Tag Archives: hot spots

Hot Spots: Treatment and Prevention

If your dog has a circular, red, weeping sore — it may be a hot spot! Treating a hot spot isn’t just about dealing with the wound; you also have to take a look at the cause and work to prevent the hot spot from coming back. You can try to treat a hot spot at home without calling the vet, but an office visit and a course of antibiotics may be necessary to clear things up entirely. Try this at home: Trim the hair away from the sore to prevent matting, help stop the infection from spreading, and expose … Continue reading →

Hot Spots: The Basics

If your dog has a raw, open, oozing sore, it may be a hotspot! Also known as a superficial pyoderma or pyotraumatic dermatitis, this is a surface skin infection that can pop up quickly and be very painful or unpleasant for both dog and owner. How do hot spots start? Any dog can develop a hot spot, but there are some things you can watch out for. Dogs with heavy coats may develop hot spots when shedding, if undercoat hair gets trapped next to the skin. Dogs with histories of skin allergies may be susceptible to hot spots. Dogs who … Continue reading →

Lally’s Neck Sore And…

Here’s an update on Lally and her mysterious neck sore. It wasn’t a cut or puncture from her adventures in the bushes. It wasn’t a sore from collar friction, either. Our wonderful new vet checked Lally out and found… an ear infection. Both ears have a bacterial infection. The sore was either caused by too much scratching — trying to itch the ear and irritating the neck — or from wandering bacteria from the ear. Either way, Lally has a hot spot about the size of a quarter on her neck. The folks at the vet clinic shaved away all … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Neck Sores

This morning, I noticed a weird matted spot on my dog Lally’s neck. On closer investigation, I found a sore around the size of a quarter on the right side of her neck, just above where her collar sits. Time to put my pet first aid skills into action! First, I soaked a washcloth in warm water. After wringing it out, I applied the warm washcloth to Lally’s neck to help soften and clear away the dried blood. Once I could pick the hair out of the way, I could see the sore. It didn’t look like a cut, scrape, … Continue reading →

Top 10 Places to Spot Celebrities

If you are wondering where you can go to spot the celebrities, try these hotspots: 10. Spago, Beverly Hills One of the most famous celebrity hotspots, they still turn out for Wolfgang Pucks’ restaurant. It has a beautiful fine dining area and it will set you back a pretty penny, but it is still one of the top places to spot celebrities in their natural habitat. And, if you are lucky, you may even get to meet Wolfgang himself! 9. Malibu Beach This summer, many of them are hanging out at the beach, taking in the sun. Seen just this … Continue reading →

First Aid: Hair Loss

Pets shed. A certain amount of hair loss is perfectly normal. Your pets may shed more at the change of seasons — in the spring, pets lose their warmer winter coats, and in the fall, the winter coats grow back in. Indoor pets may shed all year, thanks to our climate control negating the need for winter and summer coats. Certain types of hair loss, however, can be signs of a more serious problem. Bald patches, thin patches, and hot spots may indicate skin problems, mites or fleas, or even a hormonal imbalance. Even stress can lead to hair loss … Continue reading →