The American Beagler Forum

Never had a dog with hot spots before and don't know what to look for as the cause. She had two spots and I put antibiotic ointment and used oral antibiotic to clear it up. It worked rather quickly and I thought it was done. Got her out tonight to run a rabbit out back and the entire side of her neck was a mess as well as a spot on her back leg. She was fine this morning when I watered. She has never had a problem like this before. Always been on the same food. The only difference is I added another female to her kennel. Could that be the cause? I have her in a kennel by herself now with antibiotic ointment on and a bucket on her head so she stops scratching. Is there anything else I can do? Need advice please? Vet is the next stop if it looks worse tomorrow or doesn't seem to get better. Thanks for your time.

Step one: Make sure the dog has NO fleas. Step two: treat the spots with something. I would recommend Sulfadine since it works well and is easy to get (many Walmarts carry it in the pet care section). Anything with Tannic acid will also work to dry the spots - Blue Lotion spray or stong tea (unsweetened of course!). I have never tried it but WD-40 is supposed to dry them up as well. The goal is to dry up the weeping ASAP. I normally do not clip the hair unless it seems to be preventing the spot for getting plenty of air. Just in case there is a secondary bacterial infection, I would give the dog 3 cc's of penicillin G IM or the same dose of Dura-Pen Sub-Q. KEEP THE FLEAS OFF and if you have another hotspot this season, consider changing dogfood brands. Also, a VERY minute amount of sulphur on the dogs OR on their food seems to help with skin problems. Good luck!

Thanks Chuck, She is completely flea free. That is the first thing I looked for. I have never even seen one on her or any signs of them such as flea dirt. She is almost completely white so its not so hard to tell. I am going to use your advice.

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I mix a tube of triple antibiotic and a tube of hydrocortisone in a large pill bottle the antibiotic heals it while the hydrocortisone stops the itching cheap Rite Aid brands works just as good as name brand.Apply 2 times a day and it will be dried up in a few days.

Take her out of the kennel and put her out on a chain or in a portable kennel on the dirt.
Bud had a bitch that was itching and getting raw spots on her in the kennel, he put her in a off ground kennel thinking there was something on the slab causing her problem. I told him to put her out on chain and now two weeks later he says she looks better than ever, hair is back and soft full coat. Wild animals dust themselves and there's something about being on the ground that does a hound's body and hide good.
My three pups had the itch but I kept them up until they got the 2nd shot in them, now their on the ground and the itch is gone in only 4 days being on the dirt.
I think the oils and dander build-up. On the dirt, the dust will combine with the oil and the hound will rub it off cleaning itself. All I know is, my hounds on the ground have no skin ailments...

Sulfadine is good, Gold Bond Powder works good as well.