The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Antibiotic Ointment
Posted by Jo (Fredericksburg, Va) on 01/01/2010
★★★★★
We have a Siberian Husky that frequently gets hot spots, not always able to afford vet. We have found that antibotic ointment (we use the generic brands) applied liberly several time a day (only because she licks it off) works really well. She normally gets a black spot in her fur when it grows back but with using this she does not even get that.
ACV and Omega 3
Posted by Kevin (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) on 11/21/2009
Hi, I was wondering about the ACV and omega-3 treatment. Do you have to make the dog drink it, or use it in a spray bottle, or what? My German-Shepherd Maggie has been itching eversince she became spayed. We've tried everything from non-allergen food to giving her baths almost every bi-weekly.
Sea Water
Posted by Trisha (Waterford, Ireland) on 11/04/2009
★★★★★
Hi All,
I have British Bulldogs and one of them started geting what I found out to be hot spots... I was horrified...I brought her to the vet, she was diagnosed and given various medication...it seemed to be taking ages to clear, then I got some sea water and applied it 2ce daily, within a few days it cleared up......then out of the blue a few months later I noticed one behind her ear,about 3 inches long 2 inches wide...I went to the sea straight away and got a bottle of sea water, I applied it to the area 2ce daily and in three days it had completely dried up, and within a week you would barely see any sign of it..No vet visit required and No vet bills...Hope this is of help..The main thing is to catch it asap and treat it by dabbing the sea water to the area, no need for shaving,clipping etc..Sea water is Magic!!
Antibiotics, Shaved Fur
Posted by Pam (Sioux Falls, Sd) on 10/19/2009
★☆☆☆☆
Hotspot Absurd: I'll tell you what DOESN'T work! I've kept my 5-yr Papillon in bed, WITH ME! for 7 weeks. I have been able to talk her out of biting/scratching every time she does it, but, guess what? The minute "we" got out of bed, she'd start again and I became distraught, medicating her with human's stuff (couldn't get to vet.
NOW, if I don't let her sit on me all the time she just starts biting and I crumble. I got her to the groomer and she shaved her to the pink body skin but knew nothing to do either. (previously the vet knew nothing except antibiotics!!)
Needless to say, she's traumatized by the shaving and every time I go near the medicine she starts to vibrate like many chihuahuas do and she looks like a Mexican hairless so what a misery I've allowed to develop due to ignorance of options and of this site. Thank you thank you.
Schreiner's Solution
Posted by Janice (Coloma, Mi) on 10/13/2009
Thanks Jamie from Campbell, Ca. I checked out the Schreiner's on-line and it looks like really good stuff. Do you buy the one for horses? I see they have one for dogs also. My black lab (mix) has a problem with yeast and she is sore around her mouth and her vulva area. She licks and I see the Schreiner's is all natural...Love that. Anyway, I'm hoping that maybe this will work for her.
Schreiner's Solution
Posted by Jamie (Campell, Ca) on 10/12/2009
★★★★★
Schreiner's Solution...best thing for Canine Hot Spots ever...sold in Feed Stores...about 20.00, and well worth it, wouldn't be without it. Have Golden Retrievers with occasional Hot Spots...saves a ton a money not going to the
Vets. Exceptional product.
Gentian Violet
Posted by Marianne (Chepachet, Ri) on 10/12/2009
★★★★★
hi everyone!! i have seen many unfortunate dogs over the years; who for many different reasons, have suffered from severe itching, red bellies, and inside of ears, and horrible hot spots on legs, base of tail, and bottom of paws. what i find works best is; go to the pharmacy, and ask the pharmacist for gentian violet, they mix it up fresh, or have to order it, it has a very short shelf-life. it`s a viricide, fungicide, and a bacteriacide. i start out by giving the animal a warm bath, with any moiturizing anti-bacterial soap; rinsing well, and using a vineagar rinse. i rip up an old towel in squares, that can be thrown away after one use. apply the gentian violet with a damp towel square, making sure it has soaked in well to all of the wounds. it`s ok to lick, they used to put it in baby`s mouths for thrush, it`s bright dark blue, but you`ll learn to live with it. wash, rinse, and reapply to areas when the beight color has faded out, about once a day, and bathe as you feel you should, about once a week. using a grain-free food, keeping an anxious dog calm, and well-exercised and busy also helps. i have seen this work wonders, and no steroids, or invasive meds are involved. just passing along what i have seen help these poor dogs, it`s just awful to see them suffer so.
Diagnosing Hot Spots
Posted by Christi (Morris Chapel, Tennessee, Us) on 09/21/2009
My lab has a sore next to his eye, I guess what would be his cheek. I am trying to decide if this could be a hot spot. I dont have the money now to take him to the vet, but dont want this to go untreated for long. His sore showed up all of a sudden and he has scratched it til it looks awful. In the center, about dime size or so, it is really dark almost like tree bark but smooth. All around that is like a normal sore, oozing and bloody. Can someone please help me decide if this is a hot spot. If not, any suggestions on what it is? Thanks!
EC: They aren't pretty to look at, but have you checked out photos of hot spots on google images? Here's the link: http://images.google.com. If you search "hot spots for dogs", you'll see some good photos.
Black Tea
Posted by Daniela (Chino Hills, Ca United States ) on 09/04/2009
okaii hi earth clinic and my doggy max is a golden and he loves to get in the pool (we have an underground pool) and its been really hot and sometimes he lays in the sun and he cant stay dry for at least 24 hrs to let the flea protectant work and i think that is wat made the hot spot the heat humidity and the itching of the fleas and he has red on his skin it looks wet when u see it irritated and i wanted to try the black tea and i was wondering if it will really work cuz i just want him to get better i am feeding him and all natural no preservatives or artificial favolirng or coloring food and i bathed him with a flea shampoo and groom him reagularly but i have been paying close attention to his skin since i saw that
Black Tea
Posted by Daniela (Chino Hills, Ca United States ) on 09/03/2009
okaii well my golden has hot spots in his armpits on his legs one some on his back and a huge hot spot on his neck i bought a 100 pack of black tea and im hoping it works.
should i trim some of his hair when i apply the warm tea on his skin or should i just leave him like that?
the reason he got hot spots is because he gets in the pool by himself and sometimes lays in the sun and walks around and i dont want to tie him up i feel bad so what does earth clinic suggest??? help!!!
Aloe Vera
Posted by Rox Rub (Sylmar, CA) on 07/30/2009
My dog has a couple of hot spots and I was told to use Aloe Vera Gel directly from the plant which is very healing and helps to dry out the hot spots fast. Is this good to use?
Light Weight Coat
Posted by Lucrec (Wantagh, New York) on 07/26/2009
★★★★☆
I just came across this site so I haven't tried the ACV or any of the other natural remedies yet. Max, a 6 year old mini schnauzer is really suffering, so I will try this immediately. But what does seem to help, which is strange is a coat. I put a light weight jersey coat on him and for some reason he stops licking the hot spots. I know they cannot heal just because of the coat, but it does provide him relief and he doesn't have to wear a collar which has to be so frustrating to an itchy animal.
Vinegar
Posted by lisa (paulden, az) on 07/24/2009
I have a question can i use distilled white vinager?
Apple Cider Vinegar, Epsom Salt
Posted by Yogi (Melbourne, Australia) on 07/17/2009
★★★★★
My chow chow developed a hot spot near his tail that grew alarmingly fast. I tried 50% water 50% apple cider vinegar plus a tablesspoon of epson salts and his spot dried up in 2 days. Thank you for this solution. It worked a lot faster than vet prescribed medication! It was a lot cheaper. And there was no cream to get all over the furniture.
Use a Poultice
Posted by Shannon (George, Iowa) on 07/10/2009
★★★★★
I have found that the best way to cure (and I do mean CURE) hot spots in dogs is in the form of a poultice, rather than a liquid. Liquids can be too easily licked off, and once they dry, they lose effectiveness. I had dogs with hot spots, came up with a poultice, never used a cone, and they stopped worrying it immediately. It also went from most of a toy poodle's back to a 1/2 inch strand left in two applications, over 4 days. PLEASE consider the comfort of your animal... liquids sting, poultices soothe!
Cornstarch
Posted by Robyn (TRi Cities, TN) on 07/03/2009
Here is a link where I found a reader who has healed her dogs of hot spots by using cornstarch or babypowder with cornstarch by putting it on the spot 4 or five times a day. I also have found fish oil, one pill for small dogs, and two pills for big dogs, and benadryl which is 1 mg to 2 mg per pound of body weight works well too. The cornstarch is great, although I have not tried it....it is a natural cure.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54318240.tip.html
Robyn
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jewishmom (Casselberry, Florida) on 06/25/2009
★★★★★
My Silky terrior has suffered from terrible hot spots, including bleeding and terrible crying. I've brought her to the vet and put her on antibiotis, anti-hystimans, and cortozine cream,and special shampoo, and she would get better, for a while, only to get hot spots again. This particular time, I looked up home remedies and found your info on acv, and thought I would try it. The crying of Madison was so bad, I had to shut my bedroom door, I knew she was in pain. Well I tried the mixture of acv and h20 and of course she yelped,. because it was all open. She yelped for maybe five minutes and now, nothing. Only healing. The first application hurt her, but after that it was a breeze, and three minutes of crying, certainly beats twenty four hours a day(and that was what it was). I am spraying her twice a day now, and she doesn't think of licking it. First dose cured that. Thanks.. Hopefully we'll keep it under control with daily sprays.
Gold Bond Powder
Posted by Mary (Springfield, MO) on 06/19/2009
The GREEN bottle. Works Wonders, and Caladril CLEAR only. Absolute. Even for ears, very lightly with tissue. Been trying all for years.
Burrows Solution
Posted by Lauren (Sagle, ID) on 06/09/2009
★★★★★
After trying so many things for my Lab's hot spot this year, burrows solution was the best. I agree!!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Vet Meds
Posted by MaryKay (Savannah, Georgia) on 06/07/2009
★★★★★
Just wanted to responed to your site and give update on the info I used for my toy poodles Hotspots. She had 3 each, 1 on neck, 1 on paw, and 1 on leg. Well I tried the 1/2 cup of ACV and 1/2 water mixture on all 3 spots. The 1 on the neck started scabing over and healing within about 3 days, the ACV worked well. However the ones on the foot and feet could not due to she would continue to lick. I tried using the cone around her neck, however she was still able to lick the spots,the cones are mainley used so they can't scratch around their heads/necks. So I tried the Acv and also Witch Hazel, also Gold bond powder, but she kept licking when not watched. In order for them to heal correctly you have to stop them from licking. So bottom line was, I took her to my vet due to it had been 2 weeks of working on the paw and leg. There is a shot which cost abot $15.00 and pills they can give that cost about $10.00 that will help the inch and irritation and eventually heal the Hot spots, however if you have female that is pregnant then they can not be perscribed, but they do have a cream that cost about $15.00 in that it has really helped with mine, its called Quadritop Ointment. No more licking and starting to heal. So if nothing else works take your pet to the vet. The remedies that people have posted are really good for some but not for all, exspecially if your dog continues to lick the spots. Also hotspots are caused mainly by either skin eritation, insect bite or Flee bite, so insure you get some kind of Flea protection for your pet. Hope this helps.
Epsom Salt, Povidone Iodine, Flea Control
Posted by KDenise (Stone Mountain, GA) on 05/29/2009
PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS IN USING TEA TREE OIL ON PETS*** While tea tree oil has many desirable qualities, it can be highly TOXIC to pets, particularly cats and birds. Do your research first. Don't assume it won't be harmful to your dog.
Epsom Salt, Povidone Iodine, Flea Control
Posted by Deborah (Cartersville, Georgia ) on 06/22/2008
I'm curious what type of dog Deidra has. I have two full blooded black labs, brother and sister, a half black lab, 1/4 blue heeler, 1/4 australian shepard, and a 1/2 newfouldland a 1/2 great pyrenees. One of my full blooded black labs, Belle, has come down with horrible hot spots, I thought it was from fleas, which we have shampooed her for and treated with frontline, and spray, she loves to swim in our in ground pool so I worry it is washing off , we also have horses and it's almost impossible to keep her out of their watering trough. I am desperate to get him some relief, so I coated her in babyoil and put her back to bed. all four dogs stay in the pasture all day with our horsres and then come in at night to our basement where it is always 70 degrees year round. i keep there bedding clean and washed so not to have any flea problems. Just Belle has the hot spots, Max(her brother), Rocky and Mapalo are fine.
Epsom Salt, Povidone Iodine, Flea Control
Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, GA) on 06/26/2007
★★★★★
Max hasn't had a hotspot in months. I am assuming now it is because he has constant flea control (Frontline 3 months, Advantage 3 months) and because the weather in very, very dry. No rain in Georgia for a long time now. When I lived in Los Angeles, his hotspots similarly happened during the rainy season starting January. The epsom salts and povidone iodine worked great though, I have to say.
Epsom Salt, Povidone Iodine, Flea Control
Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, GA) on 02/14/2007
Turns out that all the things I was doing to treat Max (tea tree and lavender oil, cayenne, ACV, etc.) made the hotspot much worse -- poor guy! Mea culpa! In fact, the hotspot turned into a bad staph infection and I had to treat it with antibiotics. My holistic vet told me to keep the area shaved and next time, to use a solution of epsom salts dissolved in water with a drop of Povidone iodine by holding a soaked piece of gauze to the area. I also have to keep Max on flea control year round since hotspots are most likely caused by flea bites. 3 months of Advantage, then 3 months of Frontline, back and forth, since fleas become "immune" to one brand if you use it too long. If the hotspot was not caused by an allergy, the vet told me, it's possible his hips are painful and he is biting that area to get at the pain.
Omega 3 Salmon Oil
Posted by Sandra (Milton, FL) on 05/05/2009
where do you find omega 3 salmon oil?
ACV and Omega 3
Posted by Anna (St.Helena Bay, South Africa) on 04/27/2009
Hi, I have a question about the ACV & Omega3 please....how do I use it? what quantities and how ...together ...mixed??? Anna
Vegetable Oil
Posted by Tom Knight (Tamarindo, Costa Rica) on 03/25/2009
FYI...Up date on the mange cure.
I still have some skin flaking off on his "hotspot", but regular application with the veggie oil keeps it in check. No more fleas or ticks though...or any raw, ugly skit patches...and he doesn't scratch or bite the dry spot. I can live with it....and so can my dog.
Cheers
Tom Knight
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Sea Water
Posted by Trisha (Waterford, Ireland) on 03/04/2009
★★★★★
Hello. My 9mth old British Bulldog has 2 big, ugly, sore looking hotspots on her shoulder.Iv had her to the vet,she is currently on metacam oral and ampicillin. he also advised to wash the areas with 1 tbsp of salt to a pint of water..she is on this treatment with 5 days.didnt see a great improvement, yesterday I went to the sea and got a carton of sea water and applied it. today the hot spots are dry and crusted over... now i dont know if its the 5 days of treatment or the sea water, or both.but its amazing how over night after using the sea water the sores are drier and crusted...does anyone know if these are going to be a reoccuring problem,a nd will the hair grow back. they just look awful. any info/help is much appreciated.my e.mail is
[email protected] Thank You
Vegetable Oil
Posted by Shane (Asheville, North Carolina) on 02/19/2009
★★★★★
I am trying the vegetable oil for hot spots remedy that I found on your site for my dog who has 3 hot spots on his hind legs. It appears to be working. To help get rid of the infection (possibly staph) today I added 6 drops of povidone iodine to the oil because of the smell of infection (my other dog keeps sniffing the newest/latest hot spot in concern, that's how I know). I mixed the iodine with meat baster brush into the oil really well, then applied the mixture to each hot spot with the brush. I think adding the povidone makes a difference. My dog was licking his newest hot spot obsessively all day, but then stopped after I applied the oil with the iodine. I also take him for a walk after applying the oil to give it time to soak in. I also run the meat baster brush under extremely hot water to sterilize it after each use.
