skin dermatitis/autoimmune disorder of some kind. Her belly area gets scaly and turns into open lesions. Started as dry skin about three years ago and then she lost her belly hair. We finally saw a dermatologist and her first thought was food allergies. We’ve switched her food a few times, tried elimination diets, and now have her on a hydrolyzed protein diet by Royal Canin. No real improvement yet so hopefully we can see what the dermatologist says at the follow up. It still may be environmental allergies however it seems unlikely since we have never moved. It’s been almost 8 weeks on the HP food. 8 is the minimum amount of time to see results with food/diet Changes from what we have been told. We shall see! We’ve been spot washing her a few times a week with Maleseb (leaving on 5-10 min) and putting neo predef powder on the wounds when her skin flares up (when we forget to treat her for too long). Doing this clears up the issues in about a week or less….but only temporary…. When we stop then the scales come back and area gets inflamed and oozy and scabby again. Looking forward to trying the COAT DEFENSE canine powder listed above. Just ordered it so please send prayers please!

Hope this helps some other pet owners out there!