Hot Spot on dog. Need advice/information

My aunt's dog was acting very odd yesterday. She was vomiting and shaking. My aunt doesn't drive, so I took her and Sophie(her dog) to the vet.

While there the vet discovered a "hot spot." We aren't familiar with this vet. He's the only one that could get us in on short notice without us coming later in the evening.

I asked some questions but basically told the hotspot is from fleas. He prescribed and antibiotic,special diet for 5 days, and that was it.

Is there anything, concerns, I should know about hot spots? My aunt is "slow" and we help as we can.

Hot spots are small localized infections usually caused by consistantly wet, matted hair; which causes too much heat in one area, and thus bacteria grows, and the hot spot appears. They are treated easily (usually) by clipping the hair away from the hot spot, and treating the area with simple antibiotics. Keep a cone (elizabethan collar) on the dog, if they excessively lick or chew at the area; it itches\\hurts so the dog may want to continually lick or chew at it.

Hot spots aren't caused by fleas, so I'm not sure why the vet said that; probably wanted you to purchase flea meds at the same time. Unless he is really referring to the hot spot being an allergic reaction; however, that is how he should have classified it, as an allergic reaction, because a hot spot is not the result of an allergy.

A hot spot should not cause the other symptoms you described either...the main symptoms dogs exhibit, would be itching\\biting, licking, or excessive scratching in a particular area.

Thank you! I think we should take her dog to a different vet for a second opinion. Tonight Sophie was staying in her crate and not coming out. Usually she follows people into the bathroom and is very friendly.

Thanks again.

I'd get a second opinion. My cat Nikita got effectively a hotspot once from overgrooming.

It's basically a "wet" skin infection. I.e if an area gets a scratch or the skin is broken for some reason and then it stays moist infection can set in very quickly. The animal will then lick and chew on the are which just makes everything worse. The area stays moist from all the licking, in cats the rough tounge will make the developing wound worse as well.

Hotspots can develop into chronic problems, I got an antibacterial steroid cream for Nikita when that happened. The steroid cut down on the itching and the antibacterial part of it helped kill the infection.

A dog shouldn't vomit or shake because of a hot spot though, unless the infection had spread a lot maybe but then the dog is dealing with a serious infection, not just a hot spot. Hot spots are a localized skin infection so yeah.. can't see how a dog would vomit because of that.

Yes I agree that you should find another vet. Hot spots have nothing to do with shaking and vomiting. If the dog is vomiting there is a danger of dehydration, especially if it is refusing water. Please make sure the dog is drinking, sometimes an ice cube can help. If the dog is not drinking then don't wait even one day for the next vet visit.
Good luck.

Please find another vet ASAP and take her there.

Hot spots need to shaved down then cleaned 3-4x a day with a surgical wash and then you need to apply a topical ointment (a lot of times it's an antibacterial sterioidal ointment) to soothe and help heal the heat spot. In some cases vets will prescripe topical powders to dry them out- it depends on the individual case.

In the mean time please get an E-collar on her. Poke holes in the bottom of it if it doesn't have small ones present already then secure her e-collar to her regular collar with zip ties or pipe cleaners (cut all loose edges) so that she can not get out of it. She needs to keep the e-collar on while she heals so she won't lick or irritate the spot.

Depending on how bad the spot is she may also need a good round of antibiotics. If the area is very irritated the infection can spread, you don't want it to spread into her blood stream as that can make her really ill....so the sooner she goes on antibiotics (if the vet thinks she needs them) the better.

Vomiting and shaking is not normal with heat spots unless in cases where the infection has spread and is in their little body and blood stream. Does this dog have seizures? Is it possible her symptoms could be those of seizures? Please have her evaluated by a vet. When they vomit like that you run the risk of dehydration...and severe dehydration can damage their internal organs/etc if it's not treated promptly. Until you can get her to the vet a little pedialyte will help.....once you get her there she likely will need a good catheter and IV line if she's really dehydrated ...if not some sub q fluids under the skin should help a mild case. Please take up her food until you get her to a vet....if she is vomiting go ahead and keep a little note of how often/what it looked like/ and what time she vomited- it will help the vet and their techs treat her better

Good luck

What kind of dog is this (size also) and is she normally a calm or nervous dog?

One of my dogs is affectionately called "baby Huey" because he's a little bit intimidated by things around him. When he gets sick, his entire behavior changes, as if he thinks something is punishing him.

I would be concerned about the vomiting, particularly if its happening continuously. Second concern is the hot spot, which others have described very well. The shaking could be a result of not feeling well, particularly if she is a nervous dog in the first place.