First hot spot

[Luv2byte]

Chloe is getting, what we think, is her first hot spot.  I've been putting. Hydrocortisone & neoprene on it this week, its kept it controlled.  No open or oozing areas to it, just skin very very red & hair is thin.  I didn't do anything to it yesterday, just to see if what I was doing really was making a difference.  It was, we think.  Today the fur is much much thinner & it's the reddest it's been.  Tonight after their bath (flea meds tonight) I cleaned it with newsprint cleaner, put a dab of hydrocortisone on it.   I think, since it's our first hot spot, we will run her in to the vet, if they are open, tomorrow.  I want to be sure she isn't developing cellulitis since the skin is so red.  Very thankful she is fantastic with her leave it command but that doesn't help when we are sleeping.   Everything about her is normal but can tell her leg bothers her.

We have the dogs on Pure Vita, it's one of the highest fiber foods without a prescription.  Skyler has fiber responsive colitis, when it was finally diagnosed there were no grain free food higher than 3-4% fiber so we switched them off of TOTW.  There is recently two foods out that are 6-7% fiber and grain free.  We have samples, the dogs went nuts for them so we are going to switch.

The two we are considering:
http://www.nutrisourcedogfood.com/nutrisource/products/gf_heartland
http://www.nutrisourcedogfood.com/purevita/grain_free_bison

Only big concern with the heartland is that it has chicken, which has been found to be a source for hotspots.  Love the fiber content of the pure vita but the calorie content of heartland is better, lower.

So any input to hotspot treatment or foods I've mentioned is welcomed.

[eskieagilitygal]

The best stuff I have found for Hot Spots (Winston gets them) and just about everything else (scrapes, cuts, etc.) is the Horsemans Vet Cream.  You can get it on Amazon.Com and some on-line pet stores.    I love this stuff.   Used it on my horse (back in the day) and now my dogs.

[Saint Mom]

Tammy,

I sent you an email on that. 

[Saint Mom]

For food, not sure as Takoda has not had any (the spots) in a long long time (crossing fingers). And they have been on TOTW for a long time now.

But I do make that when he is washed, or out of pool (seasonal here of course) and even if playing in the yard and it is wet, that he is dried entirely. We cannot leave his hair damp when the weather is very hot/humid. He will get his spots under "armpits" or in the butt area. Never anywhere else. But he is also suffering from the black skin disease so his skin to start off with is not good "quality".

[Luv2byte]

So we did take her to the vet since its her first hot spot.  She does have a secondary skin/tissue infection, which was our concern for as red & thickened as the skin feels.   We opted for antibiotic injection instead of pills, better efficacy & lasts for two weeks.  Vet said what we have been doing has been great since she has had this for a week and hasn't broken the skin at all yet, that in itself is great. 

We are also going to be changing food to Pure Vita (by Nutri source) grain free bison.  Meets requirements for both dogs (Skyler has to have a high fiber diet).