What Causes Hot Spots on Dogs?
Hot spots, also called acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis, are those sudden, angry-looking patches of inflamed skin that can make any dog miserable. They develop fast and often seem to appear out of nowhere—one day your dog's fine, the next there's a red, oozing sore that's clearly painful.
Understanding Hot Spots
These lesions happen when a dog scratches, licks, or chews at an area excessively. This self-trauma breaks down the skin's natural barrier. Once that happens, bacteria (normally present on the skin) seize the opportunity to multiply. The result? A localized infection and inflammation that quickly worsens if not addressed.
Which Dogs Are Most at Risk?
Certain breeds are more prone to hot spots—especially those with thick or long coats. If you have a Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, St. Bernard, German Shepherd Dog, Newfoundland, Collie, Akita, or any other densely coated breed, you're likely familiar with these issues. Warm weather and humidity make matters worse since moisture gets trapped in their fur and provides a perfect environment for bacteria.
Common Triggers for Hot Spots
- Skin allergies: Flea allergy dermatitis tops the list here, but food sensitivities or environmental allergens like pollen and dust mites can also set off the itch-scratch-lick cycle.
- External parasites: Fleas are notorious culprits; ticks and mites can also trigger irritation.
- Ear infections: These often lead to hot spots near the ears, cheeks, or neck as dogs try to soothe their discomfort.
- Anal gland problems: When these glands cause trouble near the tail area, licking follows—and so do hot spots.
- Poor grooming: Matted fur traps moisture and irritants against the skin.
- Insect bites
- Irritant contact: Certain cleaning products or fabrics can irritate sensitive skin.
- Underlying medical conditions: Hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease sometimes play a role; arthritis or pain anywhere in the body may prompt excessive licking as well.
- Anxiety or boredom: Behavioral issues can drive dogs to lick obsessively even without a physical trigger.
The Role of Moisture and Bacteria
If your dog swims often or gets caught in rainy weather (and their coat isn't dried thoroughly), they're at higher risk. That moist environment under dense hair is ideal for bacteria to thrive. Secondary bacterial infections aren't just common—they're expected if hot spots aren't treated promptly. Left unchecked, these lesions can deepen into folliculitis or cellulitis (which are much more serious).
The Itch-Scratch-Lick Cycle Explained
- An underlying issue (like fleas or allergies) makes your dog itchy.
- Your dog scratches/licks/chews at one spot repeatedly.
- The skin barrier breaks down from all this attention.
- Bacteria move in and multiply rapidly.
This cycle feeds itself: more itching leads to more trauma leads to more infection—and so on until intervention breaks it.
Other Contributing Factors
- Matted fur that holds moisture close to the skin
- Poor air circulation through thick coats
If you notice your dog seems obsessed with one spot—especially if it's red, moist, losing hair around it, smells bad, or has discharge—it's likely a hot spot brewing beneath all that fur.
The Importance of Addressing Underlying Causes
Treating just the surface lesion isn't enough; you have to find what started it all. Was it fleas? An ear infection? Allergies? Or maybe your dog is bored and needs more activity? Without solving this root problem, hot spots will keep coming back no matter how many times you treat them externally.
