The Best Hot Spot Treatments For Dogs
As one of the most common skin conditions in dogs, if your pup hasn't suffered from hot spots, they're likely to at some point during their lives. Hot spots are painful, oozing sores that can appear anytime, causing your furry friend pain and discomfort. Treating these lesions as soon as they develop will allow your pup to heal quickly and prevent more serious issues. Given the large number of home treatment options available, knowing which one to choose can be a difficult task. To help you with your search, we've rounded up some of the best hot spot treatments on the market.
What to Look For
We recommend keeping the following things in mind when shopping for a treatment for your dog’s hot spots: Is it easy to apply? Does it contain non-toxic ingredients that are safe for dogs? How long does it take to work? Our top pick was the hot spot treatment from Vet’s Best, which provides immediate relief and uses a blend of natural, plant-based ingredients. We were also impressed by the hot spot treatment from Veterinary Formula, which is easy to apply and quickly soothes irritated skin. Read on below to learn more about our top picks and discover the right one for your furry friend.
Vet’s Best Hot Spot Treatment For Dogs
Quick relief
When your dog is suffering from itchy, dry, or irritated skin, this hot spot treatment from Vet’s Best will provide fast relief. The plant-based spray uses a blend of aloe vera, chamomile, and tea tree oil to treat hot spots. Aloe vera is one of the product’s key ingredients and works to cool the skin, making your furry friend feel better. Since it works so quickly to soothe itchy skin, your dog will stop scratching, which will help their skin heal. Plus, it won’t interact with topical medications that prevent fleas and ticks.
Pros:
- Immediately calms irritated, dry, itchy skin
- Uses a blend of natural, plant-based ingredients
- Won’t interact with other topical medications
- Doesn’t hydrocortisone or other steroids
Cons:
- Needs to be reapplied frequently
Veterinary Formula Hot Spot Treatment For Dogs
This treatment from Veterinary Formula helps soothe hot spots and provides itch relief, helping your dog feel better soon after it’s applied. It works as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment, reducing the swelling and itching associated with this skin condition. Moreover, it contains ingredients to relieve burning and pain while stimulating wound healing. It’s safe for dogs over 12 weeks old and is free of parabens and dyes.
Pros:
- Relieves the pain and burning associated with hot spots
- Reduces inflammation and promotes wound healing
- Easy to apply
- Controls itching, redness, and swelling
Cons:
- Has a strong scent
Burt’s Bees Hot Spot Treatment For Dogs
Feeling better
If your pup has sensitive skin, this mild hot spot treatment from Burt’s Bees is worth a closer look. The formula uses apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, and other natural ingredients to soothe and moisturize skin, reducing itching and irritation. It’s pH balanced for dogs and puppies, working with their skin to heal hot spots whether they’ve been caused by scratching, infection, heat, or irritation. It doesn’t contain any fragrances, colorants, or harsh chemicals, so you can rest easy it’ll be gentle on your furry friend’s skin.
Pros:
- pH balanced specifically for puppies and dogs
- Formulated with high-quality, all-natural ingredients
- Contains aloe vera for moisturizing skin
- Begins working instantly to soothe irritation
Cons:
- Doesn’t heal hot spots as quickly as medicated treatments
Bexley Labs Hot Spot Treatment For Dogs
Goodbye itch
This treatment from Bexley Labs brings together powerful ingredients to get your dog’s hot spots under control quickly. It contains vitamin E and aloe vera to calm dry, irritated skin and is safe for pups of all ages. That’s not all; this veterinary-grade medicated spray also treats skin allergies, active skin infections, and rashes, helping return your canine’s skin to good condition.
Pros:
- Tested by an independent lab for purity and effectiveness
- Formulated by veterinarians
- Doesn’t contain alcohol and doesn’t sting
- Treats infections, allergies, rashes, and more
Cons:
- May make your dog’s fur sticky
Forticept Hot Spot Treatment For Dogs
The complete package
This wound care kit from Forticept comes with everything you need to treat your dog’s hotspots, including antiseptic spray, antimicrobial ointment, and paw bandage wrap. All of these come together to bring quick relief to your pup and help stop them from itching, pitching, licking, and scratching associated with the bacteria and fungi that cause hotspots. Furthermore, the products in this kit are pH balanced and free of alcohol, antibiotics, and iodine.
Pros:
- Quickly relieves licking, scratching, biting, and other behaviors caused by hot spots
- Ointment helps heal cuts, wounds, scrapes, and paw pad sores
- Helps prevent infections
- Bandage wrap keeps dogs from disturbing wounds
Cons:
- Heavy chewers may remove the bandage
Will an untreated hot spot go away on its own?
Hot spots don’t usually go away on their own because dogs tend to lick irritated skin in an effort to make it feel better. All of this licking will cause their hair to fall out and the skin to become red and inflamed. However, hot spots are easily treated, and you can cover them with a bandage to keep your dog from licking them while it heals.
What causes hot spots?
Hot spots are often caused by dogs chewing or licking their skin. All of this excess self-grooming results in moist, infected skin. When this happens, a dog’s hair will often become matted on the irritated spot, causing more bacteria and moisture, which develops into a raw and painful spot.
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