Percy the Poodle had a great day at the lake last weekend, swimming, fetching sticks, running through the underbrush, barking at squirrels. But now he’s paying for it. While camping with his family, his normal grooming routine went out the window. His curly hair became matted from romping in the woods, wet from swimming in the lake, and his hair remained damp and unkept for a few days. Now he has developed a painful sore under his tangled hair--a hot spot!
A hot spot happens when bacteria present on your dog's skin overpopulates, often due to the area becoming soiled and damp. Medical conditions and allergies also predispose dogs to developing hot spots, which can appear quite suddenly. Part of treating your dog's hot spot will involve cleaning the area, to allow effective treatment and provide relief to your dog and keep the hot spot from becoming a serious skin infection.