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Hot spots (moist dermatitis) in dachshunds
Hot spots are rapid-onset, localised areas of skin inflammation and bacterial infection. They arise when a minor skin irritation triggers intense self-trauma through licking or scratching, quickly forming painful, weeping lesions that spread across the skin, particularly beneath thick or long coats.
Signs to look for
- Red, moist, raw skin lesion that appears rapidly
- Matted, wet, or foul-smelling fur over the irritated patch
- Intense, repetitive scratching, licking, or biting at one area
- Heat radiating from the affected patch of skin
- Pain or flinching when the area is touched
- Hair loss around the central inflamed sore
What you can do at home
- Gently clip surrounding hair away from the lesion to let the skin dry
- Cleanse the skin with cool water or mild saline and pat dry with clean gauze
- Fit an Elizabethan buster collar to stop all licking and scratching
- Keep the dog in a clean, cool, and dry environment
- Avoid applying human creams, bandages, or alcohol-based lotions
Call the vet when
- Lesion spreads rapidly or becomes deeply ulcerated
- Thick yellow or green pus oozes from the sore
- The dog is in noticeable pain, trembling, or becoming snappy
- Skin does not show improvement after twenty-four hours of protection
Prevention
- Maintain regular, year-round flea and external parasite control
- Dry coats thoroughly to the skin after swimming, wet walks, or bathing
- Groom wirehaired and longhaired coats frequently to prevent matting
- Address underlying skin allergies or ear infections promptly
Why dachshunds in particular
Longhaired and wirehaired dachshund varieties are especially prone to trapped moisture and dense matting close to the skin, which creates the warm, humid microclimate where hot spots rapidly develop.
Related
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- Obesity and weight
- Anal glands
- Dental disease
- Epilepsy and seizures
- All health topics
- Back-safety audit
Sources
General information in our own words. It does not replace advice from your own vet.
Facts are cited and rewritten in our own words. All sources and how we use them.