Home

>

Please help I thought this was a hotspot at first because he was just licking it and I thought he just rubbed himself raw by licking it. Now it’s scabbing over after putting sulfadene on it but he’s still licking it and I don’t really know if it’s still a hotspot or not he’s itching on his body and now there’s a tinier version right above his tailbone, it looks like the same thing as the big one The little one isn’t as irritating though not raw at all. Still has fur on it not itching as much.

Please help I thought this was a hotspot at first because he was just licking it and I thought he just rubbed himself raw by licking it. Now it’s scabbing over after putting sulfadene on it but he’s still licking it and I don’t really know if it’s still a hotspot or not he’s itching on his body and now there’s a tinier version right above his tailbone, it looks like the same thing as the big one The little one isn’t as irritating though not raw at all. Still has fur on it not itching as much.

Updated On March 3rd, 2024

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 8 years and 8 months old | 87 lbs

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

Hello and thank you for using PetCoach. I hate to hear Cutty is having this problem! Being itchy can be quite uncomfortable for pets and is also hard on their human companions. A hot spot is an infection that often has a trigger such as fleas or allergies. They are very itchy. Cutty could be itching and scratching for many reasons. The most common reasons are •Fleas •Allergies (environmental or food) •Skin mites •Bacterial or fungal infection •Endocrine Disease Here are a few quick check points: If there has been any new treats or food within a few weeks of the itching, stop giving the new item. It could be related to the itching. If your pet have a history of itchy skin or ear infection, it could indicate an underlying condition like allergies or thyroid disease. If other pets in the household itching, it could indicate a communal cause like fleas or scabies. Here are some things you can do at home which may help with any red/irritated areas: 1. Stop any licking (since this can make it worse) - Cutty should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. - Remember that the collar must come out past his nose in order to be effective. 2. Next, wash the area once a day with either plain hand soap (like Dial) or a medicated pet shampoo. Rinse the area well and gently towel dry. -This will help to control the number of topical pathogens as well as remove oil and dead skin cells. 3. Lastly, apply a topical antibiotic twice a day to the red areas. Make sure the skin is dry before application. -Just a dab will do and rub it in well. Neosporin is fine to use. *Always wear gloves to handle skin lesions and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Here are some tips that can improve over-all skin health and decrease itchiness: 1) Add in an omega fatty acid supplement. - Your veterinarian will carry some nice products - You can also find a good product called Welactin online. 2) Change the diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. *It will take 4-6 weeks for any diet or supplements to take full effect 3) Wash your pup in a pet oatmeal shampoo and conditioner once every 2 weeks for general health. If you use a topical flea prevention, you will need to look for a compatible shampoo. 4) If environmental allergies are suspected, a daily antihistamine can also help. - Dogs can take Benedryl or Zyrtec 5) Keep your pet current on a good flea prevention. Fleas will do nothing except cause more irritation for an already sensitive pet. I recommend to stick with oral products that last a month or longer like Simparica, Nexgard or Bravecto. Please discuss these options with your veterinarian. Have Cutty examined if- •There is severe itching/licking •If the itching/licking gets worse •If in 5 days the skin lesion is not significantly better or if it is not fully healed in 2 weeks •If in 4 weeks the licking or scratching do not start to improve Sometimes no over the counter options will work and they need a stronger medication from the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out any time. Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth

Vote icon

8Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

See More Answers

Related Questions

I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

Read More

Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

Read More

My senior cat has metastized cancer.17 yrs old. My vet gave her predizone1 and one half tabs a day.i wanted to know if i can just stop the meds.

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

Read More

My dog has an ear infection

Sorry to hear Marley isn't doing so well with his ears. It is not possible to tell from tge picture tve exact nature of the irritation but if it is indeed infected (typically red, hot, painful and smelly), he will need prescription medication from his regular vet. In the meantime I recommend gently cleaning tge outer war with cotton wool and a pet safe ear cleaner to reduce the build up of wax/discharge

Read More

My dog vomited a pinkish colour. Does this look like blood vomit? She doesn’t have diarrhoea or anything else. Yesterday i fed her plain chicken with rice.

That is very red vomit, however, this color could be linked to a number of things including blood in the vomit, inflammation of the GI tract, having chewed on a toy this color, eaten a food item this color, or gotten into a plant or other item this color. If the vomiting continues, worsens, or other symptoms appear such as a painful or bloated abdomen, diarrhea or blood in the stool, or severe distress, I would schedule a veterinary appointment right away to rule out more severe issues. In the meantime I would continue the bland diet for 24 hours, and monitor for any additional vomiting or illness symptoms.

Read More

My dog developed a red hairless bloody mass on her skull overnight. I don’t think she bumped her head on anything.

Poor Marley! Unfortunately there are a number of possible reasons for these raised nodules and a picture cannot diagnose the underlying cause. Itis not possible to distinguish between a wound from a bug bite, cyst, benign histiocytoma or even a tumour without a physical exam and possible testing by an aspirate taken by a needle during the exam or even removal and biopsy. I recommend you follow up with your regular vet, especially if it increases in size, is painful or persists.

Read More

image

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Filed Under

Sponsored