Hot Spots
Natural Remedies

Hot Spot Remedies

Epsom Salts, Povidone Iodine, Flea Control

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, GA) on 02/14/2007

Turns out that all the things I was doing to treat Max (tea tree and lavender oil, cayenne, ACV, etc.) made the hotspot much worse -- poor guy! Mea culpa! In fact, the hotspot turned into a bad staph infection and I had to treat it with antibiotics. My holistic vet told me to keep the area shaved and next time, to use a solution of epsom salts dissolved in water with a drop of Povidone iodine by holding a soaked piece of gauze to the area. I also have to keep Max on flea control year round since hotspots are most likely caused by flea bites. 3 months of Advantage, then 3 months of Frontline, back and forth, since fleas become "immune" to one brand if you use it too long. If the hotspot was not caused by an allergy, the vet told me, it's possible his hips are painful and he is biting that area to get at the pain.

Replied by Deirdre
(Atlanta, GA)
06/26/2007
★★★★★

Max hasn't had a hotspot in months. I am assuming now it is because he has constant flea control (Frontline 3 months, Advantage 3 months) and because the weather in very, very dry. No rain in Georgia for a long time now. When I lived in Los Angeles, his hotspots similarly happened during the rainy season starting January. The epsom salts and povidone iodine worked great though, I have to say.

Replied by Deborah
(Cartersville, Georgia)
06/22/2008

I'm curious what type of dog Deidra has. I have two full blooded black labs, brother and sister, a half black lab, 1/4 blue heeler, 1/4 australian shepard, and a 1/2 newfouldland a 1/2 great pyrenees. One of my full blooded black labs, Belle, has come down with horrible hot spots, I thought it was from fleas, which we have shampooed her for and treated with frontline, and spray, she loves to swim in our in ground pool so I worry it is washing off , we also have horses and it's almost impossible to keep her out of their watering trough. I am desperate to get him some relief, so I coated her in babyoil and put her back to bed. all four dogs stay in the pasture all day with our horsres and then come in at night to our basement where it is always 70 degrees year round. i keep there bedding clean and washed so not to have any flea problems. Just Belle has the hot spots, Max(her brother), Rocky and Mapalo are fine.

Replied by KDenise
(Stone Mountain, GA)
05/29/2009

PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS IN USING TEA TREE OIL ON PETS*** While tea tree oil has many desirable qualities, it can be highly TOXIC to pets, particularly cats and birds. Do your research first. Don't assume it won't be harmful to your dog.


Eucalyptus and Spearmint Oil

Posted by Linda (Las Vegas, Nv) on 12/29/2014

I just soaked my chihuahua in eucalytus and spearmint oil for hot spots, did not use any shampoo. Just towel dried him and he looks like he is in heaven right now. I hope this works.


Fish Oil

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Mary (South Dakota, US) on 08/30/2014
★★★★★

Our Bassett hound had hot spots (red irritated skin where he lost his hair) and after researching online I started giving him fish oil capsule daily and it has really helped him.


General Feedback

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Kathy (Toronto, Canada) on 10/16/2007
★★★★★

I adopted a 3 year old golden and he is very prone to hot spots only on his tail. He will chew it until it bleeds But He seems to do it if I work late or am away over night There are other family members in the home But I have switched food cut out all treats and for two months no hot spot, I went away last thursday overnight came home friday and there was a hot spot on the tail. Is this possible? is he afraid that I will leave him? all I know about him is he was dumped at a shelter .

EC: Kathy, our dog (a rescue as well) also has hot spot issues. We've noticed that they are nonexistent during the spring and summer months with typically dry, hot weather. When the weather gets cooler and starts to rain, the hot spots start appearing, one after the other. After years of going through the same cycle, we are beginning to suspect that it has to do with the weather.


Gentian Violet

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Marianne (Chepachet, Ri) on 10/12/2009
★★★★★

hi everyone!! i have seen many unfortunate dogs over the years; who for many different reasons, have suffered from severe itching, red bellies, and inside of ears, and horrible hot spots on legs, base of tail, and bottom of paws. what i find works best is; go to the pharmacy, and ask the pharmacist for gentian violet, they mix it up fresh, or have to order it, it has a very short shelf-life. it`s a viricide, fungicide, and a bacteriacide. i start out by giving the animal a warm bath, with any moiturizing anti-bacterial soap; rinsing well, and using a vineagar rinse. i rip up an old towel in squares, that can be thrown away after one use. apply the gentian violet with a damp towel square, making sure it has soaked in well to all of the wounds. it`s ok to lick, they used to put it in baby`s mouths for thrush, it`s bright dark blue, but you`ll learn to live with it. wash, rinse, and reapply to areas when the beight color has faded out, about once a day, and bathe as you feel you should, about once a week. using a grain-free food, keeping an anxious dog calm, and well-exercised and busy also helps. i have seen this work wonders, and no steroids, or invasive meds are involved. just passing along what i have seen help these poor dogs, it`s just awful to see them suffer so.


Gold Bond Powder

5 User Reviews
5 star (4) 
  80%
1 star (1) 
  20%

Posted by Sb (Simcoe, Canada ) on 05/11/2013
★★★★★

We have a 2 year old Newfoundland Dog , with the nice warm weather she has been swimming 5/7 days this week, the other night she was acting out of sorts so I was taking her collar off and a horrible smell came out from under it, she had developered a large hot spot along the collar line of her neck. I went out and got tinactin and gold bond powder on suggestion from this site. Her hair was so thick I kinda just massaged it into her chest best I could, this relieved the pain.. Next morning got her shaved under the neck at the groomers so I could actually see it, it was enormous, not broken skin but very red irritated and gooey in some spots. We have been giving her 3 Benadryl a day and applying the powder 2-3x a day and she's like a new dog, its clearing up and we are on day 2. Tinactin works well too but the spray sound scared her too much.

Replied by Richard
(Scottville, Michigan)
09/15/2015
★☆☆☆☆

I would ask a vet first since Gold Bond has zinc in it and zinc is toxic to dogs (when ingested, like the zinc in pennies)? See the following for more info on zinc toxicity:

http://www.aspcapro.org/sites/pro/files/zp-toxbrief_0202.pdf


Gold Bond Powder
Posted by Sue (Maili, Hawaii) on 10/19/2012
★★★★★

I had my dog groomed and two days later she was loaded with hot spots. She had a hot spot a long time ago and I brought her to the vet $125 later she was healed. This time she had them literally from head to toe and was miserable. I rescearched this web site and learned I could use ACV which I am a fan of or Golds Bond powder. I choose the powder (orange bottle) and I am sold. Twice a day I put the powder right on the spot and I didn't even shave around the sores. I could see it in her eyes that there was instant relief. I saw immediate results. So now I share this with everyone. Sue

Replied by Jj
(Canada)
04/16/2014

Sue, were you worried about your dog licking the gold bond? Thanks


Gold Bond Powder
Posted by Jill (Brinnon, Wa) on 08/21/2012
★★★★★

My 6 year old Aussie/heeler had started scratching one evening and by the next morning had raw underarm pits. Little red patches were springing up. Maybe 4 of them. I put 1%hydrocortisone cream on her underarms then a sprinkling of the Green label gold bond powder. I then put one of my tshirts on her and took it up at the waist( held it in place with some duct tape) so she couldn't get her foot up under it. Make sure the tshirt isn't rubbing under the arms. This kept her from licking or scratching the armpits. After 2 days of applying this 3 times a day her armpits look normal. She has added Omega oil caps to diet.


Gold Bond Powder
Posted by Sarah Reyburn (Brewster, Massachusetts USA) on 02/14/2009
★★★★★

Gold bond Powder helps my Silky terrier when he chews and licks hot spots which he tend to get on his lower back and near his tail.

EC: FYI -- the active ingredients of Gold Bond Powder (an over-the-counter skin irritation powder) are Menthol (0.15%) and zinc oxide (1.0%).

Replied by Mary
(Springfield, MO)
06/19/2009

The GREEN bottle. Works Wonders, and Caladril CLEAR only. Absolute. Even for ears, very lightly with tissue. Been trying all for years.


Hydrogen Peroxide and Borax

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Anne (Finger Lakes, New York) on 03/24/2015
★★★★★

Om is right. We tried everything on our Bulldog. The only thing that worked was a diluted Hydrogen Peroxide and borax mixture that we spray on. After months of agony, this remedy gave improvement overnight and cleared up his skin completely in about a week. The recipe is:

1 part 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, 2 Parts water, add 50 mule Borax until solution is cloudy (i.e. no more granules will dissolve). Apply with a wet cloth to thoroughly soak affected area. Later you can use a spray a few times a day.


Lavender Oil

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Tara (Baton Rouge, La) on 05/27/2016
★★★★★

We have a 10 year old Beagle/Bassett hound mix, and he gets a few hot spots every year. Recently I tried mixing approximately a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil with 5 or 6 drops of lavender essential oil (lavandula angustifolia) and rubbing it on the spot. It disappeared within a few days. The hot spots have been so stubborn in the past, so this felt like a miracle. Hooray!

Replied by Tara
(Baton Rouge, La)
03/09/2017

Just wanted to give an update on my last post. This remedy still works like a dream. I mixed up a small bottle to use whenever our buddy gets a raw spot, and the spot always dries and scabs up the very next day. I gave a bottle to a friend to use on his Boxer, and it produced the same result. Smells pretty good as well. :)


Lavender Oil
Posted by Pat (Hadley, Massachusetts,usa) on 12/03/2011
★★★★★

On hot spots, burns, etc. I have mixed a couple of drops of lavender essential oil w/ a cup of water, sprayed it on, and in a few days it heals...


Light Weight Coat

1 User Review
4 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Lucrec (Wantagh, New York) on 07/26/2009
★★★★☆

I just came across this site so I haven't tried the ACV or any of the other natural remedies yet. Max, a 6 year old mini schnauzer is really suffering, so I will try this immediately. But what does seem to help, which is strange is a coat. I put a light weight jersey coat on him and for some reason he stops licking the hot spots. I know they cannot heal just because of the coat, but it does provide him relief and he doesn't have to wear a collar which has to be so frustrating to an itchy animal.


Listerine and Baby Oil Spray

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Anita (Rochester, MN) on 02/04/2009
★★★★★

Dog with Hair Loss, Severe Skin Allergies:

I received a Great Pyrenees on Christmas Day 2008 and was shocked at the inflammation, loss of hair, itching and brittleness of her hair. I was told that she had severe food allergies (and I did immediately switch her to a premium grain-free dog food) but in addition, I started ading apple cider vinegar to her drinking water and bathed her in it several times. I have proof-positive pictures that within one month this situation took a 360 degree turn for the better. She is happier now, more energetic, has a zest for life and no more itching and inflammation. I recommend apple cider vinegar wholeheartedly.

On her ankles and her elbows she has dried crusted spots and for those I looked up home remedies for hot spots and saw several people had success with plain Listerine, mixed with baby oil and water and spritzed on these spots. Within 2 weeks, those dried spots clearedup and new skin grown and hair growth is happening there.


Manuka Honey

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Milli (Florida) on 07/10/2016
★★★★★

A mask of clean honey worked like a charm for my dog's hot spot. The skin was so red and irritated by the time I cut my dog's cheek hair that I broke the skin and she was bleeding. In despair I slathered on a "mask" of honey on the area. It scab bed up the next day and came off during her next pond romp. Good old Nature!



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