Hot spots are sores or bare, itchy spots that often appear on the skin of black Labrador Retrievers. When you notice your dog obsessively scratching, licking or chewing at a spot on his skin, be sure to check it out. Hot spots can appear quite suddenly and spread rapidly, doubling or tripling in size in a matter of hours. They can also develop into painful sores, causing hair loss and infections if left untreated. Hot spots may have several causes.
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Diseases
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If your dog frequently develops hot spots, take him to the vet and have a full blood workup done. Pay special attention to the thyroid test results, as a malfunctioning thyroid gland can cause skin problems. Tell your vet about the hot spots as well as any other unusual symptoms the dog may have, as the blood results may suggest a cause for those symptoms and dictate a treatment.
Allergies
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Like people, some dogs may have food and other allergies. Dogs may be sensitive to certain ingredients in dog food. After being fed the same type of food for a long time, a dog's sensitivity to an ingredient may develop into a more severe allergy. Up to 15 percent of canine skin diseases may be caused by food allergies. Common dog food ingredients that can cause problems are eggs, corn, fish, lamb, beef, chicken, milk, soy, wheat, pork, whey and certain preservatives used by the manufacturer. In addition to hot spots, food allergies can cause ear inflammations, appetite loss, anal itching, face rubbing, head shaking and hair loss. If your dog has these symptoms in addition to frequent hot spots, suspect food allergies. Left untreated, food allergies can also cause asthma, mood changes, loose stools, gas, vomiting, sneezing and even seizures. Household dust, pollen, shampoos or household chemicals can also trigger an allergic reaction.
Insect Bites
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Hot spots may also be caused by mosquitoes, fleas or other insect bites, almost invisible to the naked eye. The bite will begin to itch and irritate. Then, as the dog licks, scratches and chews on the spot, it can cause bacteria to infect the wound. The bacteria then grow and spread, creating a hot spot.
Behavior
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Dogs are social animals. If your lab gets bored, lonely, or stressed, she may entertain herself by licking, scratching or chewing obsessively on little itchy spots. As with insect bites, bacteria introduced by this behavior can overwhelm the body’s natural defenses and cause hot spots to develop.
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