Need help with hot spots

[djs0660]

I have a mini dachshund that is so low to the ground she drags on the grass even when it is just mowed.
She has developed hot spots and I do not know how to treat them. The vet isn't a lot of help with this problem.
It all started when she accidently got left outside all night one time. I know this sounds terrible but I thought my son had brought her in and he thought I did. When we found her the next morning she was really wet from being on the ground so long. After that she started licking her tummy, legs and paws.
I took her to the vet but wasn't really satisfied with their help.
She continues to have problems. It's not as bad as it was to start with but on one spot her skin looks scaly and stays that way all the time. If she gets the least bit warm then she smells bad.
Does anyone have any suggestions for her.
She does not have fleas and I do not think it is from her food since she was always ok until she got wet.

djs0660

[ProudShadow]

I can only really suggest getting a better vet. He should have something to treat her.
Best of luck

[SalemsMom]

Try Sulfa Med,it is a dog spray for hot spots,Sissy gets them every so often, and it really does help her. Kenic sells it,and a few others.

[FourIsCompany]

I think I would try to keep her off the grass. Have you bathed her after this? The best thing to do for hot spots is to get them away from the allergen. I'm so sorry for your girl!

[Dax]

Originally Posted by djs0660

I have a mini dachshund that is so low to the ground she drags on the grass even when it is just mowed.
She has developed hot spots and I do not know how to treat them. The vet isn't a lot of help with this problem.
It all started when she accidently got left outside all night one time. I know this sounds terrible but I thought my son had brought her in and he thought I did. When we found her the next morning she was really wet from being on the ground so long. After that she started licking her tummy, legs and paws.
I took her to the vet but wasn't really satisfied with their help.
She continues to have problems. It's not as bad as it was to start with but on one spot her skin looks scaly and stays that way all the time. If she gets the least bit warm then she smells bad.
Does anyone have any suggestions for her.
She does not have fleas and I do not think it is from her food since she was always ok until she got wet.

djs0660

Has she had her thyroid tested? There are skin conditions cause all these things and some are related to have thyroid issues.

You can wash the spots with human grade mild acne soap (RINSE REALLY WELL) and apply a little moisturizer afterwards as it drys out the skin a lot.

After she comes in from the grass, I would wipe her belly with a baby wipe. Sounds like an allergic reaction to the grass.

[bulletsnbait]

You sure she's not alergic to something on the grass, or even the grass? I know it sounds crazy, but yes, they can have grass allergies

[djs0660]

No I really don't think it is the grass because when she got left outside it was when there was snow on the ground and she got really wet from it.
That's when it started.
The vet had me give her bathes with Glen Haven F3/s medically formulated shampoo. And follow that up with a good moisturizer. I think this helps but it don't ever help right under her front legs where they rub against her body. Her skin is black in one spot there and the rest of the skin looks like scales. Not normal skin.
The vet said this is something she will have for the rest of her life. When she first got it she was licking and licking her paws plus itching all the time. Whenever it gets really bad she has an awful odor to her.

djs0660

[Pitbull Lover]

A hot spot is a superficial skin infection that results when the normal skin bacteria overrun the skin’s defenses as a result of damage to the skin surface. This is most often started by the dog chewing or scratching at the site. In the first stages of the formation of a hot spot, the skin becomes moist, inflamed (red), pruritic (itchy), and infected. Pus oozes from the damaged skin as bacterial infection sets in. The dried pus and damaged skin surface from the infection will form a tightly-adhered crust, and the dog will lose hair over the infection site. Frequently, dogs show pain when the site is touched at this stage. Hot spots can enlarge rapidly, so early diagnosis – before your pet’s hot spot involves a large area of the body -- is important. Both dogs and cats can get hot spots, although dogs with dense undercoats are more likely to develop the problem than smooth-coated dogs or cats are. Hot spots are more common during hot, humid weather, but can occur year-round, depending on the inciting cause.
Causes
Anything that creates irritation to the skin, causing the pet to chew or scratch at the site, can cause a hot spot. Insect (flea/fly/etc.) bites, allergies, excess skin-surface moisture, heavy/dense hair coats, matted hair, skin scrapes, etc. Saliva accumulation under a hair coat, as a result of the itchy pet chewing on himself, can result in hot spots. Dogs and cats always have a bacterium near the mouth called Staphylococcus intermedius. This type of Staph, not usually at all contagious to people, is the most common infection found in hot spots.
The location of the hot spots may help your veterinarian determine the underlying cause of the problem. A hot spot over the hip could indicate flea infestation, hip arthritis, anal gland infection, etc., just as a hot spot near an ear could indicate an ear problem, allergy/dental/nerve irritation, etc.
Treatment
The first step your veterinarian will take is to clip or shave and clean the inflamed/infected area to allow the air to get to it. (Moisture and pus trapped on the skin makes the hot spot worse.) Clipping and cleaning will allow your veterinarian to see how large the inflamed area is. Hot spots can be painful, so sedation or anesthesia may be necessary in order to shave and clean the spot properly. Your veterinarian may need to perform cytology or culture the hot spot, to determine the best antibiotic to use during the treatment phase.
Treatment may involve antibiotics (topical and/or systemic, either oral or injectable); anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); glucocorticoids (steroids to reduce itchiness, pain, and swelling); topical medications; or e-collars or similar collars to prevent your pet from bothering the infected area.
The treatment your veterinarian chooses will depend on how bad the problem is, how much pain the animal is in, how long the problem has been going on, and if the problem is a recurring one. Some pets may get one or two hot spots and then never get another one again, while some pets may have frequent recurrences.

[saluki-sue]

I clean my dogs hot spots with witch hazel 3 or 4 times a day then put Gold Bond powder on them. It's important to keep hot spots clean & dry, maybe you can find a little water proof shirt for her to wear outdoors.

[Hudsons~Mom]

When Hudson got a hot spot I had to shave his neck right down so it would dry out. Now with a Noodle dog like you and I have there is barley any hair on the tummy at all. Are you sure it is a hot spot and not an allergy?

I would try some vitamin E capsules and break them open and spread it over the area. It will be safe if she licks it off and it will help treat the area. Try to stop her from licking the area though this will really help out. I would also bath her in a oatmeal bath to help sooth the area.