Hot Spots

[Nicole]

Over the last week or so we have noticed small scabby sores on Tayla's back. We have just moved into summer here so she is losing her undercoat. The sores seem to be in the places where the undercoat is still quite thick. A friend of ours told us there were 'hot spots' and would go away themselves. Has anyone else had any experience with these and is there any way toget rid of them? Thanks.

 

[bridge2itnf@aol.com]

I havent had any problems with hot spots.i would just see my vet.because it could be a number of things ,not nesaceraly hot spots.Bridget

 

[JerseyGirl]

We had problems with hot spots on our newf. They don't go away they get worse. Please see your vet. Our vet gave us a yellow spray that is used on horses. Jane looked really funny with this yellow spray on her but it worked. Your right, it is where the undercoat is realy thick and sometimes matted. Jane had very sensitive skin. She was always getting hot spots. But if you treat they right away they clear up pretty fast. Jane lived to the ripe old age 13. She passed away March. We now have Monty who is 5 months old and is a real character. Good luck

 

[Jeannie]

One thing you can do to help is comb comb comb out the undercoat. A hot spot can be caused by many things and is a place where the dog has bitten him/her self raw in order to relieve discomfort. Usually itchiness. Hot spots can get bloody and green with infection. When any of my girls get one, I clip the hair around it and spay it with an anti-itch spray like Genticon Topical Spray. You can only get it from your vet. The sooner you start to heal them the better off you and your newf are. Sometimes a soothing medicated shampoo will help also

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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda

 

[Jeannie]

After re-reading your post I have another comment. Small red spots my be a sign of a bacterial infection in the skin. You should see a vet because it does not sound like a hot spot to me. Who ever told you they would just away is wrong. Any abnormalities in the skin should always taken seriously

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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda

 

[sarnewfie]

I agree with jggrosch and would like to add beside combing Get a high velocity dryer!!!!!!!!!!
you can get rid of all that dead undercoat, see what is going on in their skin, you can blow them off dry or wet.
i always tell people when they get one, i will never hear enough thank yous outta the ones who did invest in one, saves your wrists etc...
the metro 4.0 is a nice starter dryer, the K-9-2 is a wonderful model i have had for 8 years.
my metro is going also on 8 years, never changed any brushes on either and both work full tinme

 

[Nicole]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Tayla is due for her first year follow up vacination at the end of the month so we have moved that forward and will get the vet to look at her sores at the same time.

As for combing out her undercoat what does everybody else use. We have a metal rake comb but Tay hates it and really wriggles and squirms when we use it on her. With a normal brush she is fine. Any suggestions?

 

[AmyPC]

Nicole -

Rory is not thrilled with her rake either. I'm thinking it pulls and hurts her a little too much. However, if we use the wire-backed brush she loves it and though it takes longer, it works well for these areas. It just doesn't do the job on the wirey areas like the leg feathering.

It's a brush that is oval shaped with a wooden handle that looks like a noraml person's hairbrush on one side but has lots of small wire pins on the other. The 'hair' side does nothing but the pin side works well.

It's just from the supermarket or Target I think.

 

[Jeannie]

I use a metal greyhound style comb. Whatever you use, be sure to seperate the hair and combe from the SKIN OUT. So many people brush/comb over the top. They look nice on the outside, but are a matted mess underneath. Start in the back and work your way toward the front. Don't forget the belly, between the back legs and under the "arms" Have fun

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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda