Hot Spots!

[FloydMom]

I have a 5 year old golden retreiver. He's never had any skin problems before this summer. With it being so hot here in Central New York, I decided to have him clipped really short because he's been extremely uncomfortable all season. I had a neighbor do it, who had the clippers and did some other dogs in the neighborhood. She had trouble getting the fur on his belly because it's so soft & thick. Seriously for some reason Floyd retained his puppy fuzz on his belly because it is so soft and fine there, when she was shaving it off it looked just like lambs wool. Well when she shaved his neck and belly we noticed he had hot spots, which I had never heard of before but she explained. I went to the pet store and got him some antibacterial spray (painless, of course) and sprayed his neck and belly. Within a few hours the spots on his neck were gone, I think simply because he couldn't reach them to lick the meds off. But a new problem arose. His entire chest and belly, where she clipped him the shortest, turned bright red and looks so sore I can't stand to look at it. He is not itching it, so it must not itch (duh) but it looks almost like an open sore. I am afraid he is going to start bothering at it and turn it into just that, plus with the hot spots on his belly... He is scratching and licking his belly and the area around his tail alot. So what I am wondering is, is this some kind of allergic reaction to the clippers, or just razor burn? Also, what can I do about his hot spots? I spray him morning, noon, and night, but I can't be with him all the time and I know he is just licking the medicine right off as soon as I leave the room. I don't think an elizabethan collar would help, cause half the problem is scratching, so what can I do about that? I'd appreciate any help anyone can give, he's my sun & moon. I thought I was helping him be more comfortable, but now he's in misery. I feel like a bad dog-mom.

[Dax]

I would wash the area with antibacterial soap and let the air at it. If it doesn't start to dry up and get better with 2 days, your vet can prescribe something to put on it.

[HarveyMoo]

I am sorry but I have no advice for you but please don't feel like a bad dog-mom, these doggies are complicated little things!!! I use salt water on my dogs (many!) scratched, scrapes, itches etc. Maybe he is having a reaction to the spray? My dog was allergic to some flea drops I put on her and she had all these lumps on her neck and shoulders.

[Dax]

This is Ariel... notice the red mark on her neck. That is where they shaved her when she gave blood. Does it look something like that?

[FloydMom]

Yes! That's what it looks like! What is it? Thank you!

[Dax]

This was a reaction to the antispectic wash and shaving. She was scratching it raw. If you dog isn't scratching, I would simply wash with a mild antibacterial soap and let the air at it. If they are scratching, you might want to get the vet to recommend a cream to put on it.

[HarveyMoo]

Poor Ariel, she looks really sorry for herself. Dogs are sooooo good at making you feel guilty!! When you say she gave blood do you mean is in donating blood like humans do?

[Dax]

Harvey, yes Ariel is a canine blood donar. She is due to give again on Aug 23rd.

[HarveyMoo]

Wow, that is a fantastic thing to do. I am going to see if they do it over here.....I assume that they must do!?! How come they take it from the neck?

[FloydMom]

It's a reaction to the antibacterial wash and shaving? Does that mean that it is kind of like razor burn? She clipped him really close, there's hardly any hair to be seen on his belly & chest. This is what the redness looks like, but he's also got bright-red bumps where his hot spots are. I don't think it could be the spray since it cleared up the hot spots on his neck so nicely. Too bad the other spots aren't inaccessible to him as well. What do vets do for hot spots? I read somewhere that they prescribe a steroid, or some other pill. A pill would be great since he wouldn't be able to lick it off himself. If only we could teach our dogs english, then I could tell him exactly what the medicine is doing and why he can't lick it off!