Acute moist dermatitis is a common dog skin condition, too known as a "hot spot", which generally appears fairly quickly in a matter of a few days, anywhere on the body.
It begins in a reddened area caused by repeated irritation to the skin and the body's response is usually the itching or swelling. This itching causes the dog to scratch, lick or bite the area, further damaging the skin and is that once the damage appears, a self-perpetuating cycle of itching and scratching begins.
Causes of wet dermatitis
Dogs that have a very thick or long coat are the most prone to develop acute wet dermatitis, as the thickness or volume of your hair tends to trap moisture.
It can also be caused by a variety of factors such as:
- By insect bite, such as a mosquito, tick, or flea.
- Una allergic reaction to a food or an environmental irritant.
- Not dry well your dog after a bath.
- The wet necklace.
- Drug reactions.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Parasitic infestations such as scabies, external otitis and anal sac disease.
- The warmer months of the year are a main point for its development, due to the combination of heat with humidity.
Diagnosis and treatment of wet dermatitis
As soon as you notice that your dog develops an injury like the ones described above, you should take him to his vet.
Depending on your dog's persistence, his injury may develop after just a day of licking or scratching. The longer you wait to be evaluated, the worse the injury will be and therefore the longer it will take to heal completely.
The vet will examine the area and possibly scrape the skin to rule out the possibility of a yeast infection or a fungal infection. Hot spots can be painful for dogs and some do not react well to the examination, requiring sedation to be able to control the area adequately.
Once acute moist dermatitis is diagnosed, the best treatment is to treat the injury, interrupt the itch cycle and eliminate the underlying cause. You must stop the urge to lick and scratch to break the cycle.
It will be necessary trim the surrounding fur and perform a regular cleaning with a product such as Chlorhexidine or Betadine. Your dog may also be prescribed antibiotics to help with the infection, possibly corticosteroids, to promote healing.
Some veterinary clinics also have a cold laser that is used as a form of treatment; this treatment is known as laser light therapy.
The light stimulates cell reproduction in the area where the laser light shines. It also increases blood flow to the area for stimulate the region, decrease inflammation, and provide an analgesic effect.
Home care and prevention
Clean affected areas daily with the products prescribed by the veterinarian, until complete healing.
Make sure your dog have enough water while receiving corticosteroidsSince a common side effect of this drug is that it increases hunger and thirst in your pet.
If your dog has a flea allergy and is prone to developing hot spots, you should be aggressive with your flea control programIn addition to treating the environment, you should also apply a suitable insecticide or repellent to your dog to avoid flea bites.
- There are a variety of ways you can minimize the chances of your dog having an outbreak or dealing with a minor hot spot at home.
- If your dog has long, thick fur, try to keep his cut fur and fixed.
- Check dry your dog completely if it gets wet while walking, or after a bath.
- Never put on or leave a wet necklace put on your dog.