Suddenly really itchy dog with 'hot spots'....

[Panicmode1]

I am religious about my flea treatments etc so she has Spectrum Nexguard every month. In the last couple of weeks she's been really itching herself and I've looked and found a ocuple of really sore spots, one of which looked like a blister after it's popped. I phoned the vet, panicking about Alabama Rot (I may be prone to going from 0-60 ); they told me if it was that she would be very sick by now, so they suggested Hibiscrub and Sudocrem on the sore spots.

I can't get hold of Hibiscrub for love nor money obviously but have got some antibac stuff from the pet shop and have been spraying that, and putting sudocreme on once it's dry and then putting a t shirt on her to stop her licking the sorest spots. But she's still scratching and licking like crazy - I can't see anything in or on her skin.....obviously the vet won't see her at the moment because it's not an emergency.

Does anyone have any advice for what I can do to help?!

I used a mixture of oatmeal, bicarbonate of soda and a little bit of water blitzed up on my dog’s paws when they got itchy a few weeks ago. Left it on for about 10 minutes and washed it off with cool water. Not sure what caused the irritation. At the time I thought it might be nettle rash. The mixture worked and he stopped biting his feet.
I wouldn’t use the paste if the skin was broken though. I’d try bathing her in a cool bath with some ground oatmeal added to the water instead.

Thank you, will try that.

You want it to be dry and clean, preferably shaved to let the air in at it... and see if the vet can give you some hibiscrub or recommend a pet safe alternative.

If you’re anywhere in or near West Lothian I have litres of hibiscrub, left over from my last dogs hot spots, lol

This is what is making me cross about the "emergencies only" rule from BVA. If your dog indeed has a hot spot (pyoderma), he/she can easily chew a deep sore to relieve the itchiness (it doesn't) and cause a lot of damage. My previous dog had these every year. You need to clean the whole area with a good margin (clip fur if there is any in the way). You then need to thoroughly cleanse it with Hibiscrub or similar. Once that has tried, the best treatment is an ointment called Isaderm (which contains a steroid, betamethasone). However, as you say, because of the current rules, you can't even get them to issue that. Most important of all, you MUST stop your dog being able to touch the affected area so a bucket collar is usually necessary - we used to use it for 2-3 weeks, 24 hours a day. As this happened every year, my dog became accustomed to wearing the horrible thing.
Honestly, I think the vets need a rethink. In a case like this, your dog definitely needs their help to heal it up quickly and prevent worse damage/more distress. I think the person who thought up this blanket edict should develop a hot spot themselves and be denied medical treatment for it - they would begin to understand then.

I am also thinking that sooner or later our dogs will pick up something horrible like parvovirus as they won't vaccinate them at the moment. I can't even get more flea treatment from them and, as our flea treatment deals with heartworm and ticks as well and my dog is in the forest every day, I am hoping she doesn't get heartworm or Lyme disease, babeosis, whatever while she is no longer protected against it.

PS: If you can get hold of Isaderm (it is a combination of fusiderm and betamethasone), use plastic gloves or clingfilm on your finger to administer it or you will absorb the steroid.
It is truly the most wonderful thing for these. I always kept a tube at home because hot spots develop in just 2-3 hours with no warning and usually at a time when vets are shut anyway. When this is over, see if your vet will let you have some for emergency treatment at home as some dogs are more prone to hot spots and get them every year. I have had other dogs that never got them at all.

Sorry to rabbit on but you will almost certainly find that the first scab will still be driving the dog mad as goo will pile up underneath it. Once that has come off/broken down, as long as you keep it clean and prevent the dog from touching it at all, it should heal up again properly - it takes a while.

RenaSan first aid spray might help if you can’t get Hibiscrub etc. I’ve used RenaSan eye drops on my dog before and they are very good.

Thank you all so much.. I have some RenaSan and have her in a T shirt to stop her reaching the worst spot... I will try the vet tomorrow to see if I can get a collar for her. I don't have clippers so I guess will have to cut the fur away to get it clean and dry.

Really appreciate your help. (am I Kent so a bit far from the Hibiscrub, but thanks so much for the offer)

@mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork

Yes you're quite right. Vets should expose themselves to hundreds of Potentially virus - contaminated animals+/- clients every day and it's bonkers that the BVA are supporting social distancing

Or the OP could get a teleconsult and the vet, after seeing the lesions will likely dispense appropriate medication without risking anyone.

@Panicmode1

Bathe it with salty water and apply sudocrem.

You need to find out what's triggering the hotspots - there's likely an underlying allergy. Book a teleconsult and speak to your vet about what they can dispense. It may be worth starting a diet trial as well

Veterinari
There really is no need to be so rude. I am entitled to my opinion even if you do not agree with me. The OP has spoken to the vet on the 'phone and they haven't suggested sending her any medication for the hot spot problem.

My own vets will not send me a prescription for flea/tick treatment, which I would then be able to obtain online, having paid them by card on the 'phone - no contact necessary.

My own experience with hot spots and my previous (now deceased) dog is that she needed vet treatment to debride and clean out two hot spots, once requiring a GA, so they are, to my mind, potential emergencies especially if the owner has not had to deal with them before and has not the necessary medication to hand.

Tesco pharmacy usually sell hibiscrub, but you have to tell them it’s for human use because they are not allowed to sell it for pet use

@mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork

Please point out exactly where I was rude?

Or is simply pointing out that vets are working responsibly to government and professional guidance 'rude' in your mind? I'd say that being cross about professionals safeguarding their own health and that of your community whilst still working to provide an effective service is much ruder.

Whilst I'm sure that waiting a few weeks for flea and tick treatment is a hardship for you, you might also want to consider that your vet staff may struggle to meet all of your demands whilst working in difficult situations, often with vulnerable members of the community whilst attempting to safe guard their own health, when many staff are furloughed and staff shortages are rife.

I'm pretty sure the OP's vet is capable of triage. What you're describing is not typical of hotspots and still would classify as an emergency regardless of 'your mind'. An emergency is a road traffic accident, a GDV or persistent seizure activity.

Oh and a global pandemic - apologies that it's inconveniencing your parasite prophylaxis

*would not classify

@mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork
One of many reasons vets might be a bit busy to write numerous flea prescriptions and post them out right now.

www.vettimes.co.uk/news/thousands-sign-up-for-front-line-nhs-duty/

I had a video consultation with my vet last week because my dog developed a hot spot. Dog was calm because he was at home, I got a really good close up of the affected area. Vet prescribed appropriate drugs. Dog is better. No risk to anyone. The appointment was a lot cheaper too so I might try doing those again in future

My dog used to get hotspots regularly. I used to treat with Hibiscrub and my son’s fucibet (Prescribed for eczema). My vet started talking about testing for allergies etc but after a bit of my own research I decided to start supplementing with salmon oil. We haven’t had a problem since.

If the dog is really itchy you could always give a Piriton daily. See if that helps

Thank you everyone, I'm going to phone the vet again today. She seems less itchy today and I've been religiously using RenaSan on the worst spot.

We haven't changed her diet at all so I don't know what is causing it - she's never had any issues with her skin before. Typical it happens when I can't see a vet about it - usually these things happen at a weekend, but during a pandemic is just even more difficult!!

Really appreciate everyone's help.

Thanks for everyone's help - I phoned the vet and they asked to see her. So I had a consultation in the car park at about 3 m from the vet, who then took her off, gave her a steroid injection to stop the itching and we have Isaderm cream for 7 days. She wouldn't stop worrying at it, so I have put her in a cone and she's looking very unhappy but the second I take it off, she's trying to bite the sore bit, so will leave it in for a day or so.....and hopefully the steroid injection will work v soon.

Aww bless her, hope she feels better soon.