Hello Edie,

This is a great question, and a condition I see a great deal in my general private practice.

A hot spot is the common term used for a skin condition called pyoderma. (Our fancy way of saying inflamed skin). It can be either a superficial pyoderma or a deep pyoderma, referring to the amount of skin depth affected.

There can be many causes to this dermatological condition. In general I see an itchy condition that has turned into a self-traumatizing big giant ‘boo-boo’. The dog (it can happen to cats too, but I see in more commonly in dogs) gets an itch, from either a flea, a bug, a parasite, an allergy, or some other impetus to cause the dog to start scratching. We all know how hard it is to stop scratching when the itch persists. Sometimes the scratching is so soothing that we keep scratching thereby making the small itch into a big pyoderma.

I most commonly see hot spots around the face of long haired larger breed dogs. I especially see them in dogs with recurrent or chronic allergies including ear infections.

If you see your pet licking or scratching a particular spot please investigate it. Most owners may see a small red spot at the base of the hair, or a moist area in the hair coat, but don’t think it is much of a concern until we examine it in the vet hospital and shave the overlying hair off. In almost all cases what appears to look like a tiny red spot ends up being a very large very red, very raw, area of skin. I tell people that a hot spot looks like rug burn, or road burn on us. Abrasions to the skin that then cause the skin to become inflamed and oozing of serum that makes the red inflamed skin sticky.

I included a very good article to help you with a good overall description of this condition.

If you think that your dog has a hot spot I would recommend seeing your veterinarian as soon as possible to start treating it. The hope is that we can significantly reduce and eliminate the pain, itching, swelling, discomfort and infection before the easier to treat superficial pyoderma turns into the much harder to treat deep pyoderma.

I hope that this helps.

If you need any other assistance or think that your dog has a hot spot I can be reached at the clinic anytime to see you and you pet.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseasesh/a/hotspots.htm

Sincerely,
Krista Magnifico, DVM
Owner Jarrettsville Veterinary Center
Jarrettsville, MD
http://www.jarrettsvillevet.com

Hello Diedra,

Thanks for asking such an important question.

There are many reasons why dogs drink an excessive amount of water.

Many times an increase in water intake is one of our first clues to the onset of a disease.

If you think that your dog is drinking more water than usual you should make an appointment to see your veterinarian and they will likely want to check your dogs blood and urine.

Some of the diseases that can cause increased thirst in dogs are kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, and adrenal tumors.

There is actually a formula used to figure out how much water is too much. But never withhold water from a pet.

Many veterinarians recommend twice yearly examinations for older dogs.

If you haven’t seen your veterinarian lately it might be time for a check-up.

If you would like to make an appointment I can be reached at the clinic.

Sincerely,
Krista Magnifico, DVM
Owner Jarrettsville Veterinary Center

Hello Diedra,

If your dog is not feeling better , or if the diarrhea continues you should bring him to see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Diarrhea can cause dehydration and an anti-diarrheal, or fluids may be indicated.

In most cases acute diarrhea is short lived and self limiting. But diarrhea of longer than one day, or severe in its onset should be addressed by your veterinarian.

If the diarrhea persists, or you get concerned you and Bandit can see me at the clinic.

Sincerely,
Krista Magnifico, DVM
Owner Jarrettsville Veterinary Center

Hello,

Thanks for your question.

Congratulations on all of the things you must have been providing and giving to Maizie to get her to an astounding age of 14! Did you know that most labs and dalmatians only live to about 12? 14 years old is amazing!

There are many things that you can do to help her age gracefully and maintain her strength, stamina, and vigor.

Diet is a great place to start. Ask your veterinarian about which diets they like and recommend for her. I like Science diet J/D. The "J" is for joint. I also like a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement like Dasaquin daily. I have a 16 year old dog and I encourage her to eat by mixing a great dry food with an equally high quality wet food. I make great efforts to keep her eating well, like feeding her twice a day. I have also begun using a dog food gravy to make her food even a tiny bit more exciting. Muscle mass is lost because of two reasons, not enough exercise, and not enough dietary protein.

Most of the older dogs that I see are losing peripheral hind limb muscle mass from chronic dis-use. They aren’t getting enough exercise to maintain muscle mass because it hurts too much to move. So after a thorough physical exam I discuss x-rays, and bloodwork and an NSAID. This is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. it helps many dogs feel better and takes away some, or even all, of their pain. At 14 years old I think it is very important to make the remaining days, however many they may be, comfortable. I also think that a thick (about 6 inches), orthopedic bed helps on those bony achey joints.

I recommend twice yearly exams to better monitor and manage the aging process. Blood work, urinalysis, radiographs, and thorough physical examinations will help keep Maizie happy, healthy, and mobile for her days yet to come.

Wishing you and Maizie continued longevity. If you would like to set up a geriatric exam with us we can be reached at Jarrettsville Veterinary Center in Jarrettsville MD.

Sincerely,
Krista Magnifico, DVM
Owner Jarrettsville Veterinary Center
Jarrettsville MD
twitter FreePetAdvice
jarrettsvillevet.com

I would love to see Maizie.

I can be reached at http://www.jarrettsvillevet.com.

Hope to see you soon!