My Golden, sadly now gone, had a hot spot on her forepaw which she licked and chewed on a daily basis. The vet gave me some icky-smelling topical cream to put on it, saying that it tastes so bad that she would stop licking the area. Well, she had a few tentative licks, decided that it really didn't taste too terrible, and licked it all off and then chewed on the hot spot. After all, compared with the "stuff" (if you know what I mean) she ate out in the yard, a little bit of cream wasn't going to put her off.

Then I tried to bandage it. That was just another barrier to overcome. The bandage was off within 5 minutes.

The only thing that really worked was the Prednisone, although I hated giving it to her.

The fellow I have now licks the underside of his paws, although there is no visible sore. The vet says that it is either a contact allergy (grass, carpet, etc.) or boredom. I certainly don't want to go the Prednisone route again, for sure. So, unless it gets sore, I'll just keep an eye on him and keep him busy.

Skin conditions are quite common in many breeds, Labs and Goldens being two of them.

Thanks Barbara3!

I forgot to mention he has ear problems, too, I am cleaning them only to find them red and dirty again next morning.

I have been preoccupied with family business and have had to leave him for 6 to 7 hrs. at a time a few times a week and since we are almost ALWAYS with him, I was wondering if he was 'stressed' and that was the problem.

He doesn't like it outside...we take him out to play catch and he seems to enjoy it, but them heads for the front door after only a few throws.

He likes to walk, but I think he'd rather go for a ride as do that, too!

He sounds like a lot of the rest of us, eh?

I would like him to have more contact with other dogs, but he seems over zealous when he is in the car or a long distance apart from them, but out and about he shys away from them...go figure?

He's a big baby, but I wouldn't bet on it if I were a stranger...he's never hurt anyone and is a real sweet soul!

I wish I could help him with his ears and hot spots more!

Thanks again...nola_anne

We had a dog who had hot spots. We tried many things to no avail until we started adding PetsAlive to his food. Within weeks he was no longer scratching and started to heal. I'm not sure you can get this in Australia (which is where I think you are), but maybe you can find something similar?

Here is a link that might be useful: PetsAlive

Cornstarch and Gold Bond helped my dog, but she could not get to where her bad spots were (double, triple, fat folds on her neck.....I put it on and it caked up. Then more hair fell out around the spot, and then it started to dry up and heal and hair over.

With the one on the leg, could you dust it well with powder, and then put more powder on a gauze pad/bandage, and then tape it on well with duct tape?...and keep a good one on him that he does not chew it off, while you are home anyway?

Sue

We had the best luck when advised to stop feeding anything except dog food and stop all dog treats with artificial coloring. I was a skeptic becuase I liked allowing my dog to finish the milk on my morning cereal...but it worked!

My chow will usually get at least one hot spot during the summer. I do have a prescription lotion that works within a few days; however, I can't remember what it's called. What also works for my dog at least, is just Neosporin. My vet says that this topical ointment is ok to use on dogs. It also works pretty well, but just not as fast as the prescription one.

When my DD dog had these and she tried everything, she and her DH tried keeping her out of the sun, along with a change of food. That did help, as the sun actually "burned " her. Like a sunburn and it was not hot as they live right on the ocean.

Nola Anne,you might try posting this on the pets forum.There is a great vet,named Meghane who checks in frequently.She is extremely helpful,as well as many other posters.One thing that helped my yellow lab who developed them was to keep her shaved in the hotter months.

Shelley

barbara3, I have cockers and chewing on the bottom of their paws is a sign, in that breed, of a food allergy. With my first cooker, that poor baby suffered for years doing the chewing and once I got her off food with corn in it the chewing stopped. Like I said this is with cockers, but worth checking out.

Wowee...I knew you guys would know how to help with this annoying problem! I jotted down some of the things I haven't tried and I ordered that PetsAlive, too.

I appreciate all your help and ENCOURAGEMENT...I was feeling like a bad 'mommy' that couldn't seem to help my Miles!

Later!
nola anne (I am not the one in Austrailia...I am in Ohio...I think there's another nola on here, though.)

Thanks, Bryansda. I feed him Eagle Pack Holistic Lamb and Rice. I must check the ingredients list for corn on the next bag I buy .

You might try some Benadryl. Also, when my dog gets hot spots I use a "bonnet" from the vet to keep him from getting to the hot spots.

What the heck are hot spots? You ladies always know things that I don't... LOL!

I just read all of the posts and saw the ear problems too. Try feeding some yogurt with your dog's food or giving them acidophilus pills. With my cockers I keep them on one or the other all the time to help keep away ear problems.

Make sure that you are not dealing with "mange". If you dog has mange, it best to get the help of a vetanarian.

Nola anne, if it a true hotspot, the hydrocortisone spray with aloe (Hartz) from Walmart, works great on them. Heals them all in a day or two. I am wondering though, if you have had your dog checked for thyroid problems. Since you have already tried so many things, and most of them should have worked, he could have thyroid problems. Our chow had a similar problem, and nothing worked, until her thyroid was checked, and she was put on meds for that.

Our Golden had AWFUL hot spots. We spent a fortune on the vet, cortisone shots, prednisone pills and tests. I put him on a special formula diet, no corn, wheat, chicken or eggs. Nothing ever made them stop coming, I wish I could be more positive for you.
We even had the poor thing wear a Elizabeth Collar for 30 straight days so he would leave them alone. The first day I took it off, he chewed until they bled.
My brother loved my dog so much, he bought a golden and it has the same problems. They haven't been successful either in finding a cure.
Just keep trying, and maybe you'll find something for your dog. I know I sound pessimistic and I am so sorry, I just know what a struggle it is. kathy

We rescued a Cairn Terrier a number of years ago. By age two Cassie had been through three owners, all of which were frustrated with her skin problems (though we didn't know that going in).

The first time our family vet saw her skin and the hot spots, he told me he would not hold it against me if I chose to put her down. That's how bad it was and it wasn't even in the typical allergy season.

I felt there had to be hope (ha, silly me) and took her to another vet in another city who specialized in thyroid problems and was also knowledgeable in holistics. Many tests and treatments later, Cassie was no better so we went back to our vet who treated her with steroids when the spots got really bad. All the while I tried everything else imaginable (special foods, vitamins, sprays, shampoos, ointments, meds, etc.) to keep it under control because I knew what damage the steroids could do.

Fast forward eight years, Cassie became very, ill and spend a number of days in the hospital. Diagnosis: Pancreatitis.

The vet put her on a prescription low fat dog food. She recovered quickly from the Pancreatitis and much to our extreme delight her skin and hot spots cleared up. She had thick, gorgeous fur on her belly and back for the first time in many, many years.

Jodi-

Wow...you all certainly have 'been there, done that'!

I did forget to mention he has ear problems,too, but I keep a close check on that and doesn't seem to be too much of a problem.

He is the love of my life and I want to make sure he is comfortable, painfree and HAPPY!

Thanks...I'll try the Hartz Spray from Walmart (not sure if I tried that one yet) and we HAVE tried all the fancy fat free, corn free, non-allergy, etc. dog foods to no avail...that's what makes me think it is mostly seasonal.

I also have wondered about the thyroid...will have vet check that out next visit which is soon...

Thanks again--KT sure knows how to help out on ANY issue!

nola anne