What to know about hotspots on dogs and cats

When it comes to taking care of our pets, there are so many things we have to pay attention to. And hotspots are certainly something that can be a cause of concern, especially since we want our animals to healthy and happy.

While we have done research in the past on hotspots, we are always looking for new information, tips and tricks to being better pet parents, and of course any expert advice that we can get our hands on. And recently, we had the chance to get some dog and cat health answers from Dr. Rachel Cocchiaro. Dr. Cocchiaro is not only a veterinarian, but she is also a partner for Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital in North Carolina.

We decided to ask her a bit about hotspots on our pets, as we have noticed more and more pet parents searching for information on not only what they are, but how to deal with them. Here's what she shared with us.

Dr. Rachel Cocchiaro answers our questions about hotspots on our dogs (and cats)

Dog O'Day: What do hotspots mean?

"Hotspots occur for any reason that causes an abnormal skin barrier. Sometimes that is due to allergies and the skin is inflamed, itchy and the dog scratches causing a secondary infection that spreads, oozes and is painful pretty quickly. It can also be due to an ear infection that is causing the dog to scratch under the ear and create a hotspot. We can also see hotspots that occur due to a laceration or insect bite and that causes the scratching, leading to the infected, ulcerated skin that is the hot spot."

- Dr. Rachel Cocchiaro

Dog O'Day: How can you treat hotspots on a dog?

"Hotspots heal fastest when the hair over the hotspot is shaved so that the area can be thoroughly cleaned, allowed to dry completely and then treated topically with a steroid
and antibiotic combination."

- Dr. Rachel Cocchiaro

When it comes to helping our pets, it is always important to know what is happening with them and how we can help them. And thanks to Dr. Cocchiaro, we have a better understanding of hotspots and even how to help them heal quickly.

Have you had to deal with hotspots on your dog or cat in the past? What did you do to help them and their skin?