Thanks to all for the responses and ideas.

The vet has prescribed both an antibiotic and a steroid to clear up the hot spot. He did shave the affected area and it looks pretty gross. We clean the shaved area once daily with a mild peroxide solution, and if we do see him try to chew at it, we verbally correct him. He doesn't do much biting and scratching. It high on his back and he can't scratch with his rear legs.

As to the diet, I'm still skeptical because he has been on this diet since he was a puppy and he has never had problems until now, even though he has lived through two hot, sweltering, south LA summers. He was whelped in April 2000, and no problems in 2000 or 2001. (No offense to the Canadians who think they have humid summers, but try a piece of this... 95 deg F and 95% humidity for four months straight <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )

As to flea or horsefly bites, that is a possibility. Frontline prevents infestations of parasites, but not the first bite. I'm not sure what to do about that because while using a topical anti-parasite medication you're not supposed to "double dip" or "double treat". The combination of topical and spray, for example, may introduce too much chemical into his system. But I'm not a vet, and my vet is convinced it's inhalation allergies.

Does anyone have experience with inhalation allergies like pollen?

Yvette

Yvette, Ask your Vet how many other dogs he is treating for Hotspots at present. Also if they are all caused by inhalation allergies?

I agree with you about the food, This yr is the first time my GSD has Hotspots he is 6-1/2 yrs old. I too live in Louisiana and encounter the same problems. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It should clear up in a few weeks.

Okay, here is a link to what I use for flying insect control on my horse...it works GREAT. LOL, AND the advertising on the internet says women can use it too!! Woohoo...wait til I go out to feed tonight.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/eqyss-online/32ounsumdefm.html

And it advertised these products for 'pets' which I'd think should work great to being as I know the other works great.

http://www.eqyss.com/pet_products.html

Hi Yvette,

WHere are you at in Louisiana?

A good remedy for hot spots is TeaTree Oil which comes in a spray specially made for dogs and cats. You apply it twice a day and the spots normally disappear in a few days. Tea Tree is also a natural flea & insect repellent and I believe kinder to the dog that bombarding it with chamicals.

Here in the U.K. a lot of the older people who have been around dogs all their lives put some Rock Sulphur into the dogs drinking water during the summer. - they reckon it cools the blood. It seems to work . There's a lot of good to be found in the old fashioned remedies

Yvette,

If you've been feeding your dog the same thing for that long, it's probably not a food allergy. Keep in mind though that a dog can develop a food allergy at any time throughout their lives, so don't completely dismiss that idea if nothing else seems feasible.

You can try aloe gel on the hot spots. Apply it 2 or 3 times a day. It will take the itching away and will heal up the hot spots nicely. Aloe is very soothing to skin irritations. Or you can get aloe juice, put it in a clean spray bottle, and spritz your dog down with it. You can purchase it at your local health food store, and it's pretty inexpensive. And the plus side to it is that aloe can be taken internally, as well as applied topically, so it's completely harmless (and may actually be helpful) if the dog licks it off.

Good luck. Hot spots can be a real pain.

if the dog licks it off it probably would not work at healing the spot so well. :rolleyes:

ive tried hot spot spray and it seemed to work for first week or so then he's at his nub again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

vet mentioned cortisone shot to heal it up.

Dobe, for most things that's true, however aloe works when taken both internally and applied topically, so it would probably do some good either way. One of my dogs had some serious skin problems for awhile, and aloe is the only thing that cleared it up permanently. This dog tries to lick everything off, and if you're persistent and keep putting it on the hot spots, it will help heal them even if the dogs licks it off after a few minutes. It's very good stuff.

One of the tricks to getting a hot spot to heal is to keep it very dry.

We use Gold Bond Powder straight from the Drug Store. Apply it in liberal amounts.

Jerry