| |
|
|
|
|
Hot Spots Info
Treating Hot Spots
|
|
Hot Spots Blog Topics
|
Dr. Michael Dym
Holistic & Conventional Veterinarian
|
"Over 19 years of caring for
the well-being of pets" Visit his Ask the Vet blog.
|
|
|
|
| |
Hot Spots (Flea Allergy Dermatitis)
|
 |
|
 |
| |
What Are Hot Spots on Pets?
Hot spots (flea allergy dermatitis) is a skin disease (dermatitis) caused by your pet's allergic reaction to fleas. Derm means skin, and "itis" means inflammation, so your pet will have itchy, inflamed skin. Inflamed skin is hot, red, and itchy. Often the skin becomes smelly because yeast and bacteria grow well on unhealthy, inflamed skin. When your pet scratches the bacteria are rubbed deep into the skin and hot spots develop. Hot spots are just infected sores.
Pets with flea allergy dermatitis are so sensitive they can develop hot spots if bitten just twice a month by fleas. Your pet is having an allergic reaction to flea saliva, feces and exoskeleton.
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Fleas are the number one cause of seasonal allergies
Being bitten twice a month is enough to cause continual hot spots in dogs and cats
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Which Pets Are Most at Risk for Hot Spots?
Any pet can develop allergies to fleas, and pets with atopy (a genetic inclination to develop skin allergies) have the biggest problem. Between 3-15% of dogs have atopy; and the breeds with the biggest problems vary country to country, so you'll find a different list of British dogs with atopy than of American dogs with atopy.
American dogs with atopy include:
• Golden Retrievers
• Boston Terriers
• Dalmatians
• English Bulldogs
• English Setters
• Irish Setter
• Lhasa Apsos
• Miniature Schnauzers
• Pugs
Many terriers also have atopy:
• Cairn Terriers
• Sealyham Terriers
• Scottish Terriers
• West Highland White Terriers
• Wire-haired Fox Terriers
Cats can develop flea allergy dermatitis (hot spots), but there is no clear breed predisposition.
|
 |
 |
 |
Max's Tip: Flea prevention is a key step in helping to reduce your pet's risk of flea allergy dermatitis. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|