My bitch overnoght chewed a spot off her butt just above her tail and to the right a little, it is about the size of a lemon and a little raw but damage is shalow. I have treated this with bedadine and checked to see if there was a bite or splinter that could have caused this localised irritation worthy of chewing.
I told a breeder i know about it and she refered to it as a "Hot spot" she told me that many GSG's get it and that if i just treat it it will go away. Now i have come across many weird things that cause damage in animals bugs, parasites, microbacteria etc.. but i have yet to come across such a term <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
I have just changes to a premium feed by Pal but i will not buy it again as it has by products in it and i was led to believe that it did not. This may also be the basis of an reaction.
Has anyone come across a problem like this or the term Hot Spot?

Julie
I have worked at a vet clinic for 12 years (I like to have that part up front!!!) and have seen many hot spots during those years. Yes, it could be the result of the food change so you need to look into that part of it.
The best thing to do about the hot spot is to clip the hair around it so it will stay clean and dry. You can put some Neosporin or something like that on it or check with your vet about some NeoPredef powder...that should be able to be bought over the counter from them. Some people use Goldbond powder or something like that...the main thing is to dry it up...don't be too surprised if there is another one that may come up.
The best way to describe how they get it so bad so fast is like us with a bug bite...it itches so we scratch it...it itches more and so we scratch it more...it then gets infected and so on. It can start with just a little itch from a bite or dry skin and just goes from there.
Hope that helps...you can e-mail me privately if you want to...I hope this is not to much like "doctoring" to upset anyone..I don't want to do that...
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the reply, the area she chewed is so neat that i could not do a better job if i tool the clippers to it, there is an area of about one inch "trimed" around the broken skin. I sprayed it with bedadine spray i use it on the horses and it dries well and also kills all sorts of bacteria.
I did a search on the net after posting and discovered that it is quite common, i think it was the food change that set it off as there have been no other changes in environment or with her specificly.
I have a Xmas party tonight for the agility club so i had to make her a little coat made from velvet and tinsel to cover it, i am sure it will go well with the wings i made her hehehehe.
Is this something that once it has happened you can guarentee it will happen again?

Apple cider vinegar diluted with a bit of water spayed on the hot spot will help it dry up quickly. Goldenseal powder sprinkled on top is also good.

No, you can't say that it WILL or WON'T happen again...it just shows that if the conditions are right then she is open to it...I have three dogs (and many others over the years) and can only think of once or twice that I had these come up...luck?? Who knows but I am not questioning it !!

The apple cider vinegar works well also..I had just come home from work so my mind was only in medicine mode!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I like being able to use stuff from around the house if at all possible. My dog pharmacy can be low in the middle of the night sometimes!!! I like other alternatives!!!

I have only had one of my dogs ever get hotspots. He has very thick fur and he loves water. So, he usually gets them in the summer when he spends lots of time in the kiddy pool and it just doesn't dry to the skin.

My bitch had hot spots when her anal sacs were inflamed.

I have been having similar problems with my
three year old male GSD. He got a spot on his hock, that looked like a hot spot to me. I treated it with 'hot spot spray'- no results.
Then a Chinese herbal salve from the natural vet- no luck. Then it progressed to overall itching, biting and scratching! Took him to the regular vet today who diagnosed 'follicular dermatitis'. Treated with medicated shampoo and oral antibiotics. I have never heard of such a thing- has anyone else? Oh- he is on a raw diet, though until lately- reading on the board- he did have occasional cottage cheese. Any tips as to cause appreciated.