My dog has a skin problem. Is it a hot spot or mange? How to treat?

The spot on the cheek looks like a "hot spot". The rest looks like a flea allergy. Mange is not impossible in a dog her age but really unlikely unless she is immunocompromised. The hot spot on the cheek is basically a bacterial skin infection. She probably compromised the skin in that area due to scratching at the ears if she has an ear infection. You really need to get her to a vet to get everything she has going on under control. She needs an anti-inflammatory injection to the get the scratching under control, she needs to have oral antibiotics to clear up the hot spot, if there is an ear infection that needs to be treated and of course, the fleas need to get under control with a GOOD flea medication that she stays on continuously. A flea bath is very temporary and is not going to fix the problem. An ear infection will not clear up with over the counter ear cleaners - she needs an actual medication to clear it up. Please get her to your vet as soon as you can. Some things cannot be fixed with home treatment once they become too advanced. Best wishes.

Dogs with mange are typically extremely itchy and uncomfortable. This could be some local irritation or infection. Place an e-collar (cone) on Ben to prevent licking or chewing. You can clean the area daily using a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution. Dry thoroughly afterwards. Treat him and the environment for fleas also if you haven't already done so. If the spot does not show signs of healing or worsens in the next few days, then have him physically examined by your veterinarian. Systemic and/or topical treatment may be indicated.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria and commonly called hot spot). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello. If his skin is damaged, then you want to use an antibacterial shampoo until the lesions heal. Anything with Benzoyl Peroxide or Chlorhexidine will work well. You will need to probably bathe him every few days, so alternate with a shampoo that has anti-itch properties such as Pramoxine or 1% hydrocortisone. The key to using any medicated shampoo is to make sure you leave the lather on for 10 minutes before rinsing. Finally, you should use a skin barrier preparation that contains ceramides. Allerderm Spot-on by Virbac & Dermoscent Essential 6 Spot-on are 2 highly rated products. Ueing these products along with diet & appropriate medications should make Mumble much more comfortable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

A lot of skin conditions can look like hot spots, bacterial skin infection, ringworm, even mite infections, and allergies, flea bites and other itchy lesions. each on of these is treated with a different medication or avoidance of allergens, etc. Therefore it is very important to have a correct diagnosis, ie know what is causing the hot spot so the proper treatment can be initiated. I strongly recommend you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam of the hot spots. Your vet may want to do a skin scraping or a take a swab or brush sample to help determine the cause and then specifically address the problem.

Treatment for hotspot is typically antibiotic therapy and anti-itch medication. I would recommend a topical approach and shave hair from the area. You can use Malacetic conditioning spray, a hydrocortisone spray and apply these twice daily. Hotspots do not spread to humans so do not worry about that as a concern.

That looks like a pretty nasty hot spot. Hot spots are caused by chronic moisture against the skin (which is common with a collar or something else wrapped around the neck). The best way to treat a hot spot is to clip the hair from the area so that it can fully dry out. You will need to use buzzing clipper, not a razor or scissors. You can try an OTC pet antimicrobial spray, but often prescription sprays or ointments work a little better since they contain a steroid and real antibiotics. You may also have to get creative in finding ways to prevent Peyton from scratching this area, as that will delay healing and can damage the skin. You can try socks, dog booties, or bandaging the feet to cover the nails. Unfortunately, due to the location, he won't be able to use an e-collar. If the hotspot isn't looking better in 48 hours, I would recommend that you have Peyton checked out by a vet.