"The best ways to avoid a hot spot are to keep your pet's hair coat clean and dry and use an e-collar to physically prevent him from continuing to lick an itchy spot," Rebello says. Always dry your dog's coat thoroughly after a bath or swim, especially in summer when hot spots are most prevalent.
(You may need to have a veterinarian shave or clip your dog if their hot spot is especially painful.) Clean the affected area with warm water, and gently pat dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Apply a small amount of an over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment to stop itching and aid healing.
Keep your dog from licking, biting, chewing, or scratching at the area. In some cases, once you start treating it, they may leave it alone. BUT in most cases, we aren't that lucky. You can try an Elizabethan collar (cone), covering the area with a bandage/wrap, or keep them distracted with a lick mat.
To keep your pooch from accessing its wound, you can put on garments and accessories to safely cover the affected site. Compression sleeves, collars, or onesies can prevent your pet from licking topical ointments, biting or rubbing the wound, and pulling off the dressing on the surgical site.
Bandages
Bandaging a wound on your dog can be enough to stop your dog wanting to lick the wound, as it's often a case of out of sight out of mind. Tip - You want to ensure that the bandage is on firmly but not too tight, that it is comfortable for your dog and they are able to move around easily.
Alternatives to the “cone of shame” are inflatable collars, soft E-collars and neck brace collars. Try covering the wound with soft fabric secured by medical tape to prevent licking. Keep pets busy with other fun things to distract them from licking wounds.
Acral lick dermatitis is a skin condition that's pretty common in dogs. Also known as acral lick granulomas, this condition occurs when dogs continually lick an area of their skin, leading to redness and loss of hair.
A lick granuloma, also known as acral lick dermatitis, occurs when a dog obsessively licks at an area, often on a lower limb, most commonly the wrist or carpal joint of the front limb. These dogs find a spot to lick and start a cycle of self-trauma, inflammation, and infection.
A lick granuloma (also known as acral lick dermatitis) is a skin condition that occurs due to distress in your dog. This distress can be flared up by stress, anxiety, or boredom. When your dog is stressed, they will start to lick a patch of their skin over and over until it becomes raw.
Why do dogs lick their wounds? For dogs, licking wounds is like you rubbing your head if you hit it. The nerves used to transmit the rubbing sensation block the feeling of pain or soreness. And canine saliva does have some mild antibacterial effect.
Hot spots are painful and smelly and need to be cleaned and treated as soon as possible, as they can lead to more serious infections for your dog.
While the wound may look serious, hot spots are commonly treated and will clear up within a week or so with some basic care. Remember to prevent future hot spots by getting to the bottom of the cause of your dog's need to scratch.
Distract them - Try giving them something else to do that stops them licking, such as a chew toy or a food puzzle. Training - Try training them to sit, or teach them to do something that redirects their licking and is rewarded by your affection and attention, such as giving you their paw or rolling over.
Apple cider vinegar is a great remedy for stopping dog licking paws. Because of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, apple cider vinegar can help soothe the skin and eliminate possible irritants that may be causing the dog to lick.
Hot spots are not likely to go away on their own, but the good news is that they can be easily treated.
While Vaseline is technically non-toxic for dogs, it does not mean it is 100% safe. If over-ingested (and they will lick) it can cause an upset stomach, which can lead to vomiting or diarrhoea. Vaseline forms a barrier over your dog's skin trapping in toxins, dirt and bacteria.
Sudocrem. This can be used in dogs and cats in small amounts. Sudocrem contains zinc-oxide which is highly toxic to birds. Zinc-oxide is also toxic to dogs and cats if ingested in large quantities, but applying a thin layer of sudocrem to sore or irritated skin is generally safe and can be beneficial.
It is a symptom caused by dry skin, allergies, parasites, or other underlying conditions. Anxiety and boredom can cause dogs to lick, chew, and bite as a response. Changing your dog's diet may be the key to stopping obsessive licking behavior. Fatty acid supplements can help ease pain and itching from dry skin.
To apply betadine on your dog, gently wipe the wound with a washcloth saturated with the betadine solution. You can do this up to twice a day for minor sores or skin infections. One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it's ingested.
Natural antiseptics include turmeric, coconut oil, aloe vera and witch hazel. For a spicy antiseptic concoction that will also help with inflammation—and prevent licking, because most dogs don't love the smell—mix turmeric from your spice cabinet with aloe vera in a 1:1 ratio and smooth it on the scrape.
Warm tap water is recommended for cleaning most wounds. Warm saline (salt solution) may also be used. This may be made by adding approximately one level teaspoonful (5 mL) of salt (or Epsom salts) to two cups (500 mL) of water.
So, your dog may be constantly licking himself because dirt has collected on his pits and places and is irritating their skin. Your dog's incessant licking may be an attempt to rid himself of ticks, fleas, mites or lice. Your dog might have developed an unrelenting licking habit because he needs a bath.
By rewarding him when he doesn't lick, with praise, treats and attention and ignoring him, or withholding your attention when he does lick, you can teach him that if he doesn't lick, he gets good things in return, Patel says.
The Anti-Lick Strips deter animals from licking, biting or chewing of hot spots, granulomas and surgical sites. According to the company, they are also an effective deterrent to prevent such behaviours brought on by anxiety, boredom or even insect bites.