If a dog is constantly chewing or scratching at a bald spot or several bald spots, feel the skin. If it's hot, crusty or swollen, the dog needs to go to the vet right away.
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Significance
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Something is irritating the skin to make the dog scratch so much that the hair falls off. According to "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook," warm skin can be the sign of an infection that has gotten underneath the skin.
Types
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Dogs with hot skin and hair loss may have cellulitis, an infection under the skin, or acute moist dermatitis ("hot spots"), an infection on top of the skin.
Causes
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"Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" states that cellulitis is caused by an infected wound, such as a bite from another dog. But hot spots are a severe allergic reaction to parasites, particular foods, pollen or another allergen.
Complications
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Hair loss and hot skin in dogs, no matter the cause, can lead to large, pus-filled swellings and abscesses. These need to be drained and cleaned or they may become infected when the dog keeps scratching at it.
Treatment
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Treatment can be difficult, especially for hot spots. There is a combination of washing the wounds, shaving the hair around the area to help dry the wounds out and medications such as Clovamax (amoxicillin) and glucocorticoids.
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