How to Treat a Dog With Inflamed Skin

Despite being covered with fur, dogs can suffer from a type of skin inflammation and infection. Known as both pyotraumatic dermatitis and superficial pyoderma, this medical condition is commonly called dog hot spots, which are open wounds surrounded by inflamed and infected skin. Canine owners can use at-home remedies to treat their pets' skin sores and prevent them from growing in size. While dog hot spots are a common medical problem, it is imperative that you have these wounds and the inflamed skin surrounding them treated as soon as possible to halt the infection.

Things You'll Need

  • bowl of clean, warm and soapy water
  • distilled water
  • dog clipper
  • permanent marker
  • povidone-iodine
  • large bottle or bowl
  • sterile gauze
  • raw aloe
  • Elizabethan collar or T-shirt
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Instructions

    • 1

      Shave the area around the hot spot with a dog clippers. Cut the hair as short as possible. If the hot spot has developed into an open sore, any pus or fluid will get caught or matted in the dog's fur and will make it more difficult to heal.

    • 2

      Wash the area with warm, soapy water. Dry the inflamed skin area, and any wound that is present, with sterile gauze.

    • 3

      Outline the total area of the inflamed skin and possible open sore with a permanent marker. While permanent marker is not intended for the skin, it will cause no harm. The purpose of using a permanent marker is to ensure the outline will not rub off. This outline will show if the infection is starting to spread as the skin past the outline will become inflamed and red.

    • 4

      Dilute a bottle of povidone-iodine with distilled water by first pouring the iodine into a larger bottle or bowl. Povidone-iodine is a dark brown or amber color. Slowly begin to add the distilled water until the povidone-iodine turns to a lighter brown color, like the color of ice tea.

    • 5

      Disinfect the hot spot with the diluted povidone-iodine solution. Use sterile gauze to apply the solution to the area. Allow the area to air dry.

    • 6

      Repeat the disinfecting step every two hours if the hot spot is oozing pus or fluid. This will help the wound and the inflamed skin surrounding it heal the quickest.

    • 7

      Place either an Elizabethan collar, which is a funnel collar that does not allow the dog to reach any part of its body to lick or chew, or a T-shirt on your dog to cover the area. For the hot spot to heal, a dog cannot chew at it or lick the area.