Cleavage hot spot

[dumainedogs]

My fault. I admit it. Thought he was fully dry Sunday after a little bayou swim and chest wash. Not.
So, Obie developed a rather large, stinky, hot spot on one side of his face below his ear. But, more problematically, running down the center line of his neck to his chest. Right smack-dab in what I call his cleavage. The vet and I missed that one when he went in Tuesday. It was so well hidden in his skin folds and under fur.
She managed to shave the other quite well. Put him on pred and sent him home with neo-predef powder.
I've trimmed what I can on the chest area (not pretty.) But keeping it dry with a New Orleans Summer Drooler is making me crazy. I hestitate to put a bib on him because I fear that defeats the purpose of trying to get air to it.
The good news is it already looks better. But if anyone has any suggestions on keeping it dry, I'm game!
We'll be picking up oral antibiotics tomorrow if there's not significant improvement.

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

I'd say you were on the right track, letting the air at it and no bib. Maneen had a lot of that kind of hotspot....he was a tremendous drooler. If you have to get antibiotics for him perhaps the vet (or you) could shave the area a little more. Good luck.

 

[Ginny]

While I was in NYC, Clara had a hotspot in the same place post lake swim, but fortunately it didn't go into her chest. Vet put her on Keflex and Gentomicin spray. I returned 2 days later and it was still oozing and green. I don't understand why vets think a wet spray will help hotspots - never has here. I switched her to Neo-predef which helped a lot. I also washed the area with chlorhexidine mixed with shampoo.

I think being dry is more important than having the air hit it. How much air gets in that fold anyway? If he were mine, I'd put a bib on and then hit it with a dryer a few times a day; changing to a dry bib often.

 

[janices]

I've been keeping around Douxo Chlorhexidine Spray for awhile. Also comes in a mousse.
http://www.douxo.us/dermatology/douxo-dermatology-dogs-pyodermia-mousse.html
My vet gave me some to try on trial basis and liked it. Been working really well if something starts developing from them laying out in dewey grass, staying wet from swimming, or if I miss just little while drying and damp.

Can find it out on Entirely Pets http://www.entirelypets.com/?gclid=CI-QyLjUlrgCFVIV7AodZ20AhA and on Amazon.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

Amazing how those hot spots can hide if the dog doesn't bother it. I just found one in the fold of skin area of Snuffles back leg and body when I was just using air to blow the dander out. It was 99% healed already though. Funny, I was recently thinking, Snuffles had not had a hot spot for a while.

 

[dumainedogs]

Good point Ginny. The bib goes on now. I cleaned it again today with diluted betadine, clipped more fur and dried it well before dusting it down with the neopredef.

 

[Ginny]

A tip on betadine - evidently drying it after application is what kick starts its antimicrobial action. Can't recall where I read it...

Thanks for the tip, Janice, on the chlorhexidine spray. I mix Hibiclens with my shampoo, but the spray would be great if there's no place to bathe.

 

[pecanpiepatti]

Magnum gets them on his cheeks as well; is horrid and we go into the show ring the next 3 days. We've been keeping it dry (which means yelling at Thor when he tries to nurse him), including blowing with small dog dryer (which doesn't hurt him because it doesn't get hot) - blowing directly on it. Using Vetericyn as well and I think except for being bald, it's looking much better.

 

[dumainedogs]

Janice, that product looks great. While I think we've won the battle on this hotspot for now. It looks like something I'd like to have around in the arsenal

 

[victoria1140]

any problems and we use Horseware Hypocare

its a general spray for use on horses but is great for dogs too.

Max had a rash around his genitals and we started spraying with this and two days later its almost gone, I know someone else who uses this on hotspots and its worked great on them too

 

[R Taft]

I swim my dogs a lot water training and I always carry a spray pack of Listerene/water (50;150) and one of Apple cider vinegar...I spray this on when we are ready to go home. As we cannot blow our dogs...I have not had any issues and mine just air-dry on our 3 hour road-trip every second week....the car does smell rather weird :lol:

 

[janices]

I swim my dogs a lot water training and I always carry a spray pack of Listerene/water (50;150) and one of Apple cider vinegar...I spray this on when we are ready to go home. As we cannot blow our dogs...I have not had any issues and mine just air-dry on our 3 hour road-trip every second week....the car does smell rather weird :lol:

Yes, I do too during summer and don't blow dry out afterwards, just air dry. Georg doesn't blow his undercoat out completely in our humid summer. Keeps a lot of it. I don't cut/trim him out around genitals which reduces airflow. Starts developing small one's cause of that if stays wet. This spray has cleared them right up. Basically Georg stays in show coat if I decide to enter shows. My girls and landseer boy blew undercoat out and don't have the same problem.

 

[Ginny]

The ONLY time I didn't rinse or shampoo immediately after water training -just blew completely dry - hotspots galore! I'll never not rinse again, but it's good to know that this product works. I've never tried the vinegar solution, but will give that a go, but only AFTER a complete rinsing...

 

[dumainedogs]

By the way, I ordered the Douxo Chlorhexidine Spray. I was about to call the vet back and get the antibiotics for one stubborn spot, but I gave it a spritz last night and sure enough, it dried up nicely! I'll be keeping it around.