Hot spot question...

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I think Bailey has a hot spot in between the pads on the bottom of her foot.  She has been licking it off and on for the past couple of days, the skin is red but not raw looking.  I checked in between the pads to make sure there were no thorns or anything sharp that would iritate her and she is not favoring it in any way. 

Is there something I can treat it with over the counter or should I take her to the vet?  This is my first experience with hot spots... 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm sure Karen will chime in here, but I'm guessing it is an allergy.  With Sophie if she gets interested in a foot, which is rare, I can normally just spray it with a "anti itch" spray of some sort (for Dogs).  With Lucy, she is normally a little more insistent and it takes Benedryl to get her to leave them alone.  You can also wipe them off really well when they come indoors.  I think Karen uses Claritin instead of Benedryl. 

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

I agree, sounds like it could be an allergy (or maybe the beginnings of a hot spot). Lola gets this sometimes, especially during allergy season. I make sure to keep the hair on her paws and in between her toes pretty short (can be a daunting task, but makes for some nice bonding time), and rinsing them off (not just wiping) a couple of times a day. Last year, Lola got a hot spot, and I used gold bond powder (along with a few other things) to treat it, and it worked really well. Just make sure sweet Bailey doesn't lick it off. Good luck!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, licking the paw with accompanying redness of the fur between the pads or toes is a classic sign of allergies; but if it's just that one spot, it could be something else. I'd examine all of her paws carefully and see if that is the only spot.

I do use Claritin for JD's allergies, it's a class 2 antihistamine and doesn't cause drowsiness like Benadryl, plus it's more effective.

OTC hydrocortisone sprays will relieve the itching temporarily, but it's a hard place to keep dry. If it stays moist, that's eventually going to turn into an infection. I was given a powder, Neo-Predef, to use on those areas to keep them dry, relieve the itching, and prevent infection. Hot spots (moist dermatitis) can get worse and spread if you don't treat them. If you can get a handle on it now, steroids shouldn't be necessary, so I'd ask the vet.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

With Murph's environmental allergies it often starts with his paws.  I keep them clean...wiped down when he comes in.  I have the hydrocortisone spray which seems to really give him relief.  I also give him Claritin...all pretty much exactly what Karen has said.  It  seems to help him, and we've been able to avoid the steroids as long as I'm real diligent.  Good luck...it's miserable for them.

[Heather & Brinkley]

Where do you get sprays like this? Is it for dogs? Brinkley is suffering with itching and it has to be due to allergies since it just popped up. And no there's a spot on two of his paws. He won't leave e spot alone soe now wearing a sock.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You can buy anti-itch sprays in any pet supply store. However, understand that all it does is stop the itching temporarily. Whatever is causing the itching won't go away or be cured, and if it's severe enough, the spray won't help all that much. You can only use so much of it so often. There's also the issue of moisture in those areas, which the sprays won't help. You can use a sock to prevent him from getting at the areas, but think about that. The sock isn't stopping the itching. Imagine that you had an unbearable itch on some part of your body, and somebody prevented you from scratching it but didn't do anything to stop the itching. The sock is also preventing air from circulating over the area, keeping it even moister. I'd see if the vet can give you something for it.

[Heather & Brinkley]

He's itchy all over. I do know Brinkley well enough to know that he gets obsessed with spot and will make it worse. I gave him allergy meds and he stopped itching everywhere but still wanted to lick that spot. Talk about moisture! I also cut little air holes in the sock. And he only wears it while I'm at work when I can't watch him. You may remember that I asked about itching a few days ago. I've since ordered Evening Primrose and hope to get it soon and he has a vet appointment so I wouldn't say that I'm not doing anything about it...actually it's the complete opposite. But in the meantime he needs a barrier or it will get infected bc he'd literally lick it all day. He's not even clawing or biting the sock so that tells me he just got into one of his licking moods because it itched at one point. And yes, I do know the spray doesn't fix the problem but I am trying to do everything I can to ease his discomfort until he sees the vet on Monday...when the spray was mentioned I thought it was yet another thing to help him be more comfortable.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sorry, Heather, now that you've reminded me, I remember the discussion. So many itchy dogs with hot spots, my memory isn't what it was.

The Claritin and EPO should help, and the spray will help as well. Just don't let the vet talk you into Rx food, lol.

[Heather & Brinkley]

No problem!  Yes, I will stay CLEAR of RX food.  We actually started seeing a new vet a few weeks ago-- the first visit was routine for yearly shots but I did tell them at that point that I'm sold on his food so that is one of things that I won't budge on.  The vet actually told me that Brinkley's coat and skin were in some of the best shape he's ever seen on a dog so whatever I'm doing is the right thing and that I shouldn't change a thing!

Hoping this clears up but I'm guessing by the volume of dogs on here with itchy skin, it MUST be seasonal allergies as you suggested in my post. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm guessing that, too, but the good news is that Brinkley responded so quickly to the Claritin, so once you add the EPO, and the occasional spray for those really itchy places, hopefully that will be enough to get him through his allergy season without any additional meds.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Neo-Predef is amazing stuff.  I got it for Haley several years ago when he had a bad tick bite on his foot.  Have used it several times since for what was minor itchy spots that Haley was obsessing over and it stopped the itching in a couple of applications.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Since it is only on one paw and  we live in NE Fl and have had so much rain...like 29 inches this month alone... I am thinking it might be a fungus of some sort and not allergies.  Her paws have been wet  so much more than usual.  I do wipe her paws off when she come into the house though.

 

I put some hydrocortosone on it tonight and will watch it tomorrow.  If it continues tomorrow to bother her, I think I will just go see the vet...Want to nip this in the bud and if it's nothing....well, nothing to worry about then...

 

Thanks everyone...