Pet Skin Doctor

Skin infections on the surface of your dog or cat’s skin are called hot spots.  They are caused when populations of normal skin bacteria grow and overwhelm normal resistance. They are generally circular patches that lose hair, can be swollen, may exude a smelly pus, and can be painfully itchy, causing the dog to scratch, lick, or bite to the point of self-mutilation.

Be careful! Untreated pet hot spots can spread and provoke a normally even-tempered dog to growl or nip when touched.  The most common locations for hot spots are the legs and feet, flanks, and rump — areas that can be reached by licking or biting — but these localized infections can also appear on ears, neck, and chest if your pet is continually scratching.