HOT SPOT

[Debbie]

My goldendoodle has been licking a spot on the top of his rear paw for over 3 months.  The vet said it's a hot spot.  She gave him an injection, Derma-Vet Ointment, a round of antibiotics and a cone.  None of thm have worked.  I have tried Goldbond Medicated Powder, Schreiner's Herbal Solution and just leaving it alone.  Nothing has worked.  He will leave it alone for a few days, but goes right back to licking.  I am at my wits end.  I have seen a few posts on Neo Predef w/Tetracaine.  Has anyone had good results with the same symptoms as we have?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

How long ago did he get the shot? I'm pretty shocked that didn't work, since chances are pretty good it was a steroid injection. 

Neo Predef is a good product, it's definitely helped my guy with minor issues, but if steroids didn't do the job, it's doubtful anything else would. 

Did your vet do a scraping of the paw? 

[Debbie]

He got the shot over a month a go, along with the ointment.  When that didn't help , they tried 10days of antibiotics.  After 5 days of antibiotics, they gave me a cone.  But he is smarter then we are and figured a way to get his back leg into the cone.

She did not do a scraping.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It would be good to know what the shot was. 

JD's dermatologist always does a scraping before making a diagnosis or prescribing treatments, because there is always the possibility of mites. You might go back to the vet and ask for one. 

Licking of the paws and subsequent hot spots are a sign of inhalant allergies, and it's definitely the season for them, but it would be unusual for only one paw to be affected. 

[Gail and Bailey]

Karen,  could mites only be in one spot?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not sure, but JD's dermatologist did do scrapings when only his paws were affected, so I think so. 

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

FYI To treat skin issues with antibiotics takes 30 days not the normal 7-10 days. According to my dermatology vet. 

I don't have any other advice but wish you the best. Please let us know how it goes because I think I will need all this info in the future with my dog.

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

I don't have any advice but I do hope your dood feels better soon.

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

I am certainly not a vet but have had hot spot issues with Sully all through August.  I'll tell what worked for us would want Karen to bless it, she has a lot more knowledge than I about this stuff.  It was on the top of his back paw and by the time I saw it, the skin was looking pasty white from all the licking.  I cut all the hair off that one spot and then put Vetericyn gel on it (for some things, the gel is better staying).  That seemed to stop the itching a lot.  At night, I washed it, put Resi KetoChor on for the night and gave him one Chlorpheniramine (generic chlor-trimeton).   After about 1-1/2 day he stopped licking and it healed quickly, never had to go to the vet.  

I've dealt with hot spots for years (used to have golden retrievers) and the vet/shots were an annual thing.  Tank had a horrible one on his neck last Christmas that took a month to heal so this was a very welcome surprise.  The only thing that wasn't topical was the chlorphenaramine which, this time, worked much better than benadryl.  Sully's licking can turn into a habit very quickly.  I had an inflatable collar that I used for a night or two. 

I've had great success with the vetericyn products.  They do not bother the boys by stinging and have worked great every time I've used them.  The Resi KetoChor is something Karen mentioned on a post last year and I bought it just in case. Did not open until this happened but as glad I had it on hand.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It sounds fine to me, Cyndi. I'm not familiar with Vetericyn, but the Resi KetoChlor really helped JD's hot spots and Chlor Trimeton is an effective antihistamine for many dogs.

[Gail and Bailey]

I have used Resi KetoChor for years on hot spots that my dogs have had and have always had success with it.  It seems to give the dog quick relief from the itching and helps to heal.  I put it on really thick at first and sit with the dog to distract thoughts of licking or scratching for about 15 or 20 minutes.  Take the dog for a walk to keep them occupied for a while as well.   I just goop it on the spot....fur and all....it is not greasy,it is like a lotion and pleasant smelling.  It will be absorbed and if it gets on anything it is not going to stain.  If possible you can cover the area with soft cloth...I used to put a kerchief loosely around the dogs neck when he got them there from scratching or a sock for the foot.