My heart goes out to you and your dog. I am having a similar problem with my Golden Ret. He is giving himself hotspots all over his forelegs and his tail. I have had to clip the hair back, clean it out and try to keep it dry. I have had him to the vet multple times and spent a small fortune, but he just keeps chewing on himself. Yours was much more traumatic and I hope that she is doing well. Let me know how you like Ed's recipe. I found it and just passed it along to you. I have not used it yet.
Good Luck
Terry

Terry,

I am just so thankful my dog isn't digging at it. She hasn't scratched at all. I think that would just totally aggravate the situation. She is however doing the wet dog dance a lot...

I hope your dog gets over this as well. I was looking at some of Ed's Herbal remedies. Maybe someone who has used them can give us some feedback on there effectiveness.

Hillary is right, it can take 3 - 5 months to grow back. Make sure that you comb the area out as it grows back in and if you can find something that wont bother the dog, use a coat conditioner to help the hair re-grow the right way.

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.... I am having a similar problem with my Golden Ret. He is giving himself hotspots all over his forelegs and his tail...... he just keeps chewing on himself.....

Hi, Terry,

This sounds like allergies or eczema. I hope you and the vet have discussed those possibilities.

Many dogs start the itchies of allergies on/between their toes, but I have had two whose worst spots were the tail and the shins. One had a tail covered with scabs when I got her, from her own itchy chewing.

There are several underlying triggers to hot spots. All the ones I've read about or seen first-hand are indeed helped by keeping them clean and dry (especially "moist eczema"), but that wouldn't address the underlying cause, whether it's fleas, environmental or food allergies, or even behavior (bored, frustrated chewing on himself). Having read several of your posts, I'd bet you do not have a dog who is so under-exercised that he's chewing on himself <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Has the vet mentioned possible causes?

Or maybe I am popping in here uninvited -- you didn't actually ask a question....... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Connie
Your input is always welcome. My vet thinks that it may be nerves. His hot spots were really bad last year when we got hit with 4 hurricanes and we had to keep him at home alone in a boarded up house all alone. We found him a place to stay but the damage was already done. It took almost an entire year to get them cleared up. And wouldn't you know it we get hit by hurricane wilma and here come the hot spots again. This time my wife and children bugged out and I stayed home with both dogs, Noley the 3 yr old Golden Ret. and Coach the 9 mos old GSD. My vet and I both think that the golden is a little (alot) on the soft side and is probably pretty weak as far as nerves so I guess that I am going to have to put him on anti anxiety meds. To add insult to injury Coach is limping and it appears to be Pano !!!!! When it rains it pours or in my case when it rains it is a Hurricane.
Terry

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.....My vet thinks that it may be nerves. His hot spots were really bad last year when we got hit with 4 hurricanes and we had to keep him at home alone in a boarded up house all alone......

Oh, my gosh! That poor thing! I have read about agitation and anxiety causing self-inflicted hot spots in Terriers, but not in Goldens. Evidently Terriers often have the temperament that leads to that kind of continuous licking. But with all your dog has been through, no wonder the poor guy has some anxiety!

I read an article in PetEducation.com a long time ago about this particular trigger for hot spots, but right now I can't find it. I will, though, because I remember that it offered several suggestions short of medication (although it certainly did not disdain medication).

I am curious about whether he happens to be a senior dog, or maybe has arthritis. I have seen several articles about a connection there, when an initial psychological trauma triggers the cycle, and then limited mobility makes it worse because of the difficulty with releasing stress with good long exercise.

And Pano in the other dog on top of all this! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> At least Pano is pretty clearcut and self-limiting........but what a trial it can be while it's happening. Ed Frawley has a good article here about it:
http://www.leerburg.com/pano.htm

I think that researching Pano was what first brought me to this site. I first heard about Leerburg at a Cesar Millan seminar, and then when I was learning about Pano, Ed Frawley's article was one of the first returns at Google when I typed in DOGS, PANO.

At that point something told me there was stuff I needed to learn on the Leerburg site! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

This isn't my #1 favorite article about hot spots, but it's a good one. I'll find that other one, though.

http://www.2ndchance.info/hairlosss.htm

According to my vet the Golden Ret. (Noley) is chewing on himself bcs of a tick problem. I have already switched his treatment to Frontline. And the GSD dislocated his shoulder. She reduced it and then prescribe something for his discomfort. I will have to bring him back in about a month if he continues to limp.
Thanks for all the help
Terry

Hi, the shampoo or rather a rinse. what about a homemade oatmeal aloe rinse. 1 cup instant oatmeal, 2 tablespoon 100% aloe gel. blend oatmeal in blender till powdery, mix in a little clowdy, add aloe gel, fill tub with luckwarm water halfway up dog. let dog soak 20 min. while running water over dog. Then rinse well. What do up you think of that. A therapeutic one.

Jennifer - please note that you're responding to a post almost 5 years old!