[YEA]  01/19/2009: Jory from Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada writes: "Bailey's Skin Rescue is a special combination of tea tree, lavender essential oils and acidophilus in an all natural botanical cream base which also includes extracts of chamomile, avocado, echinacea, green tea, cucumber and sea kelp and various plant oils.

Tea tree and lavender essential oils have anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-viral properties and have inhalant properties which are also said to help boost the immune system. The acidophilus provides friendly normal bacteria at the skin's surface to assist as well, and the special cream base keeps the skin supple and helps with cutaneous delivery of the essential oils.

The great thing about this formula, is that it stops itching almost on contact and the healing process starts right away. Anyone who has ever had a dog that has developed an itchy skin condition like hot spots, etc. knows that the itching causes the dog to lick or scratch and keep irritating the site -- this stops the itching, so the dog is not licking or scratching and the healing can begin. This also relieves a lot of stress on the dog. "

[YEA]  07/04/2006: Theresia from Roswell Georgia writes: "Our yellow lab gets hot spots every year. Normally she has been taken to the vet for corticosteroid shots and benadryl orally. It always comes back. This year I bought hair trimmers, trimmed the areas and made a mixture of burrow's solution - DOMMEBORO, available at drug stores (mix 1 package with 10 ounces of water) and about 10 drops of tea tree oil. I placed this mixture in a spray bottle and sprayed the areas twice a day (morning and evening). In about 4-5 days the black 'scabs' began to fall off revealing healthy skin underneath. I continued to spray the area until all traces of the hot spots were gone."

[YEA]  01/31/2007: Vince from PA writes: "Have you tried cayenne and salt on the hot spots? Never had one with the problem, but from what I understand it is an infection, or gets to be one, with bacteria and puss. The cayenne should heal it and take away any pain, so he doesn't play with it, and the heat would probably stop him from licking it, except for a chihuahua.)) I put it on cold sores as soon as they show, and it seems to stop them from continuing. It should if they contain a virus."

[YEA]  10/15/2011: Beefree from Mendocino, Ca, Usa writes: "Hi... I would like to vote for Colloidal Oatmeal Treatment to be added as a category in the Hot Spots for Pets. My Lhasa Opsa had really bad hot spots from the shelter, from where he came. He was itching non stop. I tried Dr. Meds, benedryl, black tea, Apple Cider Vinegar... the only thing that worked was giving this puppy a Colloidal Oatmeal bath.

I found a plastic bin and put it on my deck... I filled it with warm water... Added a packet of Colloidal Oatmeal... Stirred it around and then carefully placed my puppy in this treatment. I used a sponge to wash him down with it... And a cup to pour it over him.... I let him stay in solution for about 10 minutes... then we go for a 1 hour walk so he can dry off.

The trick is to have all my walking gear ready... So when he is done I can just put his leash on... And go for a walk so he doesn't have to just sit there and be all wet and miserable."

11/11/2010: Kerryann from Bogangar, Nsw writes: "My Lhasa Apso recently had a hot spot above her tail. I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar diluted, but it burned and made her sore. I started treating it with Conifer Green Needle Complex. One capsule squeezed into a bowl and mixed with about a desert spoon of mixed omega oils (Udo's). It is almost healed in two days of twice daily applications, after thoroughly cleansing the area with warm water and hibiclens. It was very badly infected and I know that the Conifer Complex kills all sorts of bacteria, including Staph strains. I knew it was right for her because she loves to lick it off my fingers, which is good because I needed her to take some of it internally as well."

07/03/2009: Robyn from TRi Cities, TN writes: "Here is a link where I found a reader who has healed her dogs of hot spots by using cornstarch or babypowder with cornstarch by putting it on the spot 4 or five times a day. I also have found fish oil, one pill for small dogs, and two pills for big dogs, and benadryl which is 1 mg to 2 mg per pound of body weight works well too. The cornstarch is great, although I have not tried it....it is a natural cure.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54318240.tip.html

Robyn"

[QUESTION]  09/21/2009: Christi from Morris Chapel, Tennessee, Us writes: "My lab has a sore next to his eye, I guess what would be his cheek. I am trying to decide if this could be a hot spot. I dont have the money now to take him to the vet, but dont want this to go untreated for long. His sore showed up all of a sudden and he has scratched it til it looks awful. In the center, about dime size or so, it is really dark almost like tree bark but smooth. All around that is like a normal sore, oozing and bloody. Can someone please help me decide if this is a hot spot. If not, any suggestions on what it is? Thanks!"

02/14/2007: Deirdre from Atlanta, GA writes: "Turns out that all the things I was doing to treat Max (tea tree and lavender oil, cayenne, ACV, etc.) made the hotspot much worse -- poor guy! Mea culpa! In fact, the hotspot turned into a bad staph infection and I had to treat it with antibiotics. My holistic vet told me to keep the area shaved and next time, to use a solution of epsom salts dissolved in water with a drop of Povidone iodine by holding a soaked piece of gauze to the area. I also have to keep Max on flea control year round since hotspots are most likely caused by flea bites. 3 months of Advantage, then 3 months of Frontline, back and forth, since fleas become "immune" to one brand if you use it too long. If the hotspot was not caused by an allergy, the vet told me, it's possible his hips are painful and he is biting that area to get at the pain."

[YEA]  10/16/2007: Kathy from Toronto, Canada writes: "I adopted a 3 year old golden and he is very prone to hot spots only on his tail. He will chew it until it bleeds But He seems to do it if I work late or am away over night There are other family members in the home But I have switched food cut out all treats and for two months no hot spot, I went away last thursday overnight came home friday and there was a hot spot on the tail. Is this possible? is he afraid that I will leave him? all I know about him is he was dumped at a shelter ."

[YEA]  10/12/2009: Marianne from Chepachet, Ri writes: "hi everyone!! i have seen many unfortunate dogs over the years; who for many different reasons, have suffered from severe itching, red bellies, and inside of ears, and horrible hot spots on legs, base of tail, and bottom of paws. what i find works best is; go to the pharmacy, and ask the pharmacist for gentian violet, they mix it up fresh, or have to order it, it has a very short shelf-life. it`s a viricide, fungicide, and a bacteriacide. i start out by giving the animal a warm bath, with any moiturizing anti-bacterial soap; rinsing well, and using a vineagar rinse. i rip up an old towel in squares, that can be thrown away after one use. apply the gentian violet with a damp towel square, making sure it has soaked in well to all of the wounds. it`s ok to lick, they used to put it in baby`s mouths for thrush, it`s bright dark blue, but you`ll learn to live with it. wash, rinse, and reapply to areas when the beight color has faded out, about once a day, and bathe as you feel you should, about once a week. using a grain-free food, keeping an anxious dog calm, and well-exercised and busy also helps. i have seen this work wonders, and no steroids, or invasive meds are involved. just passing along what i have seen help these poor dogs, it`s just awful to see them suffer so."

[YEA]  02/14/2009: Sarah Reyburn from Brewster, Massachusetts USA writes: "Gold bond Powder helps my Silky terrier when he chews and licks hot spots which he tend to get on his lower back and near his tail."

[YEA]  12/03/2011: Pat from Hadley, Massachusetts,usa writes: "On hot spots, burns, etc. I have mixed a couple of drops of lavender essential oil w/ a cup of water, sprayed it on, and in a few days it heals..."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  07/26/2009: Lucrec from Wantagh, New York writes: "I just came across this site so I haven't tried the ACV or any of the other natural remedies yet. Max, a 6 year old mini schnauzer is really suffering, so I will try this immediately. But what does seem to help, which is strange is a coat. I put a light weight jersey coat on him and for some reason he stops licking the hot spots. I know they cannot heal just because of the coat, but it does provide him relief and he doesn't have to wear a collar which has to be so frustrating to an itchy animal."

[YEA]  02/04/2009: Anita from Rochester, MN writes: "Dog with Hair Loss, Severe Skin Allergies:

I received a Great Pyrenees on Christmas Day 2008 and was shocked at the inflammation, loss of hair, itching and brittleness of her hair. I was told that she had severe food allergies (and I did immediately switch her to a premium grain-free dog food) but in addition, I started ading apple cider vinegar to her drinking water and bathed her in it several times. I have proof-positive pictures that within one month this situation took a 360 degree turn for the better. She is happier now, more energetic, has a zest for life and no more itching and inflammation. I recommend apple cider vinegar wholeheartedly.

On her ankles and her elbows she has dried crusted spots and for those I looked up home remedies for hot spots and saw several people had success with plain Listerine, mixed with baby oil and water and spritzed on these spots. Within 2 weeks, those dried spots clearedup and new skin grown and hair growth is happening there."

[YEA]  02/25/2007: Meg from Coromandel, New Zealand writes: "I have little faith in vets and I try to find things that work and have some luck - manuka honey is really good as antibiotic internally and externally for animals and they like it. Chamomile teabag soak for any eye problems. These are 2 tried and trusted ones for me."