Help for Healing Dogs with Hot Spots

You might think of a hot spot as a great bar or restaurant but to your dog a hot spot is some far more unpleasant.

In the canine world, “hot spots” are an all too common condition consisting of open sores that are constantly being bitten, scratched, or chewed. Also called Acute Moist Dermatitis, these painful skin lesions can develop at any time of the year, but they are more common in the warmer months.

Hot spots can occur anywhere on the body, often in more than one spot. Hot spots are typically self-inflicted, usually caused (and made worse) by biting, licking, or scratching one particular area. Warm to the touch, a hot spot is a red, painful, swollen patch of skin one to four inches in size that oozes pus and can give off quite a nasty smell.

The infection progresses when the dog licks and chews the site. These circular patches appear suddenly and enlarge quickly, often within a matter of hours. It is common to notice a small area of inflamed skin in the morning (perhaps an inch or less in diameter) and then come home from work to see that the sore has grown substantially and is now several inches in diameter.

Two approaches are necessary for dealing with hot spots: first treat the sore and second remove the underlying cause to prevent recurrences. There are some very effective home remedies if the hot spot has not progressed too far and your dog lets you treat him (hot spots are extremely painful and some dogs, even ones who are usually very gentle, will growl or snap if the area is touched). Dogs who don’t respond quickly to home remedies or dogs with severe or persistent hot spots will need to be seen by a veterinarian.

1. Clip away hair to expose the hot spot. The bacteria creating the infection thrive in moist irritated skin, so the first step is to get air to the area and dry it out.
2. Cleanse the area with cool water and a gentle skin cleanser. Pat dry.
3. Use a tea bag compresses (black or green tea) to help dry and soothe the area. The tea acts in place of a cortisone cream (which can “gunk up” the wound and prevent the necessary air flow to dry it out). The tannic aids in the teabag ooze onto the skin and have a soothing, itch relieving effect. Simply wet a bag of black or green tea and use it as a compress against the sore. Hold the bag to the skin for four or five minutes, then pat dry. Do this two to four times daily for several days.
4. Prevent the dog fro traumatizing the area by applying an e-collar. I have a Soft E-Collar ($17.00 – $49.95; http://www.bonafido.com/page6.html) which I find much easier to use than the traditional cone shaped e-collar.

There are several topical solutions that you can use to help stop the hot spot and speed the healing process:

• Domeboro’s (Burow’s) solution (aluminum acetate) is inexpensive and available over-the-counter at pharmacies to help dry the skin out. Follow package directions and use as a spray or compress.
• GentaSpray Topical Spray has to be prescribed by your vet, but it’s a great first aid spray that works very well to help heal hot spots.
• Calm Coat ($11.95; http://www.calmcoat.com) is an all-natural essential oil mixture that is naturally antiseptic, antibiotic, and antifungal. It helps stop the itching and has a soothing, cooling effect when applied and helps speed hair re-growth.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Knowing how to keep hot spots from reoccurring will save you a lot of time, heartache and money (in vet visits). Fleas, mites, skin allergies, irritant skin diseases, ear and anal gland infection and neglected grooming are the most common causes of hot spots.

Hot spots often in breeds with long, heavy coats, and tend to appear just before shedding, when moist dead hair is trapped next to the skin. Double or triple the number of grooming appointments if necessary.

Many types of dermatological problems are avoided by feeding a high quality food, preferably with human grade meat, that doesn’t contain ingredients like corn, wheat and soy. Fish oil supplements are excellent for promoting the production of natural anti-inflammatory substances in the body and for improving the health of skin (don’t forget to give extra vitamin E when giving fish oil).

To keep fleas away, I add Bug Off Garlic ($15.00; http://www.springtimeinc.com) at each meal and when we go out hiking or anywhere there is a greater chance of picking up fleas I spray the dogs down with Neem “Protect” Spray ($12.00; http://www.arknaturals.com).

Omega-3s: Essential Fatty Acids for Your Dog

Essential Fatty Acids, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, provide for a number of major vital functions in our dog’s body (as well as our own) and are quickly becoming a popular supplement among veterinarians to treat a wide variety of ailments.

Omega-3 supplements are commonly used for treating allergies and soothing irritated, itchy and flaky skin. They can significantly reduce joint inflammation to help reduce morning stiffness and painful joints in arthritis patients. Plus they are now being recommended in cases of kidney disease, heart disease, cancer, elevated cholesterol, autoimmune disorders and diabetes.

All that doesn’t mean you should wait for your dog to be sick to supplement his diet with Omega-3s. In healthy dogs, it helps promote healthy skin, a shiny coat (which helps reduces shedding!), healthy brain function, and boosts the immune system.

Essential fatty acids are grouped into two families: Omega-6 and Omega-3. Processed dog foods already contain high amounts of Omega-6 (from meat, fat and plant matter), but lack sufficient quantities of Omega-3. So it is important to add good sources of Omega-3 daily to your dog’s diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), comprised of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Not all Omega-3 supplements are created equally and so you need to pay attention to the EPA and DHA content as well as the source when purchasing an Omega-3 supplement.

While many pet food manufactures are adding flax seed to their kibble as their source of Omega-3, I have found that the very best source of useable Omega-3s for dogs is in fish body oils (not liver oils).

Plant sources of Omega-3, like flax seed, must be converted into EPA and DHA in the body to be of any nutritional benefit, and this conversion can be difficult or impossible for many dogs, especially older or sick dogs.

Cod liver oils and fish oils are not the same. Cod liver oil is extracted from cod liver and is an excellent source of vitamins A and D, while fish oils are extracted from the flesh of fatty fish. Fish oils contain very little vitamin A and D, but cod liver oil contains lower quantities of EPA and DHA. If you tried to obtain the therapeutic amounts of EPA and DHA from cod liver oil you would end up overdosing on vitamin A and D. So stick with fish oil.

I recommend looking for a fish oil supplement that comes from wild caught, non-threatened species of small fish (i.e. anchovies, mackerel and sardines) and has high quantities of EPA and DHA.

When giving fish oil on a regular basis extra vitamin E, an important fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant, is typically needed. Fish oil oxidizes easily and the body will use up its stores of vitamin E when processing fish oil. Therefore sufficient vitamin E is required in the diet to prevent a vitamin E deficiency in your dog.

Most fish oil supplements contain additional vitamin E, though this is typically only enough to preserve the product and not a significant source for the body to use. It is better to supplement natural vitamin E instead of synthetic, so when buying vitamin E look closely at the label. Natural vitamin E is listed as d-alpha tocopherol and synthetic vitamin E is listed as dl-alpha-tocopherol. One little “L” makes a big difference is how effectively the body can use it.

I encourage you to work together with your veterinarian to determine if a fish oil supplement is okay for your dog and to find out dosage information for both the fish oil and vitamin E.

Natural Solutions to Pet Allergies

Wheezing, coughing, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, rashes and difficulty breathing are all common symptoms for people with pet allergies. If you think you are allergic, don’t give up your pet just because of an allergy. There are ways to relieve your symptoms and keep puppy (or kitty) in your home.

The first thing to do is to get tested and have the allergy confirmed by a doctor or allergist. There are many types of allergies, and yours may not be pet-related (according to the Human Society of the United States, approximately 15% of the population is allergic to dogs or cats).

If you truly are allergic to your dog, your allergist will present you with options. Unfortunately, many allergists recommend getting rid of your dog without going over other options that are available. While there is no cure for allergies, you can happily live with your dog and make life a lot more pleasant by following some simple guidelines to help keep the house as dander-free as possible.

Avoid heavy carpets and curtains, which can be difficult to thoroughly clean and can hold far more of the particles that cause allergic reactions. Lightweight or sheer curtains and smooth surface floors like hardwood, tile, marmoleum, cork and bamboo are the best options.

If you do have carpeting and replacing it with a hard flooring is not an option, use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration system and have the carpet steam-cleaned several times a year. This will help keep your carpets cleaner and pick up more the dander from your floors.

Use an air purifier containing a HEPA filter to help remove some of the dander in the air. An added bonus is that air filters remove a lot more than just pet dander from the air. Indoor air pollution is a growing health risk and by using an air purifier in your home you’ll be breathing cleaner air (plus you’ll probably have to dust the house a lot less!).

Keep your pets off the furniture. If you need a good excuse to splurge on that Italian leather couch you’ve been wanting: leather furniture is easier to clean and holds far less allergens than upholstered furniture.

Most people spend more time in their bedroom than any other room of the house, making it an ideal room to be an “allergy free” zone by limiting or prohibiting your dog’s access to it. You should definitely keep him off your bed at all times (not even a quick five minute snuggle is okay).

Now time to make your dog as hypoallergenic as possible. Hygiene and good grooming habits are vital. Bathing your dog on a weekly basis can significantly reduce the level of allergens on fur. Such frequent bathing can upset the pH of your dog’s skin, so make sure to use a mild soap to prevent irritation.

In between baths, you can wipe your dog down with a wet cloth or hand towel.
Done on a daily basis this can help remove dander from your dog before he sheds it in the house.

Brush your dog regularly to remove dander and make sure to wash your hands and possibly change clothes afterwards. Brushing should be done outdoors and is most effective when done daily.

A good, well-balanced diet is essential. Make sure your dog’s food includes a sufficient amount of natural fats, to help make his skin less dry (which reduces shedding). If the fat content of his food isn’t sufficient, you can add a teaspoon of olive oil to his food (this also helps create a beautiful shine on his coat!).