At-Home Treatment for Hot Spots on a Dog
Hot spots, also known as acute moist dermatitis, can appear suddenly and worsen quickly, causing pain and distress for dogs. They get their name from the heat that radiates from inflamed skin.
It’s hard to witness your pet relentlessly licking or biting at fiery red rashes, and the itch-scratch cycle only makes hot spots worse.
Some hot spots can be managed at home, while others require prompt veterinary care. Knowing the difference is important for your pet’s health—and your wallet.
Here, we’ll go over when and how to provide dog hot spot home remedies, dog hot spot causes, and when to see a vet for hot spots. Read on for a step-by-step guide to dog hot spot treatment at home and professional treatment.
What Are Hot Spots?
Hot spots are just what they sound like: localized patches of inflamed, infected skin. Hot spots often appear red and moist. They also sometimes ooze.
Dogs often make the problem worse by licking, chewing, or scratching at hot spots. If left untreated, hot spots can spread rapidly.
Common Causes of Hot Spots
Hot spots can happen for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common dog hot spot causes come with warmer weather months, such as fleas and the combination of water exposure with coats or ears that don’t fully dry out, allowing bacteria to thrive.
Reasons your dog may develop hot spots include:
- Allergies due to triggers in the environment or food
- Moisture trapped in the coat or ears after swimming, bathing, or rain (dogs with thick coats like German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, or Newfoundlands are especially prone to hot spots)
- Irritation from fleas or other parasites
- Underlying skin infections
- Stress or boredom leading to excessive licking
- Ear infections (often due to drop ears that don’t fully dry out)
- Anal gland infections
As this list suggests, hot spots aren’t just a standalone issue, they often point to a deeper problem that needs to be identified and treated. When you can target the root cause, you can help prevent hot spots from coming back.
Symptoms of a Hot Spot
When you detect hot spots early, treatment is easier and more effective. No matter how long it’s been, here’s what to look for:
- Red, raw, or moist skin
- Oozing or crusting
- Hair loss around the area
- Foul odor
- Swelling or warmth
- Dog licking, chewing, or scratching the spot
- Pain when touched
If you’re seeing these issues, you could be dealing with hot spots. To prevent them from spreading, you want to address them immediately.
Step-by-Step At-Home Treatment for Mild Hot Spots
Mild hot spots that are small in size and show no signs of infection like oozing, crusting, or a foul odor can initially be treated at home. Follow these steps for at-home treatment of a hot spot on a dog.
Step 1: Trim the Hair Around the Area
Carefully clip or trim hair to expose the skin, allow airflow, and keep hairs from irritating the area. Use blunt-tipped scissors or clippers and avoid cutting too close.
Step 2: Clean the Hot Spot
Gently clean the hot spot with a mild soap like Dove, Cetaphil, or Castile or a vet-approved antiseptic solution such as chlorhexidine or diluted antiseptic wipes. Avoid harsh scrubbing.
Product Spotlight: Gentle Antiseptic Care for Problem Skin
Petazy Chlorhexidine Antiseptic Spray is designed to help cleanse irritated skin and support the management of bacterial and fungal skin issues that can contribute to hot spots. The easy-to-use spray can be applied directly to affected areas to help keep skin clean between treatments. When used as directed, it can be a helpful tool for dogs dealing with mild skin irritation and recurring hot spot flare-ups.
Step 3: Dry the Area Thoroughly
Pat dry with a clean cloth; moisture worsens hot spots.
Step 4: Apply a Dog-Safe Topical Product
Apply a first-aid cream like Neosporin or 1% hydrocortisone cream (but avoid ointment) 3 to 4 times a day, per the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. For dogs that cannot receive steroids, products that contain pramoxine work.
Vet-approved sprays for hot spots that are anti-itch and antiseptic can also help.
Product Spotlight: Soothe Irritated Skin While Supporting Healing
TropiClean Medicated Hot Spot Treatment Spray is formulated with chlorhexidine and hydrocortisone to help relieve itching, redness, and irritation associated with hot spots. The spray application makes it easy to reach sensitive areas without excessive handling, while the antiseptic ingredients help support healthy skin as it heals. For dogs prone to recurring hot spots, it's a convenient addition to a home first-aid kit.
Step 5: Prevent Licking and Scratching
Use an e-collar (a.k.a. cone of shame), donut collar, recovery suit, or light wrap to protect the area.
Product Spotlight: A More Comfortable Alternative to the Cone of Shame
An inflatable recovery collar can help prevent dogs from licking, chewing, or scratching hot spots while allowing them to eat, drink, and move more comfortably than many traditional plastic cones. By protecting the affected area from further irritation, recovery collars can give hot spots the uninterrupted healing time they need.
Step 6: Monitor the Area Daily
Hot spots should ideally improve within 24 to 48 hours. Look for a reduction in redness and—eventually—a healthy scab that is not crusty or smelly. Don’t remove it; allow it to naturally heal.
If the area worsens, spreads, or becomes more painful in that time span, seek veterinary care.
Keep in mind: At-home care is appropriate only for small, mild hot spots with no signs of severe infection.
Home Remedies to Avoid
Online forums aren’t always the best place to find advice on how to treat hot spots on dogs. Some dog hot spot home remedies can cause more pain and make skin infections worse despite pet parents’ best intentions.
Avoid these home remedies:
- Hydrogen peroxide, which damages sensitive healing tissue
- Vinegar or alcohol, which can sting sensitive skin
- Coconut oil or essential oils, which trap moisture and can be toxic
- Over-the-counter human creams, which are not formulated for dogs and could further irritate skin
- Cornstarch or powders, which can worsen infection
While there are plenty of DIY remedies pet parents swear by, these fall into the do-not-try-at-home category. Many home remedies can worsen inflammation or delay healing.
When to See a Veterinarian
See a veterinarian promptly if you notice any of the following red flags:
- Large or rapidly-spreading hot spots
- Severe pain or swelling
- Oozing green or yellow pus
- Foul odor
- Hot to the touch
- Lethargy (low energy)
- Loss of appetite
- No improvement after 48 hours of home care
- Recurrent hot spots, which could indicate allergies or an underlying condition
If you can’t stop your dog from licking or biting at the sore, that’s another sign that it’s time to seek help.
When you bring your dog into a vet’s office to address hot spots, you can expect a gentle examination, a professional cleaning and clipping, and guidance on dog skin infection home care.
Your veterinarian will create a treatment plan including prescription topical cream or oral antibiotics, anti-itch medications, and additional care for underlying causes such as allergies, fleas, or infection.
Corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can help reduce inflammation and pain, while antihistamines can dial down inflammation.
Preventing Future Hot Spots
After hot spot treatment, you want to do your best to avoid a recurrence. Here’s what you can do:
- Regularly apply flea and tick prevention medication.
- Provide consistent grooming and brushing to remove mats.
- Promptly rinse and dry your dog’s coat after swimming, bathing, or a romp in the rain. For thick coats, use a hair dryer.
- Check your dog’s ears daily and lift their tail once a week to check for irritation.
- Check spots that you notice your dog is licking, biting, chewing, or rubbing.
- Manage allergies.
- Reduce stress.
- Enrich your dog’s life with regular walks, play, mental stimulation, and exercise.
Prevention is especially important for dogs who have thick coats or allergies.
Address the Cause
Mild hot spots can be managed at home with proper cleaning, drying, and protection from licking. Severe or worsening hotspots, however, require veterinary care.
If you’re dealing with hot spots, watch your dog closely and be sure to address underlying causes. Once you’ve determined where they’re coming from, they’re much easier to prevent—and the best treatment for hotspots is prevention.