Hot Spots on Dogs 2025: Causes, Treatment & How to Stop the Itch 🐶✨

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

One day your dog’s skin looks fine. The next? A raw, red, weeping patch appears seemingly out of nowhere. That’s a hot spot—and it’s as painful as it looks.

I’m Dr. Duncan Houston, veterinarian and founder of Ask A Vet. Hot spots can pop up quickly and worsen even faster. Let’s go through what causes them, how to treat them, and how to prevent them for good.

🔥 What Is a Hot Spot?

• Also called acute moist dermatitis
• An inflamed, infected patch of skin that appears suddenly
• Usually red, moist, oozing, and painful to touch

📍 Common Locations

• Neck and cheeks (especially in dogs wearing collars)
• Hips, thighs, rump area (often from flea bites or allergies)
• Chest, belly, or feet (from licking or environmental irritants)

🔍 What Causes Hot Spots?

• Fleas: The #1 trigger for scratching and chewing
• Allergies: To food, pollen, dust, or grass
• Moisture: Under the collar, after swimming or bathing
• Insect bites: Mosquitoes, ants, ticks
• Ear infections: Cause itching near the head/neck
• Stress or boredom: Leads to obsessive licking or chewing

⚠️ What a Hot Spot Looks Like

• Red, raw, wet or shiny skin
• Hair loss around the area
• Sometimes crusty or oozing discharge
• Dog may constantly lick, chew, or scratch it

🩺 How Vets Treat Hot Spots

• Shave the fur to allow the skin to dry and breathe
• Clean with antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine or iodine)
• Apply topical treatment: steroid creams, antibiotic ointment
• Oral medications: antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antihistamines
• Address underlying cause (flea control, allergy management, etc.)

💡 Home Care Tips

• Keep your dog from licking—use an e-collar or soft cone
• Clean gently 1–2 times daily as instructed by your vet
• Use hypoallergenic shampoo and avoid scented products
• Monitor for spreading, increased redness, or odor

🛡️ Preventing Future Hot Spots

• Stay up to date with flea and tick prevention
• Dry thoroughly after swimming or bathing
• Keep long-haired dogs groomed and mat-free
• Address allergies with vet guidance and dietary trials
• Provide enrichment to prevent boredom licking

🔗 Products That Help Ask A Vet

• Explorer Harness – Adjustable fit to avoid friction on healing skin
• Ask A Vet – Upload photos, get vet diagnosis and treatment advice in minutes

📋 Summary Excerpt

Hot spots are red, raw, and painful. A vet breaks down what causes them, how to treat them at home or with your vet, and how to prevent them from coming back.

❓ FAQs

• Q: Can I treat a hot spot at home?
  A: You can start by trimming fur, cleaning gently, and preventing licking. But vet treatment is best to control pain and prevent infection.
• Q: Do hot spots go away on their own?
  A: Not usually. They often worsen quickly without treatment and can spread or become infected.
• Q: Are hot spots contagious?
  A: No. But if caused by fleas, other pets can be at risk of infestation.