Hot Spots

Suz asks:

Hi, This is my first post. Been lurking for awhile.
I have an "almost" 6 month old bichon. Belle has been battling hot spots for a couple of weeks.
She has 2. One each on each side of her head behind her jawline. Her earplaps cover it.
At first, I was cleaning it with witch hazel as the breeder recomended. I would almost have them healed and she would start itching again. I bought a hot spot spray at the pet store that gives some relief. She is quite reluctant to have any treatment to these
areas and fights us when we try to treat her.
She has been crying in her crate everynight for the past 4 nights. We take her out to pee and but last night found 1 of her hot spots bloodied. I am taking her to the vet this afternoon. What other treatment would he recomend. I am adverse to prednisone although I do not think it is that severe right now. I think she needs a lamp shade (not sure what to call it) Can she sleep in the crate with one on?
Sorry so long but, I am frustrated. She is an awfully good dog.
Thank you in advance,
Susan

Fudgie responds:
Hi Suz,
I wanted to reply to your fluff having "hot spots" I have spent a huge amount of money taking my Nikita to the vet for her "hot spots" she has them on one side on her hip by her tail. The vet kept giving me prednisolone to give her which would clear it right up but I have been hearing horor stories what that can do to them-then she said- to give her benadryl which really didn't help her a lot. I think I came upon the problem by accident. I would give her a"treat" everytime she pottied--The store bought kind (usually Beggan strips) then a friend of mine (who is a trainer in our area) told me to micro-wave hot dogs---i cut them up in tiny pieces-- and micro-wave them about 3 minutes--then I keep them in a plastic bowl with a tight cover in the refrigerator. She loves them and I only five her a few pieces at a time for her treat. Well, I ran out of hot dogs the other night and at the grocery store I bought some just regular dog treats and the next day she was digging at her self like crazy--I think she is allergic to the perservative they have in those dog treats. This might be your puppy's problem. Hope this helps you.

Prittisuzee responds:

Hi Suz, I am replying in regards to the "hot spots" with your Belle. We have had the same problem with our seven year old Bichon, Suzee. It started 2-3 years ago with her licking her feet, getting the pads and in between the toes raw. We got her one of those plastic cone hats (Elizabethan collar?). She still could get at the top of her toes. Last fall the itchy spot was the area below her chin on her neck. Either she would knock her cone off or we would forget to put it on and that area became hairless and raw with her scratching; she had it bleeding at times. Next it became her chin that she focused on and she would and can run/rub it along the floor or whatever to itch that area. With the cone on. She does that on the cement out back now. It then became her ears inside and just above. She got them into a mess. We took her to the vet this spring where she was given a cortizone shot, anti-biotics and ear ointment. We also were told to put her on a protein and carbohydrate diet, one third protein to two thirds carbohydrate for eight weeks. I chose chicken and rice, no skin and the rice having to be white. This to see if she has a food allergy. She has been on that now for five weeks. Her ears have cleared up but she still wants to lick her toes and sratch her chin or rub it along. The "hot spots" still there. She will go the eight weeks on this diet alone and then we will take her back to the vet. He also told us to keep her off of the grass which would be hard but we may have to try that next. Or try an antihistamine. We sure would like to get this terrible problem solved and without too much expense. We really love her and she has been a very good companion to us. No problem otherwise. And we sure would like to find out what causes this in this breed since it seems to affect most. I don`t know if this will help you atal, it may scare you, but I hope you do have success with your wee dog.Gail
PS Yes she can sleep with the cone shade on. Our Suzee gets quite cozy wearing it and no problem sleeping with it on.

Fudgie responds and asks:

I know we have discussed this many times but I still can't find the solution to my Nikita's hot spots!!!! I have tried different diets, keeping her off the grass and only bathing her in oatmeal shampoo but she still gets these hot spots ( around the her tail)about every 3-4 weeks. The only thing that helps her is prednisolone---- 5 mg (1/2 tab 3 times a day) I have heard such bad things about prolonged use of this drug. I even give ner a benedryl tablet each morning. Is there a special diet that will keep her from getting this??? Any suggestions would be so appreciated.
Pat Mayfield

Gidget LpM

Hi Everyone,
Bailey doesn't have Hot Spots but my sister has a Golden Lab that gets them often. She is dilegent and will not let her dog scratch...everytime he stops scratching, she gives him a tiny all natural (milk-bone-type) treat.
She also makes a paste of Baking Soda and water. She puts the paste on....and then the collar, (lampshade), but not all day. If he starts to lick again, when she removes the collar, she commands him to "stop licking" and when he does, she rewards him.
Now, this only works if you are there with him/her, most of the day.....she is working from her home.
This is also very common in this type of dog, as well as Bichons, as they swim all of the time.
My Bailey still licks his feet, but not as much as at the cottage this past summer, with walking on the Hot Rocks all the time. I would wash his feet in a small basin of Epsom Salts(sp?)....and this took away the itch most times.
I did try Claritin (1/4) of a tab once and he was stoned for 12 hours!!!!
Be careful...these dogs are so small and sensitive.
Good Luck...hope this helps, even a little.

LeoBensMom responds:

Dear Pat and Fudgie,
Our Breezy also gets hot spots. She has lots of allergies, so we will probably never be able to keep her from all that she is allergic to. We do the Benydryl also. When it gets really bad, and she just won't stop chewing on herself (she chews until she is bloody!), I dress her up! Seriously, I put clothes on her so he can't reach the itchy spots! We even have socks to keep her from chewing her feet! She has quite a wardrobe! It does work.
You are right, the Pred is not a good long-term solution. It has many bad side effect. Hope this is of some help!

Jenny

Callie responds:

Hi. Our Callie has just gotten over a very bad case of hot spots as far as pain. In one night she woke up with a very red hot spot on her side about the size of a 50 cent piece and two bloody ones on her tail. Took her to the vet immediately because she was acting very lathargic two days prior to this outbreak. They did put her on a cortizone pill for a week - tappering off as the week went on.

I also would sprinkle on Gold Bond Powder. She seems to leave it alone when I do this. The vet did give us a "lamp shade" for her and I kept it on for six hours. She was SOOOOO uncomfortable with it and banging everything around to try to get it off. She is normally the calmist dog I have ever seen. With these hot spots, she would cry like she had been hit by a car. I think her tail was hitting when jumping on the bed, going up and down stairs, etc. She has never been so miserable. I have read many times how bee pollen helps dogs with allergies. I am going to try some bee pollen as soon as I find out where to order it. You give them 1/4 teas. per day - every day, forever. Have heard rave reviews and I am about to try anything. Hope you all find something to help your dogs with hot spots. They can be really uncomfortable and very painful for our darlings. SUE

Melissa responds:

Hot spots are the result of itching. Itching, at this time of the year is usually caused by allergies to pollen. Your vet will probably prescribe a course of a steroid, (prednisone) and in some cases clavamox as well. Other symptoms include any or all of the following ; reddened sclera of the eye, weeping eyes, intense itching, whining - crying, chewing on paws. If you note that this occurs at the same time each year, treatment can begin at the same time each year before symptoms become distressful.
My youngest bichon, Twinkie, suffers from allergies and has to be treated from about mid-August until the end of September.
I hope this helps.

Fudgie responds:

Dear Melissa, Thank you for your message. Nikita has been on Prednsone for almost 12 1/2 months ( about every 4-5 weeks she will develop the hot spots ) and thats what worries me--I have heard bad, horror stories of what prolonged use of this drug can do to our fluffs. I was hoping there was some other remedy that would help her--that would not hurt her internally. One reader told me to use Gold Bond Powder on her--another said to mix Sea Breeze (used by teenages for skin problems) and corn starch. I plan to try both things to see if it helps her. These little darlings can bring such joy to our lives and then break our hearts when we see them suffer. Thanks again for your response. Pat Mayfield

Melissa reponds:

Hi, Fudgie;
I understand your concern regarding the long term use of steroids. My veterinarian had me keep a journal of when Twinkie's itching started both this year and last. Now, we will start her on the prednisone at this time next year before she becomes symptomatic. After she has taken a course of steroids, (for about 1 week), she will then be maintained on a low dose of Benadryl.

The prednisone helps when the itching and other symptoms are at their very worse.
Benadryl, while available over the counter at any drug store should never be given without the direction of your veterinarian. Some dogs can suffer sever side effects.

I also give Twinkie bee pollen, year round. She has 1/4 tsp., once a day. She and my other 2 bichons have ground flax seed in their food, too. It's high in essential fatty acids.
I have heard of veterinarians that prescribe holistic and natural remedies for animals using essential fatty acids. There is even an oil on the market made specifically for dogs. I believe it's made by "Udo's". You would probably find it at a Health Food Store.
I have tried Gold Bond Powder, and Twink licked it off then threw up.

Sophie advises:

A friend of mine, who raises Great Danes, recommended Protec Body Guard to me to stop the itching and the hot spots. It's a food supplement, that has to be ordered on the Internet or by phone (800-443-5327). It really works. I use 1/2 tsp per day, sprinkled on food and it really works.

CasperCrispin advises:

Casper is allergic to flea bites. this time of year is the worst.. I have been using pednisone and benadryl, they help some.. The best thing is to use the Benadryl or Lanacane spray on the hot spots.. I also bought a natural spray called Neem "protect" by ark naturals, I have to spray him every day, but it does make him quit chewing. The prednisone makes him gain alot of weight. That is the only thing I don't like about the prednisone.

Fudgie advises:

The prednisone also will cause liver damage after pro-longed use--it also causes my little fluff to urinate constantly--so please be careful using this strong drug. thanks for telling me about the spray.
Pat Mayfield

Alan replies:

My bichon aj is now 13 years old. When he was a little guy he frequently got hot spots. I hate for him to have the cortisone shots, however, in this case it sounds like your little one needs it. AJ hates the lamp shade but yes they can sleep in their crate with them. But as bad as the cortisone is it really does help and then you have to figure out what he got the hot spot from.

7BankFamily replies:

We have done rescue work with Bichons and have found the drug PERIACTIN is extremely helpful. It is not expensive and you can get it from your Vet. Took us several seasons of testing other drugs to find this. Prednisone is our VERY VERY LAST RESORT. It damages the liver and causes a very debilitating disease for which I can not recall the name right now. You may not see the damage in you dog NOW but you will in years to come. It will shorten the life span. Also, food is a major component in the problem, just as much as the dogs day to day environment. This food is excellent http://solidgoldhealth.com/
The Hundflocken or the Holistic Blend, along with the Seameal Mix. Dog can not be allowed to run the neighborhood loose as several we have had in our rescue group had previously been allowed to do! We are now trying the Bee Pollen and it seems to help stop feet chewing.
Good luck with your sweet little fluff.

Sophie replies:

Hot spots are aggrevated by tension I think.
Try letting her sleep out of the crate, if she is trained.

Also, I recommend Body Guard, which is a nutritional supplement. It has to be ordered on the Internet and $18 worth is enough for 9 months.
Sophie has no hot spots for over 6 months with this approach.

Rose replies:

Hi, My 2 yr old Bichon, Mojo, has had allergies and hot spots.
I heard about the bee pollen solution on this message board and after searching high and low I found a health pet food store (Ryan's Global) that had it.
We've been giving him a 1/3 teaspoon sprinkled on his holistic blend lamb for about six months. He is almost one hundred percent better! It's been a great summer with hardly any hot spots, he did have a hot spot on one paw which we treated with bag balm (the kind Shania Twain uses for her hands!). It cleared up within a few days! Mojo spent last summer vomiting, scatching and almost always indoors this summer with the bee pollen has been great. Sorry to go for so long but you really must try the bee pollen! Rose

TicosMom272 replies:

My Bichon, Tico, has occasional problems with hot spots too.
I have discovered that every time she has developed hot spots, if I hunt long enough, I will find a flea. ONE FLEA She's never had more than that on her. The groomer found one once and just recently I found one. She had started scratching constantly and I hunted and hunted - found nothing. Sure enough, a few days later she started developing hot spots. I laid her down and looked again and I found THE flea - just one - but one is enough to start an allergic reaction that just snowballs.

I use a hydrocortisone spray for dogs. Itch Stop or Hartz both work. They stop the itching which stops the scratching. The sores heal within a couple days. Sometimes more break out but if I continue with the sprays, eventually they all heal. She doesn't mind the spray at all because it relieves her so. The sores are extremely painful so it's best to catch them as quickly as possible.

I think Prednisone is maybe a bit too aggresive if the hot spots can be treated with a simple spray. Of course, keeping them flea free is very important also.