Does this sound like a "hot spot"? (red, hairless round area)

Hello all,

I came home from work tonight, gave my old girl Cleo (she's at least 15 yrs old, was a stray when I rescued her in 96, no idea how old she really was then) some pets. Felt a rough, crusty spot on her fur on her side, directly above where her right front leg meets the body. Had a good look, looked like a dime sized area of dried old crusty drainage (sort of like old clear drainage ((definitely not pus)) )....the fur missing to that area. She's a strictly indoor cat, as are my other 4. I dabbed a little bit of Panolog ointment (it's a veterinarian ointment, contains antibiotic/anti-inflammatory and a bit of cortiscosteroid), thinking this might heal "whatever" this is, faster. I then decided to put an E-collar on her, to ensure she didn't lick the stuff off. Left the e-collar on for a good couple of hours. To note, I've not seen her scratching or licking excessively; she's her usual self in all ways.

So after a couple hours of the collar (she didn't like it too much), it was dinner time for the crew and she was begging for food so I took off the collar, they all chowed down........and then as usual she went to her big cat pillow in front of the fireplace. Groomed a little. I kept the collar off but was watching to ensure she wasn't licking the area. She groomed all over, paying special attention to her toes (LOL)...then within seconds she got in a few licks to the area.....I jumped up and then saw there was some bleeding.

I feel like I screwed up with the Panolog ointment. This area was nice and dry and slightly crusty....but adding the ointment made things moist....and likely much more susceptible to her sandpaper-ish little tongue. I quickly scooped her up and put the collar back on and it remains on.

I've felt really sick this evening so not able to drive her into the city to have it looked at (my regular vet closes 6pm on Fri night)....so will have Vet check it out tomorrow.

I live in Canada. No way in the world does she have fleas or mites, I assure you.

My first thought is a 'hot spot'.....which I've read others have battled (more commonly in dogs, it seems)....and it can be a difficult time healing.

She doesn't seem stressed at all (or hasn't). They have been on a new dry food for the past 8 weeks....and I've read that hot spots can be caused by fleas, mites, environmental allergy, food allergy, stress.

Now that I put the Panolog on, it's easier to see the size of this area. It's about the size of a nickel. I feel no lump beneath it. The area isn't hot to the touch. She doesn't seem to squirm at all when I was initially feeling it, or applying the Panolog.

If it is a hot spot, am I in for a long ride in terms of it going away? I hate having to keep an e-collar on a cat for long periods, particularly in an older cat. It's very hard for them to eat or drink properly with one on. Yes, I know you can take it off for meals but Cleo's not the type to eat her fill at meal time...she's the type to nibble the canned food over 2 hours after the food is put out.

She's a healthy girl. Had a major dental done a year ago, all of her bloodwork was excellent (kidney function just barely slightly borderline but not a concern for her age; I've had cats w/ CRF).

I'll try to take a picture of the area later but she's sleeping on that side now and I don't want to disrupt her. The area looks a lot more reddened since applying the Panolog but I don't think that's a concern (meaning; a reaction to it).....think you'd just expect that when you apply an oily kind of ointment on the skin......if you know what I mean.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have.

You should have your vet look at her, incase it's something else that Panolog doesn't cure.

Originally Posted by My4LLMA

You should have your vet look at her, incase it's something else that Panolog doesn't cure.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd written that I'd be taking her to the Vet tomorrow.

Back from the Vet.

He agreed that it's a hot spot though he said they're pretty rare in cats (as opposed to dogs). Said it could also be a lick granuloma but thinks it's a hot spot. I explained that I've not seen her licking or scratching that area, until last night after I applied the Panolog.

He shaved around the area (so that we can better visualize it and see if it's worsening or improving)...cleaned it real good w/ a surgical scrub type antiseptic (similar to chlorhexidine). He wanted to give her a steroid shot but I said no, not at this point. I know that steroids, particularly in an older cat, can cause transient hyperglycemia/diabetes and after 6 years with a diabetic cat and twice daily insulin shots and blood sugar testing and having to so closely monitor diet (this girl Cleo is a very fussy eater, whereas my old guy Taco would eat anything)....not willing to take the risk. He agreed with twice daily Panolog and he gave her a shot of Convenia as well. 2-3 of my other cats have had Convenia without any ill effects but I have read some horror stories about it so was resistant (particularly because she's so old, a fussy eater and vomiting/diarrhea would really do a number on her) but it beats pilling her (she's fiesty) and having to contend with GI side effects.

She's a pretty old girl, otherwise very healthy, he was impressed. Has lost 1/2 a lb since last year but I attribute that mostly to losing muscle mass from getting so old.

Hopefully this area clears up within the next couple of weeks.

Glad you get her in with the vet and he agreed it was a hotspot. The first concern I had was "ringworm" and I am so glad it isn't that!

Your elderly lady seems much better off than my elderly man right now. He is 14, but has lost a lot of weight, has hyperthyroid, and is going to have to have 3 skin cancers removed as long as his bloodwork is okay.