My dog has hot spots on the top of his head. What are some 'at home' treatments? Can I avoid the Vet?

Answer 1

Why in the world would you want to 'avoid' the vet???

He/she is the single most valuable....not to mention cost-effective....resource available to you for the health of your pet. Seriously. :-)

You would not believe how many people I've seen over the years who have wasted unbelievable amounts of time, money, and effort on 'treating' problems according to the advice of friends, neighbors, relatives, and (like this) total strangers....in many cases actually making the problem worse in the meantime....when it could have often been cleared up with a single visit to the doctor. Pet owners who consult veterinarians actually end up spending LESS money overall than those who try to figure it out on their own. Believe it or not, we ARE there to help you, and are not money-hungry evil monsters out to run up a huge bill that will crash your budget. (And yes, you should plan for and include your pet's medical care in that budget....just like all of your other financial responsibilities. You figure out a way to buy its food every month, don't you?) It is to our advantage to help you with your pet's medical problems as economically as possible. We truly do want you and your pet to be around with us for a long time. We cherish those types of long-term relationships with clients and pets, and often reward our most loyal clients with little 'freebies' here and there. . *hopping down off my soapbox now*

In this case, I can think of at least 11...oops, just thought of another, so make that 12....different problems that could be the cause....all with different treatments. Without at least a photograph of the area in question, there's no point in even guessing. And even then, many of them look alike unless actually seen, touched, smelled in person....sometimes requiring a simple diagnostic test such as a skin scraping or Wood's lamp scan. Sometimes requiring something more involved like a skin biopsy or allergy testing. But often diagnosable based on good clinical training and experience.

Of note: OTC antibiotic ointments are often a waste of time in dogs and cats, and the petroleum base can actually hinder healing. Whatever you do, NEVER clean a hot spot or any other wound with peroxide...it actually pushes bacteria deeper into the wound when it starts fizzing, and also damages tissue cell membranes directly. Still, there are a lot of uneducated people who will tell you to do it. Until you can get to the vet, the most you should do is just gentle warm water or Betadine.

P.S. If it is really a 'true' hotspot situation....a very specific type of self-inflicted wound that is ooey and gooey <---(more of those complicated medical terms. *grin*)....please ignore the advice given above about clipping the fur around it yourself. No matter how 'good' your dog is, that's a good way to get bitten, as true hotspots are VERY painful...moreso than a broken leg in most cases. Let a professional do it...we have ways of doing it without causing pain, even without sedation. Your dog will thank you. Any 'professional' who advises you to clip a true hotspot on your own is subject to legal liability (if you get bitten), and disciplinary action by their board of licensure (whether you get bitten or not.) True hotspots (not just minor sores) also need antibiotics given by injection and orally to penetrate the dermis from the inside.

Answer 2

Get some clippers and shave all of the fur off of the area and around it. Flush it with betadine. Put triple antibiotic ointment on it. Try to keep him from scratching it.
I have done this several times without sedating the animal. If they are gentle enough, most will let you do this.

Answer 3

what kind of spots? if they r little sores u can use neosporin (he cant lick the top fo his head). but make sure u check 4 fleas around the area. look for little black dots behind the ears its what is termed flea dirt. if thats the case you can buy a flea and tick shampoo or take the dog to be professionally groomed.

Answer 4

If you can control any further damage from his scrathing the area using an antibiotic ointment should fix it.

Answer 5

you may be feeding your dog too rich food, get the cheapest stuff from the grocery store. also with the cheap stuff the farts won't smell as bad