Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Hot spots are a common skin condition in dogs. Typically, lesions develop as a result of inflammation and itching from excessive licking, biting, or scratching. Detecting and treating hot spots early helps prevent them from becoming more serious. Several home treatment options are available for hot spots, but it’s hard to know what works. To help you out, we created reviews of the 10 best hot spot treatments for dogs so you can fix your dog’s skin issues and avoid a trip to the vet.
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Image Product Details
Best Overall
Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Pet Hot Spot Spray
Non-toxic
Easy to apply
Soothes and heals
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Best Value
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot Itch Relief Spray
Provides pain relief
Reduces inflammation
Relieves symptoms and promotes healing
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Premium Choice
Hemp Well Cat & Dog Skin, Nose & Paw Balm
Non-staining
Hypoallergenic
Provides deep moisturizing relief
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Sulfodene 3-Way Ointment for Dogs
Helps heal open sores
First-aid treatment for skin
Works as an insect repellant
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Dermoscent BioBalm Skin Repairing Dog Balm
All-natural
Waterproof
Absorbs quickly
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10 Best Hot Spot Treatments for Dogs
We recommend Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Pet Hot Spot Spray as the best overall hot spot treatment for dogs. This product helps soothe itchy skin while preventing infection and promoting healing. It’s 100% non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about your dog licking it off. It’s easy to apply, and it kills bacteria on contact to help avoid the need for antibiotics and steroid treatments.
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Spray
Weight: 8 ounces, 3 ounces
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If your dog has particularly bad hot spots or there is a large amount of hair covering the irritated skin, you might need to clip or shave the hair before applying Vetericyn spray. The spray must contact the skin directly to work.
Pros
Starts working immediately
Soothes and heals
Easy to apply
Non-toxic
Cons
May require shaving for bad hot spots
The Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot Itch Relief Spray is the best hot spot treatment for dogs for the money. This spray is designed to provide both analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment for red, itchy, swollen patches of skin. It contains allantoin to help promote wound healing and hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation and redness. It can be paired with Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot & Itch Relief Shampoo for extra relief.
Starts working immediately
Soothes and heals
Easy to apply
Non-toxic
- Starts working immediately
- Soothes and heals
- Easy to apply
- Non-toxic
May require shaving for bad hot spots
- May require shaving for bad hot spots
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Spray
Weight: 8 ounces
This product does have a smell to it that is reminiscent of antiseptic. It’s not usually bothersome, but some dogs with allergies may be averse to the smell.
Pros
Relieves symptoms and promotes healing
Reduces inflammation
Provides pain relief
Affordable
Can be paired with the full line of Veterinary Care products for extra relief
Cons
Antiseptic smell
Hemp Well Hemp Balm is our premium choice for at-home hot spot treatments for dogs. An ointment is a great option for providing deep moisture on the skin, nose, and paws. It’s an all-natural formula made with non-GMO ingredients that don’t stain or trigger allergies. Hemp Well Hemp Balm is a great choice if you’re struggling to find a product that your dog won’t react to due to severe skin allergies.
Relieves symptoms and promotes healing
Reduces inflammation
Provides pain relief
Affordable
Can be paired with the full line of Veterinary Care products for extra relief
- Relieves symptoms and promotes healing
- Reduces inflammation
- Provides pain relief
- Affordable
- Can be paired with the full line of Veterinary Care products for extra relief
Antiseptic smell
- Antiseptic smell
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Ointment
Weight: 1.75 ounces
This balm doesn’t have any medicinal ingredients to treat hot spots specifically, but it provides deep moisture, thus preventing most hot spots from forming. However, we don’t recommend using it on any patches of open skin, as it may cause irritation. If your dog does lick the balm off, it’s non-toxic, but you will need to re-apply.
Pros
Provides deep moisturizing relief
Non-toxic
Non-staining
Hypoallergenic
Cons
The ointment can get caught in long hair
Not for use on open wounds
Sulfodene offers a first-aid ointment that works as a barrier to infection and provides pain relief. It has multiple uses for your dog’s skin issues, including bacterial and fungal infections. It can be placed on open skin and promote healing of any kind of abrasion. As a bonus, it also helps fend off insects.
Provides deep moisturizing relief
Non-toxic
Non-staining
Hypoallergenic
- Provides deep moisturizing relief
- Non-toxic
- Non-staining
- Hypoallergenic
The ointment can get caught in long hair
Not for use on open wounds
- The ointment can get caught in long hair
- Not for use on open wounds
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Ointment
Weight: 2 ounces
This ointment won’t harm your dog if ingested in small amounts, but it is strongly recommended that you prevent your dog from licking the treated area for as long as possible. It has a menthol smell that turns some people off, and the ointment can be a bit greasy, and dirt can stick to it after it’s applied.
Pros
First-aid treatment for skin
Helps heal open sores
Works as an insect repellant
Cons
Must prevent your dog from licking the ointment
Menthol smell
Attracts dirt
This 100% natural ingredient ointment from Dermoscent helps treat skin lesions and prevents infections. It is completely waterproof, so it won’t wash off after application. Unlike many other ointments, this one absorbs quickly, so your dog won’t have time to lick it off before it starts working.
First-aid treatment for skin
Helps heal open sores
Works as an insect repellant
- First-aid treatment for skin
- Helps heal open sores
- Works as an insect repellant
Must prevent your dog from licking the ointment
Menthol smell
Attracts dirt
- Must prevent your dog from licking the ointment
- Menthol smell
- Attracts dirt
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Ointment
Weight: 1.6 fluid ounces
Dermoscent can’t be used in dogs under 12 weeks of age, so it’s not an option for small puppies. It is considered to be unscented but contains the essential oil Cajputi for anti-microbial use. Although it’s subtle, this does give a slight odor to the ointment. If you’re using it on your dog’s nose or face, you may find that they are irritated by the smell. If your dog has allergies, check the ingredient label carefully. While it’s rare, there are ingredients that could trigger a reaction.
Pros
All-natural
Waterproof
Absorbs quickly
Cons
Essential oil smell
Some allergy-triggering ingredients
Not for puppies
Banixx offers a multi-purpose anti-microbial spray that helps combat hot spots, ringworm, and ear infections. No matter the cause, this spray will help provide your dog with relief from skin irritations without using antibiotics and steroids. As a bonus, it’s safe to use around the eyes, nose, and ears, it doesn’t sting, and it is 100% fragrance-free. The 4-year shelf life means you can keep it on hand in your pet’s first aid kit for whenever you need it.
All-natural
Waterproof
Absorbs quickly
- All-natural
- Waterproof
- Absorbs quickly
Essential oil smell
Some allergy-triggering ingredients
Not for puppies
- Essential oil smell
- Some allergy-triggering ingredients
- Not for puppies
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Spray
Weight: 2 ounces or 8 ounces
However, the ingredient list on Banixx Pet Care suggests that there are no active ingredients for treating infections. It may provide your dog with itch relief, but it is just pH-balanced water, so it’s unlikely to treat infections the way that it claims. Given this fact, it probably won’t get rid of fungal infections either. It does seem to do a good job of providing moisture and itch relief if your dog’s hot spots haven’t progressed to the open wound stage.
Pros
Safe for use around the eyes, ears, and nose
Fragrance-free
Long shelf life
Provides itch relief
Cons
No active ingredient
Doesn’t treat bacterial and fungal infections as the manufacturer claims
- Pro-Sense Itch Solutions Medications for Hot Spots for Dogs & Cats
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Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Spray
Weight: 4 ounces
Pro-Sense Itch Solutions for Hot Spots is a hydrocortisone spray formulated specifically to reduce inflammation and redness from skin irritations. This spray contains aloe vera to soothe and stop your dog from scratching. It’s easy to use and safe enough to apply multiple times throughout the day. It is also alcohol-free, so it won’t sting already irritated skin.
Safe for use around the eyes, ears, and nose
Fragrance-free
Long shelf life
Provides itch relief
- Safe for use around the eyes, ears, and nose
- Fragrance-free
- Long shelf life
- Provides itch relief
No active ingredient
Doesn’t treat bacterial and fungal infections as the manufacturer claims
- No active ingredient
- Doesn’t treat bacterial and fungal infections as the manufacturer claims
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Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Spray
Weight: 4 ounces
The amount of this product that you need to use is a definite downside. It needs to be re-applied frequently to keep your dog from becoming itchy and scratching at hot spots. It does work, but you’ll need to be on top of treating the affected area. This product is also not formulated to prevent any brewing infections or prevent bacterial growth. It will provide symptom relief, but you’ll need something stronger if you wish to prevent the problem from re-occurring.
Pros
Provides soothing relief
Non-stinging
Hydrocortisone reduces swelling and redness
Cons
No anti-bacterial properties
Requires treatment multiple times a day
- Healers Hot Spot Relief Hydrocortisone Dog & Cat Ointment
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Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Ointment
Weight: 4 ounces
Healers Hot Spot Relief is a hydrocortisone product for treating your dog’s hot spots. We like that it contains hydrocortisone, as this ingredient is key in tackling red, inflamed skin. It can also be used to treat insect bites, sores, and other skin conditions.
Provides soothing relief
Non-stinging
Hydrocortisone reduces swelling and redness
- Provides soothing relief
- Non-stinging
- Hydrocortisone reduces swelling and redness
No anti-bacterial properties
Requires treatment multiple times a day
- No anti-bacterial properties
- Requires treatment multiple times a day
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Ointment
Weight: 4 ounces
This ointment has a bitter taste to it, so your dog won’t lick it off. It also can’t be used around your dog’s eyes because it will cause irritation. Healers ointment does a better job at hot spot prevention than it does at hot spot treatment because it doesn’t promote wound healing. It also has a fairly strong “medicinal” smell that can be bothersome.
Pros
Hydrocortisone reduces swelling
Treats all skin conditions
Bitter tasting to avoid licking
Cons
Irritating to eyes
Better at prevention than treatment
Strong smelling
- PetArmor Hot Spot Skin Remedy Non-Stinging Formula for Dogs
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Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Liquid
Weight: 4 ounces
PetArmor Hot Spot Skin Remedy offers an alcohol-free, non-stinging formula that specifically targets Staph bacteria on your dog’s skin. These are the bacteria most commonly associated with creating hot spots, so they’re definitely good ones to target.
Hydrocortisone reduces swelling
Treats all skin conditions
Bitter tasting to avoid licking
- Hydrocortisone reduces swelling
- Treats all skin conditions
- Bitter tasting to avoid licking
Irritating to eyes
Better at prevention than treatment
Strong smelling
- Irritating to eyes
- Better at prevention than treatment
- Strong smelling
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Liquid
Weight: 4 ounces
Since this product is a liquid rather than a spray or an ointment, you’ll need to have the skin exposed to apply the product. This means cutting or clipping the hair away before using it. Another downside is applying the product itself. It’s runny and not easy to get onto your dog’s skin. You’ll need to soak a cotton ball or cotton pad to wipe the product on. This can lead to creating a mess and using more than you need.
Pros
Non-stinging
Kills Staph bacteria that cause hot spots
Kills topical fungus and virus
Cons
Dog’s should not lick it off
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- Vet’s Best Hot Spot Spray for Dogs
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Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Spray
Weight: 8 ounces or 16 ounces
Vet’s Best offers a plant-based formula containing chamomile, aloe vera, and tea tree oil to treat hot spots on dogs. The spray is designed to provide instant relief from itching and doesn’t interact with other topical medications like flea and tick prevention. This product is easy to apply and does a great job of soothing itchy skin so your dog will stop scratching.
Non-stinging
Kills Staph bacteria that cause hot spots
Kills topical fungus and virus
Non-stinging
Kills Staph bacteria that cause hot spots
Kills topical fungus and virus
Dog’s should not lick it off
Lifestage: Adult
Product Form: Spray
Weight: 8 ounces or 16 ounces
If your dog has hot spots as a result of an allergy, this product probably won’t do anything to stop them. The aloe does a good job of “cooling down” irritated skin, but it needs to be applied frequently for the skin to heal. There is a hot spot shampoo available from the same product line. This relief spray seems to work best when paired with it.
Pros
Plant-based ingredients
Cools down itchy skin
Doesn’t interact with other topical medications
Cons
Won’t treat allergic reactions
Needs frequent applications
Works best paired with the shampoo
Plant-based ingredients
Cools down itchy skin
Doesn’t interact with other topical medications
- Plant-based ingredients
- Cools down itchy skin
- Doesn’t interact with other topical medications
Won’t treat allergic reactions
Needs frequent applications
Works best paired with the shampoo
- Won’t treat allergic reactions
- Needs frequent applications
- Works best paired with the shampoo
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Hot Spot Treatments for Dogs
What Is a Hot Spot?
The term “hot spot” describes a localized skin irritation or skin infection. Technically, hot spots are called acute moist dermatitis. They are usually caused by a dog scratching or biting at itchy skin, leading to red, swollen patches. These can become open sores that ooze and get infected if left untreated. It is strongly recommended to treat hot spots as soon as they appear to avoid a more serious condition.
- Next on your reading list: 10 Best Paw Balms for Dogs- Reviews & Top Picks
Signs and Symptoms of Hot Spots
Hot spots first appear as areas of matted and tangled fur or areas with hair loss due to a dog’s frequent “picking” at the area. They can be scabby and dry or moist and leak clear discharge. Most of the time, you will notice that your dog is continually licking, scratching, or chewing a particular area of its body. The more that they lick the irritated skin, the worse the spot becomes.
Symptoms of hot spots in dogs include:
Skin redness
Hair loss
Matted hair
Oozy discharge
Broken skin
Excessive chewing or licking at the skin
Causes of Hot Spots
The most common cause of hot spots is self-trauma from a dog chewing or licking the skin. Over-grooming makes the skin moist and susceptible to breakdown and infection. When a dog’s hair becomes matted over the top of the irritated spot, it traps even more moisture and bacteria, making the spot raw and painful.
Skin redness
Hair loss
Matted hair
Oozy discharge
Broken skin
Excessive chewing or licking at the skin
- Skin redness
- Hair loss
- Matted hair
- Oozy discharge
- Broken skin
- Excessive chewing or licking at the skin
Most commonly, itchy skin is due to an allergy or skin sensitivity. Sometimes, dogs lick and chew at areas that are painful for other reasons, like arthritic joints or their stomach due to internal pain. In rare cases, it’s a result of anxiety or another behavioral issue.
Causes of hot spots include:
Allergies
Parasites, especially fleas
Immune system impairments
Generalized dermatitis (similar to eczema in humans)
Arthritis
Skin, joint, bone, or soft tissue injury
Anxiety, stress, or fear
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Trapped moisture from swimming or bathing
How to Treat Your Dog’s Hot Spots at Home
If you catch it early and your dog’s hot spot is small, non-painful, and uncomplicated, it is reasonable to begin treatment at home with over-the-counter products. Topical sprays, shampoos, and ointments can all help soothe your dog’s skin and get rid of hot spots before they become a larger issue.
Allergies
Parasites, especially fleas
Immune system impairments
Generalized dermatitis (similar to eczema in humans)
Arthritis
Skin, joint, bone, or soft tissue injury
Anxiety, stress, or fear
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Trapped moisture from swimming or bathing
- Allergies
- Parasites, especially fleas
- Immune system impairments
- Generalized dermatitis (similar to eczema in humans)
- Arthritis
- Skin, joint, bone, or soft tissue injury
- Anxiety, stress, or fear
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Trapped moisture from swimming or bathing
The most important thing is to use products that are safe for dogs. Do not choose one that is designed for topical use on humans. Many of them will be toxic if your dog ingests them. All the products on this list are pet-safe and designed specifically for use in pets.
Here are general guidelines for treating hot spots:
If the area is small, clip or trim the hair covering the area. This will allow treatment products to reach the wound and promote healing.
Keep your dog from licking the area. If necessary, a cone will prevent them from irritating the area through licking and chewing.
Apply warm compresses.
Use pet-safe, topical hot spot treatments, following the directions on the product label.
Keep the area exposed to air; don’t bandage or wrap it.
Alleviate the cause of the problem to prevent re-occurrence. Otherwise, you are fighting a losing battle.
Tips for Preventing Hot Spots
Apply flea control.
Thoroughly dry your dog after bathing or swimming, especially if they are heavy-coated.
Groom your dog regularly.
Keep stress and boredom to a minimum — this means providing adequate exercise and plenty of opportunities for play and mental stimulation.
Feed your dog a healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in essential fatty acids to promote skin health.
When to See the Vet
Approximately 30% of dogs that develop hot spots will develop an infection. This means if your best efforts to treat your dog’s skin issues at home aren’t working or they are developing open wounds, it’s best to have them assessed by your veterinarian.
If the area is small, clip or trim the hair covering the area. This will allow treatment products to reach the wound and promote healing.
Keep your dog from licking the area. If necessary, a cone will prevent them from irritating the area through licking and chewing.
Apply warm compresses.
Use pet-safe, topical hot spot treatments, following the directions on the product label.
Keep the area exposed to air; don’t bandage or wrap it.
Alleviate the cause of the problem to prevent re-occurrence. Otherwise, you are fighting a losing battle.
If the area is small, clip or trim the hair covering the area. This will allow treatment products to reach the wound and promote healing.
Keep your dog from licking the area. If necessary, a cone will prevent them from irritating the area through licking and chewing.
Apply warm compresses.
Use pet-safe, topical hot spot treatments, following the directions on the product label.
Keep the area exposed to air; don’t bandage or wrap it.
Alleviate the cause of the problem to prevent re-occurrence. Otherwise, you are fighting a losing battle.
Apply flea control.
Thoroughly dry your dog after bathing or swimming, especially if they are heavy-coated.
Groom your dog regularly.
Keep stress and boredom to a minimum — this means providing adequate exercise and plenty of opportunities for play and mental stimulation.
Feed your dog a healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in essential fatty acids to promote skin health.
If a hot spot becomes too painful for you to treat with topical products or it begins to ooze pus, it’s time for further intervention. Your dog may require treatment with pain medications, anti-inflammatories, or antibiotics, in addition to topical skin treatments.
The treatment that your veterinarian recommends will depend on how bad your dog’s problem is and the cause of the hot spot. Some dogs get a hot spot or two and the problem never returns, whereas others have frequent reoccurrences throughout their lives.
Conclusion
The best way to treat your dog’s hot spots is to start treatment early. This will prevent infections and further damage to your dog’s skin. Our recommendation for the best overall hot spot treatment for dogs is Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Pet Hot Spot Spray. This product starts working immediately, is easy to use, and contains anti-microbial properties to help prevent infection. The best value for the money in topical hot spot treatments is Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot Itch Relief Spray. This product is a cost-effective solution to promote wound healing, relieve the itch, and decrease inflammation on your dog’s skin.
Featured Image Credit: Chewy
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