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Spring and summer can be itchy times for a dog. Uncontrollable scratching can lead to hot spots, skin abrasions and even hair loss.  Happytails offers a selection of all natural products to help relieve dry and itchy skin. And now through Friday June 18th these products are 10% off.

A LITTLE FINE PRINT: 1. 10% discount applies to these six products only. All other items are available at the regular price. 2. May not be combined with other offers or promo codes. 3 Offer expires June 18th 2010 4. Promo code may be used only once. 5. Offer is not retroactive and is applicaple only to orders placed between the time that you receive this email and June 18th 2010

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If your dog has ever had a hot spot, you’ll be familiar with how quickly they develop. You leave for work in the morning and your dog has a small patch of inflamed skin, and when you come home, he has a palm sized area of skin that is raw, oozing and extremely painful.

 

If it is large enough, a hot spot can also make your dog feel generally unwell and lethargic.

 

These acute skin infections are more common in dogs with heavy coats.

 

How Hot Spots Happen

 

Hot spots are also known as moist eczema or summer sores, and are basically a severe bacterial infection. The bacterial infection is secondary to an underlying skin problem, such as allergies, fleas or even heat and humidity. Some dogs have behavioral problems that cause excessive licking and grooming, and this too can allow an infection to develop. The skin becomes irritated, your dog scratches, and the bacteria that normally live on the skin multiply. The result is a hot spot.

 

Once your dog has started scratching, it becomes a vicious cycle and even if you control the underlying problem, the infection itself continues to itch. Hot spots don’t usually resolve by themselves.

 

These skin infections really hurt, and it’s important that you have them checked by your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

 

Treating Your Dog’s Hot Spot

 

Hot spots must be treated aggressively to stop them spreading any further.

 

1. The hair must be clipped away from the hot spot, to allow easier cleaning. In some cases, the hot spot is so painful that this can only be done with a general anesthetic.

 

2. The hot spot is washed in a gentle water based antiseptic such as iodine to start to kill the bacteria.

 

3. Your vet will prescribe antibiotic tablets to clear up the bacterial infection. She will also give your dog corticosteroids to reduce the pain and inflammation, so your dog feels better quicker. In most cases, an ointment isn’t used to treat a hot spot. It can be wiped off as your dog rolls or rubs on the carpet, or your dog may lick it off. Regular application of Itchin’ for Relief will reduce inflammation, stop itching and ease the discomfort. It contains no alcohol so it won’t sting on application.

 

4. Your dog may need to wear an Elizabethan Collar for a little while, just to stop him scratching at his hot spot, so it has a chance to heal. You can take it off to allow him to eat, but only remove it when you’re there to supervise him. He can very quickly undo all your good work and make his hot spot worse again. Instead of the standard collar, check out a Comfy Cone. Serves the same purpose but is much more comfy!

 

5. When the hot spot has resolved, it’s important to try and find the the underlying reason for the infection. This will give your dog the best chance of avoiding another painful skin infection.

 

Preventing A Recurrence

 

If your dog has had a hot spot, chances are he will develop another one in the future. Make sure he is flea free, and treat any allergies that will predispose to irritation and infection.

 

 If your dog is itchy, regular use of Comfy Dog shampoo will help. It contains oatmeal, which is known to soothe irritated skin. As soon as you notice any areas of inflammation or reddening on his skin, spray the area with Itchin’ for Relief frequently, and hopefully you will nip the hot spot in the bud.

 

Hot spots are a nuisance. Fortunately, with the right products, you can help prevent them from developing, and treat them quickly and effectively if they do occur. To read more about healing your dog’s hot spots, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Spot Horror!

Last week, my brother took my three dogs out for a long hike on a mountain trail that runs alongside a shallow river. Every now and then he’d throw a stick into the water for the dogs to dive in after so that they could cool off a bit. Needless to say, they all arrived back home tired and smelling like wet dogs.

A couple of days later I noticed that one of my dogs, CJ, kept scratching and licking himself in one particular area on his stomach. He seemed to obsess about it so much that I decided to take a look myself. I rolled CJ over onto his back and noticed that he had a small cut on his belly and the surrounding skin was red and swollen. He had licked at it so much that his hair had fallen away around the wound.

After talking with my brother, we deducted that my dog must have scratched his belly on a rock or stick while jumping in and out of the river when they were out hiking. That, coupled with his fur remaining wet for such a long period of time, had caused a hot spot.

Hot spots are also referred to as moist eczema and can be small abrasions on a dog’s skin that are caused by damp moisture. In CJ’s case it was the river water staying on his fur and skin for such a long period of time before he came home. The bacteria in the river water had stayed on his skin long enough to form a tiny bacterial colony. This colony then irritated my dog to the extent of him scratching and licking at the spot for relief, although he was merely making things worse for himself.

Hot spots can be caused by anything that either irritates or breaks the skin, and not just by excess moisture. Dogs can get hot spots from being accidently clipped by the groomer or by being shaved too close to the skin. Other causes are allergies and bug bites, such as from fleas and ticks.

These hot spots may appear as painful, swollen, smelly, areas on your dog’s skin that sometimes will ooze liquid as well. The edges are often red with an oozing center and are sometimes covered with a yellow plaque. Most of the time, their fur would have fallen out around the area due to your dog incessantly licking, scratching and biting at it in an attempt to get relief.

Hot spots can occur on any part of the body but the most common locations are the side of the face, top of neck , rump or base of tail.

While almost any dog can get hot spots, those dogs that have long coats or a history of allergies, ear infections, and flea infestations are most susceptible. Dogs that reside in climates that are warm and humid may also have trouble with hot spots when their undercoats are shed.

If left untreated these hot spots can became progressively worse and spread wider across the dog’s body. ith CJ I used Itchin’ for Relief because it contains a combination of Oat Extract, Litchi and Aloe, which all work together to provide soothing relief from the itchiness. It also contains Neem and Grapefruit Seed Extract which have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, as well as Calendula and Boswellia Serrata for their anti-inflammatory properties too.

Six Ways You Can Treat Your Dog’s Hot Spots, Now!

1. Clip away hair on and around the hot spot.

2. Kill any surface bacteria as soon as possible by using a product like Itchin for Relief which is hypoallergenic and soap-free. This will also provide some temporary relief

3. Wash your dog with an oatmeal shampoo . Oatmeal is an excellent way to break the itch cycle and provide relief. Click here to read more about why oatmeal helps to relieve itchy skin.

4. If possible cover the hot spot. You can put a tshirt on your dog to prevent direct access to the wound, or, put some soft booties on his feet. You can also try Lick Strips which is a little adhesive you place on the hot spot to  deter licking and biting of hot spots. Finally, in lieu of those awful Elizabethan cones try a  . Services the same purpose but is much more Comfy!

5. If your dog is prone to hot spots try a nutritional supplement like vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids.

6. For deeper, internal bacterial conditions put your dog on an immune support product. Try either Healthy Skin Shiny Coat which is a liquid elixir or Eyemunity which is a very effective all natural powder you sprinkle onto your dog’s food. Building your dog’s immune system will help to prevent hot spots for good!

When your dog is itchy, it’s distressing for both of you. Wouldn’t it be great if there was something you could do to give him instant relief? Well, you’ll be happy to hear that there is.

1. Check the ingredients on his food . One of the most common causes of itchy skin is allergies and specifically food allergies. A vet will almost always recommend changing an itchy dog’s food. Especially if he’s being fed "kibble" type dry food which usually contains fillers and preservatives. Ingredients to watch out for include corn wheat or soy which are common allergy triggers. Switch to a more natural food like Honest Kitchen or Orijen and of course make sure your dog always has plenty of fresh water.

2. Check for fleas; another common cause of itching, but be careful, even if you can’t see fleas, they may still be causing your dog grief. The lower back and base of the tail are typical spots for flea bites. As if the bites themselves weren’t bad enough dogs who are allergic to flea bites can scratch for several weeks after one flea bite. Of course we recommend all-natural Flea The Scene ! Not only is it a safe and effective way to repel the little buggars but the formula contains no poisons or pesticides so even if your dog licks it off, it’s perfectly safe.

3. Fish Oil has been shown to help with itching and also has anti inflammatory qualities. As an added benefit it also helps to make the coat shiner and more manageable. You can buy fish oil tablets specifically for your pet from Nordic Naturals and Animal Essentials but your own pills are perfectly fine. If he balks at swallowing a pill (and we suspect he will) just puncture the outer skin of the capsule with a pin and squeeze the contents onto his food. Most dogs like the taste of fish so it should not deter him from eating.

4. Try not to bathe the dog too often , (I know this may be easier for some dog’s than others) it can dry out the skin and make the problem worse. But do bathe your dog regularly so that you get rid of dust and pollen that may have settled on his fur. (Bath time tips fort itchy dogs ) Use a colloidal oatmeal shampoo such as Comfy Dog Shampoo to reduce his skin inflammation and itch. Colloidal oatmeal has been approved by the FDA to ease itchy skin. Wash your dog, then follow up with Fur Butter. It too contains colloidal oatmeal, as well as aloe and shea butter and will have your best friend feeling more comfortable in no time. Click here to read more about colloidal oatmeal .

5. Cover it up! If your dog is scratching the same spot over and over, cover it up with a doggie Tshirt or doggie booties. By placing a barrier between your dog’s claws and the abrasion you allow the irritation to heal and hopefully your dog will start thinking about something else! Check out the hip T’s from RuffRuffandMeow.com

6. CHILLAX! If your dog is licking and scratching all night long keeping the both of your up, give him a few drops of Sleepytime Tonic . Your dog may be working himself into a frenzy and the scratching becomes a nervous habit. Sleepytime Tonic won’t cure the itchy skin, but it WILL relax and calm the both of you so you can both get some much needed sleep! If you think your dog’s scratching is all in her mind, here are a couple of articles you may want to read. Your dog’s constant scratching could be a habit and Is your dog’s scratching all in his mind?

7. Spot On! If your dog has a particular part of his body he’s really scratching or chewing at, consider using Itchin’ For Relief . This is a convenient, easy to use spray with a unique nozzle to direct the spray to where it’s really needed. That way you’re not wetting the whole coat, and wasting the product on areas of the body where it’s not needed. Its all natural ingredients quickly soothe the itch of hot spots. You’ll notice your dog stop scratching straight away.

Of course, if these tips above don’t work, a trip to the vet may be necessary.

Antihistamines such as Benadryl may help stop your dog’s itch. This medication actually blocks the release of histamine in cells, which causes the reddening and itching of the skin in response to an insect bite or allergy. Antihistamines are very safe drugs, but not all dogs show improvement when they’re treated with them. In fact, only about 30% of dogs are more comfortable when they’re given antihistamines. If you’d like to try this medication, speak to your vet about an appropriate dose and frequency for your dog.

Anti-itch medication usually contains corticosteroids. These drugs also block the inflammatory response, but do so much more effectively, so virtually all dogs will respond to treatment. An injection of corticosteroid by your vet will ease the itch very quickly. She may suggest that you follow that with corticosteroid tablets or creams, to extend the effect. Keep in mind that there are potential side effects if you use these drugs, and it’s important that you use as low a dose as possible to reduce the risk. Combining corticosteroid medication with Comfy Dog Shampoo and Itchin’ For Relief will mean you don’t need as much medication to stop your dog scratching. This is much better for his health.

Constant itching and scratching can lead to a secondary infection, and worsening of your dog’s skin problem. It’s good to have some effective tools in your arsenal to nip that scratching in the bud. That way, you’ll both get some rest.

Photo by Leslie Robbins

Some breeds have a reputation for being itchy. These include West Highland White Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds.

There are plenty of old wives’ tales relating to the care of our dogs. Is this just another one, or are some breeds really more itchy than others?

Breed Specific Skin Problems

There are definitely skin problems that occur in one breed much more than others. In many cases, there is a genetic component to these problems which explains why they’re more common in that particular breed, and not others.

One example is Epidermal Dysplasia in West Highland White Terriers. The term "dysplasia" means abnormal growth. This condition is caused by abnormal development of skin cells, which leads to inflammation and secondary infection with Malassezia yeast. The result is hair loss, and constant itching and scratching, which first appears at 12-18 months of age. This is a frustrating condition - treating the infection often resolves the itching but because of the underlying problem with the skin cells, it recurs as soon as medication is stopped. There are other specific skin diseases that occur in other breeds, and many of them are also suspected to be hereditary.

Are Allergies Hereditary?

Given that the majority of severe itching problems are caused by allergic reactions, it makes sense to look at whether or not some breeds are more allergic than others.

The most common allergy in dogs is flea bite allergy. Dogs with this problem can itch for several weeks if they’re bitten by just one flea, and they can bite and scratch themselves raw. As far as scientists can ascertain, there is no breed predilection for flea allergy.

The situation is similar to food allergy - there are no breeds that are particularly likely to develop this condition.

However, there is lots of evidence that atopy (or allergy to dusts and pollens) is more common in some breeds than others, and this does suggest that it may be hereditary. In fact, atopy occurs more frequently in some lines within those breeds.

Just to complicate things, some studies have suggested that atopic dogs are more likely to develop flea bite allergy. So, if that’s the case, can we then suggest there may in fact be a hereditary component to flea allergy dermatitis? Veterinarians aren’t sure about that one yet.

Managing Your Itchy Breed

Depending on the breed of dog you own, and the potentially hereditary skin condition you’re dealing with, your veterinarian may prescribe specific medication to alleviate his itch.

In the meantime, there are steps you can take to manage his condition.

1. Wash him in Comfy Dog Shampoo . It contains colloidal oatmeal which is well known for relieving itchy skin. It also contains herbal extracts to reduce inflammation and soothe red irritated skin. If you can follow up the shampoo with Fur Butter , your dog will have relief for longer.

2. Make sure he is never bitten by a flea. If he has an underlying atopy, he’s likely to also be more sensitive to fleas. This makes it even more important that you keep those little critters away. If you regularly apply Flea The Scene, he’ll not be bothered by fleas any more.

3. If he has a specific itchy spot, Itchin’ For Relief can help. It’s all natural ingredients relieve the itch, and its convenient nozzle makes sure you get the spray exactly where it’s needed.

4. If your dog has a skin problem that’s possibly hereditary, don’t breed from it. That’s easy to do with conditions that show up early in life. However, with skin allergies, they may not raise their ugly head until your dog is 2 or 3 years old. By this time, many purebred dogs have already had litters.

5. Make sure your dog is eating a no grain diet. Sometimes dogs are allergic to their food. Check out www.thehonestkitchen.com

If you take the time to correctly manage your dog with a hereditary skin disease, not only will he be more comfortable but you can reduce the incidence of that disease in the breed. That’s a win-win situation.