A hot spot is a red, raw, oozing patch of skin that appears when a dog licks, chews or scratches one area over and over. Vets call it pyotraumatic dermatitis or acute moist dermatitis.1,2 Hot spots can grow from a small red spot to a large painful sore within hours, but with prompt treatment many clear up within about a week.1,3,4 The key to stopping them coming back is finding what made the dog itch in the first place.5,6 This guide covers what hot spots look like, what causes them, how vets treat them, safe home care and the remedies to avoid.
See a vet promptly if:
- The hot spot is large, spreading quickly, very painful, or on the face or neck1,6
- There are smaller bumps or pimples around it, or the skin feels thick, which can mean a deeper infection5,1
- It has lasted more than a day, since infection is then likely, or it isn't clearly improving within a few days of treatment7,6
- Your dog seems unwell, feverish or won't let you near it
What the Research Shows
- About 1 in 110 dogs a year. Moist dermatitis was diagnosed in 0.90% of 22,333 UK dogs in a year; males had 1.5 times the odds of females, and the median age was about 5.8
- Rottweilers are high-risk. 2.91% of Rottweilers were diagnosed in a year, with males more than twice as likely as females (4.05% vs 1.76%).9
- Chocolate Labs get more. 4.0% of chocolate Labradors had hot spots, compared with 1.1% of black and 1.6% of yellow Labs.10
- Often deeper than they look. In 44 dogs with hot spots, 20 (about 45%) also had infection in the hair follicles under the microscope.11
- Topical treatment works. 2025 international guidelines give their strongest rating to topical treatment for hot spots and note it worked as well as systemic (oral or injected) treatment.1
What Is a Hot Spot?
A hot spot starts with an itch or pain that makes a dog lick, chew or scratch one place. The damaged skin weeps fluid, the fur mats over it, and bacteria, usually staph, multiply in the warm, moist patch, which makes it itchier still.2,5 The name refers to the warm, inflamed skin, not to hot weather.7 Some hot spots stay on the surface, but others involve infection in the hair follicles (sometimes called a "deep hot spot"), which heals more slowly and needs different treatment.5,6,11
What Does a Hot Spot Look Like?
- A well-defined patch of red, moist, raw or oozing skin1,5
- Matted, wet or missing fur over the area1,6
- A yellow-brown crust as the fluid dries5
- Pain: many dogs flinch or won't let you touch it1,5
- Constant licking, chewing or scratching at one spot12
Common sites are the cheek, neck, the outer thigh, the rump and base of the tail, and under the ears.1,11,12,7 Check under a thick tail and behind the ears, where a hot spot can be hidden by fur.7
What Causes Hot Spots on Dogs?
Hot spots are caused by self-trauma, so there's almost always an underlying reason a dog is licking or scratching.1,5 In one study, a possible cause was found or suspected in 31 of 44 dogs.11 Common triggers include:
- Flea allergy, the most frequent cause, often producing hot spots on the rump and tail base.6,12,13 See fleas on dogs.
- Environmental and food allergies.5,3 See dog allergies.
- Ear infections, which often cause hot spots below or behind the ear.12,7 See ear infections in dogs.
- Anal gland problems, leading to hot spots near the tail.6,7 See dog anal glands.
- Wet or matted coats, especially after swimming or bathing in thick-coated dogs.7,5,4
- Mites, small wounds, or plant material such as burrs caught in the coat.5
- Pain, such as arthritis, which makes some dogs lick a sore joint, and boredom or anxiety.3,6,14
Which Dogs Get Hot Spots?
Dogs with thick, dense coats are most prone, including Golden Retrievers, Labradors, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards and Newfoundlands, though any breed can get them.11,5,7,14 Younger dogs seem more prone: in one study, dogs aged 4 years or younger were over-represented. Males are affected more often than females.11,8 Hot spots are more common in warm, humid weather, but they can occur any time of year; one study found no clear seasonal pattern.7,5,11
How Vets Treat Hot Spots
- Clip the hair from the hot spot and the skin around it, so it can dry and be cleaned. This is often painful, so some dogs need sedation.1,3
- Clean the area to remove crusts and discharge, usually with a dilute chlorhexidine solution.1,5,3
- Apply an antiseptic or medicated spray, gel or cream, sometimes combined with a steroid to calm the inflammation. Antiseptics are preferred over antibiotic creams.1,5
- Control itch and pain, sometimes with a short course of steroid or anti-itch medicine and pain relief.1
- Stop the licking with a cone (e-collar), a T-shirt or a light bandage.3,12
- Treat the cause, such as fleas, allergies or an ear infection, to prevent new hot spots.5,6
Antibiotic pills usually aren't needed for a surface hot spot; guidelines advise topical treatment instead.1,2 They're reserved for deeper infections, which look like a hot spot but have thickened skin or surrounding pimples.5,1 With treatment, many hot spots clear up in as little as 3 to 7 days; deeper infections take longer.4,5
Home Care for a Hot Spot
- Call your vet before treating at home, especially for large, painful or facial hot spots.12
- Keep it clean and dry, using only the cleaning product your vet recommends.15
- Prevent licking with a cone or shirt.3
- Don't cut the hair with scissors; it's easy to cut the skin.3
- Don't pick off scabs as it heals.7
- Watch for spreading, new bumps or a bad smell, and recheck with your vet if it isn't clearly better within a few days.6
What Not to Put on a Hot Spot
- Hydrogen peroxide: it damages healthy tissue and can delay healing.15
- Surgical scrubs and strong antiseptics, which also damage healing skin.15
- Zinc oxide and diaper creams: dogs lick them off, which can cause vomiting, and repeated licking can lead to zinc poisoning.16
- Tea tree oil and other essential oils: in a study of 443 pets exposed to 100% tea tree oil, 77% developed signs of poisoning, and broken skin absorbs oils more easily.17,18
- Aloe from the plant: it's toxic to dogs if eaten, and dogs lick treated spots.19
- Apple cider vinegar and other home remedies: there's no published evidence they treat hot spots, and acidic liquids are likely to sting raw, open skin.
- Human medicines without your vet's advice; many are toxic to dogs.3
Preventing Hot Spots
- Keep up consistent flea control as your vet recommends, since good parasite control is the most important preventive step.7,13
- Brush thick coats regularly and remove mats.7,14
- Dry your dog thoroughly after swimming or bathing, and rinse off lake or sea water.7,4
- Check ears and under the tail regularly, and treat ear and anal gland problems early.7
- Treat allergies with your vet, since recurring hot spots usually mean an underlying itch.5,6
- Provide exercise and enrichment for dogs that lick out of boredom.3,14
See itchy skin in dogs and skin rashes in dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes hot spots on dogs?
Licking, chewing or scratching one spot, usually triggered by fleas, allergies, ear infections, anal gland problems, a wet or matted coat, or pain.
How do you treat a hot spot on a dog?
Clip and clean it, apply a vet-recommended antiseptic or medicated product, control the itch, prevent licking with a cone, and treat the underlying cause.
How long does a hot spot take to heal?
Many clear up in as little as 3 to 7 days with treatment. Deeper infections take longer.
Can I treat a dog hot spot at home?
Small, early hot spots sometimes can be, with your vet's guidance. Large, painful or facial hot spots need a vet.
Do hot spots on dogs need antibiotics?
Usually not. Guidelines recommend topical treatment for surface hot spots; pills are for deeper infections.
Is hydrogen peroxide safe for a dog's hot spot?
No. It damages healthy tissue and can delay healing.
Are hot spots contagious?
No. They come from self-trauma and the dog's own skin bacteria, though some underlying causes, such as fleas or mites, can spread.
Why does my dog keep getting hot spots?
Usually because an underlying cause, such as flea allergy, environmental allergy or ear problems, hasn't been controlled.
Ask Our Team a Question
Have A Question About a Dog Skin Problem For Our Editors or Helpful Story to Share?
Do you have a question for our editors or a helpful story about this? Share it!
Please include the age of your dog, breed, the area of the body, your dog's general health and any changes in diet, appetite, behavior, skin and coat. Let us know about any treatment that is currently under way including the names of medications or any other information that could help our editors provide an answer.
If possible, please submit a picture of the skin condition below.
We will do our best to get back to you quickly (it depends on how many questions we receive each day). If you do require an immediate response we suggest using this online dog veterinary service that is available now.
Other Reader Questions and Suggestions from Our Team on Dog Skin Diseases and Conditions
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Golden Retriever With Recurring Belly Hot Spots That No Longer Respond to Antibiotics Not rated yet
Reader Question We have tried everything! 9 yr old Golden has had allergies to food since puppy. Went from Fromm puppy food to Duck and Sweet Potato. …
Pit Bull With a Sore in the Thigh Crease and Hot Spots on Her Tail Not rated yet
Reader Question Our lovely female pit is having issues with this thing on the inner crease of her inner thigh and I'm not sure what it could be. She …
Young Chihuahua With Flaky Skin, Thinning Hair and Sores Near the Tail Not rated yet
Reader Question I have a 1yr old male chihuahua. He could be mixed with terrier. I've had him since he was weaned. I feed my him Purina Little Bites …
Older Golden Retriever With Recurring Oozing Sores Not rated yet
Reader Question 12 yr old golden retriever, always had skin issues, now has one meal orijen, one meal home cooked meat and veg, sometimes raw, liver …
Summer Hot Spots That Turn Black and Peel, Plus Night-Time Leaking Not rated yet
Reader Question Has always had hot spots around summer. In 2007, borded her for one week and had a quarter sized lump on her stomach removed(turned …
Sources and further reading
This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 15, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:
- Loeffler A, Cain CL, Ferrer L, et al. Antimicrobial use guidelines for canine pyoderma by the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID). Veterinary Dermatology, 2025.
- Clark MD. Pyoderma in dogs and cats. Merck Veterinary Manual, October 2025.
- Weir M, Williams K, Llera R, Ward E. Hot spots in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, July 2026.
- Racine E. Hot spots on dogs. American Kennel Club, 2025.
- Torres SMF. Canine pyodermas. In: Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook. University of Minnesota open textbook, 2025.
- Varjonen K, Bond R. Canine surface pyoderma. Veterinary Practice, 2009.
- Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. Hot spots.
- O'Neill DG, James H, Brodbelt DC, Church DB, Pegram C. Prevalence of commonly diagnosed disorders in UK dogs under primary veterinary care: results and applications. BMC Veterinary Research, 2021 (VetCompass study).
- O'Neill DG, Seah WY, Church DB, Brodbelt DC. Rottweilers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 2017 (VetCompass study).
- McGreevy PD, Wilson BJ, et al. Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 2018 (VetCompass study).
- Holm BR, Rest JR, Seewald W. A prospective study of the clinical findings, treatment and histopathology of 44 cases of pyotraumatic dermatitis. Veterinary Dermatology, 2004.
- Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. Does your pet have a hot spot? Pet Talk, 2017.
- Dryden MW. Fleas of dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), 2024.
- Animal Medical Center. Hot spots on dogs. 2023.
- Winkler KP. Initial wound management in small animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, 2024.
- Wright S, Sobczak BR. How to help dog owners manage zinc oxide toxicosis. dvm360, 2014 (ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center).
- Khan SA, McLean MK, Slater MR. Concentrated tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats: 443 cases (2002–2012). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2014. Summarized by Vetstreet.
- ASPCApro. Are essential oils dangerous to pets? ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 2024.
- ASPCA. Toxic and non-toxic plants: aloe.
About this article
Last updated : new page, written using the 2025 ISCAID canine pyoderma guidelines, a prospective study of 44 hot spot cases, VetCompass studies, the Merck Veterinary Manual, a University of Minnesota dermatology text, Cornell, Texas A&M, VCA, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and IVIS-hosted material.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.
