Hot Spots on Dogs
Dog Health Guides · Skin problems & itching · Skin and coat
Hot Spots on Dogs: Causes, Treatment and How To Prevent Them
If you are reading about hot spots on dogs, your veterinarian is the best first step. This guide explains what owners commonly see and what to do next. It does not diagnose or prescribe.
Hot spots on dogs (acute moist dermatitis) are red, wet, painful patches of skin that can appear and spread within hours. They often look worse every time you check, because licking and scratching keep breaking the skin.
Hot spots usually start with something that makes a dog lick or scratch one spot, such as fleas, allergies, an ear infection, or a damp coat after swimming. This guide covers dog hot spot treatment, safe first aid at home, and how to prevent hot spots from coming back.
Important: See a vet within a day for a hot spot that is large, spreading, very painful, deep, smelly, near the eye, or keeps coming back. Most hot spots need the hair clipped and the skin cleaned properly, and many dogs need prescription treatment.
See the bigger picture
This guide is part of our skin problems & itching guide, which covers related causes and when to call the vet.
What a Hot Spot Is
A Surface Skin Infection
A hot spot is an area of inflamed, infected skin caused by the dog’s own licking, chewing and scratching. Bacteria on the skin take advantage of the damage.
Why They Spread Fast
The patch is itchy and sore, so the dog licks more, the skin gets wetter, and the patch grows, often under matted hair where you cannot see it.
Where They Appear
Common spots are the cheeks and neck below the ears, the base of the tail, the hips, and the legs.
What Hot Spots on Dogs Look Like
Red, Wet, Raw Skin
A round or irregular patch that looks shiny, moist, or oozing, sometimes with a yellow crust.
Matted or Missing Hair
Fur stuck together over the patch, or hair lost in a clear circle.
Pain
Your dog flinches, growls or cries when the area is touched.
Constant Licking
Repeated licking, chewing or scratching at one spot, or head shaking if it is near the ear.
How Hot Spots Develop (They Are Not Contagious)
A Trigger Starts the Itch
Flea bites, allergies, ear infections, anal gland discomfort, insect bites, or a small scratch. See skin problems in dogs.
Moisture and Thick Coats
Damp fur after swimming, bathing or rain, and thick double coats that trap moisture, make hot spots more likely, especially in warm, humid weather.
Not Caught From Other Dogs
A hot spot does not spread to other dogs or people. The cause, such as fleas, can affect other pets. Deeper infections can follow. See pyoderma in dogs.
Dog Hot Spot Treatment: What Vets Do
Clip and Clean
Your vet gently clips the hair around the patch and cleans the skin. This lets air reach it and is often the single most helpful step.
Medicines When Needed
Your vet may prescribe an anti-itch medicine and a topical or oral antibiotic. See antibiotics for dogs.
Treat the Trigger
Flea control, allergy care, or treating an ear infection stops new hot spots from forming.
What To Do Tonight
Small and early
A small, dry, slightly red patch caught early: keep it clean and dry, stop licking, and see your vet if it grows or does not improve within a day.
See a vet today
Large, oozing, spreading, smelly or very painful patches, or hot spots that keep coming back.
Related products
Sea salt saline spray for cleaning minor skin irritations and small wounds. Deep, bleeding, bite or infected wounds need a vet.
View product →Free shipping on orders $75+. Prices and stock update automatically. Products are listed for education; medicines are used only when a veterinarian directs care. This page does not diagnose or prescribe.
Related Dog Health Guides
Back to Dog Health Guides →Hot Spots on Dogs FAQ
How do I treat hot spots on my dog at home?
Stop licking with a cone, gently clean with saline, and keep the area dry. Most hot spots still need a vet to clip and clean them and to treat the cause.
What is the best treatment for hot spots on dogs?
Clipping the hair, cleaning the skin, stopping the licking, and treating the trigger, plus medicine if your vet prescribes it.
Are hot spots on dogs contagious?
No. The hot spot itself does not spread to other dogs or people, but fleas or other causes can affect other pets.
How can I prevent hot spots on my dog?
Use year-round flea control, dry your dog well after swimming and baths, brush out thick coats, and work with your vet to manage allergies and ear problems.
Can hot spots kill a dog?
Hot spots themselves are rarely dangerous, but a large, deep or infected patch can make a dog very unwell. See a vet if your dog seems sick or the spot is spreading.
Is this hot spots on dogs guide a substitute for a vet visit?
No. It is educational only. Your veterinarian should examine your dog and guide any diagnosis and treatment.
Can I work out a medicine dose from this page?
No. Never work out doses from product strengths, other pets’ medicines or internet pages. The right medicine and dose depend on your dog’s weight, age, breed, health and other medicines, so they must come from your veterinarian.