Pet Meds for Hot Spots in Dogs Relief for a Painful Skin Infection

Hot spots are extremely painful, swollen patches of infected skin that can show up anywhere on your dog’s body. They are usually caused when your dog engages in excessive licking, biting, or scratching to try to soothe an area that is irritated because of allergies, parasites such as fleas or mites, an infection, stress, or improper grooming.

These sensitive red sores give off a strong odor, ooze, and can cause hair loss, but fortunately, there are a number of treatment options available. Treatment usually starts with shaving and cleaning the affected area to prevent further infection. Then your veterinarian will decide if your dog needs a topical cream or powder, oral antibiotic, or both. Whatever your veterinarian recommends in the way of pet meds, always remember to follow their instructions explicitly.

Hot Spot Medications for Dogs

Your veterinarian may prescribe a combination of antibiotics to remove the infection and topical cream or powder to soothe inflammation and itch. Commonly prescribed medications include:

• Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Polymox, Trimox): Amoxicillin is a commonly prescribed broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including those of the skin. It is available in pill form.

• Clavamox (Amoxicillin, Clavulanate Potassium, Synulox, Clavaseptin): Clavamox is essentially a stronger version of Amoxicillin. It is specially designed to keep bacteria from forming a resistance to it, and it is most commonly used to treat infections of the skin and soft tissue. It is available in pill form.

• Baytril (Enrofloxacin): Baytril is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It works to reduce bacterial pathogens and therefore inhibits bacterial replication. It is available as injection or flavored tabs that most dogs will enjoy taking.

• Cephalexin (Keflex Suspension, Panixine): Cephalexin is an effective broad-spectrum bactericidal antibiotic indicated for a wide variety of bacterial infections, including those of the skin, bone, bladder, and respiratory tract. It is available in pill form or as an oral suspension solution.

• Neo-Predef: Neo-Predef is a triple-action antibiotic, topical anaesthetic, and anti-inflammatory powder. It works to relieve itching, swelling, and inflammation while also treating the infection.

• Tresaderm: Tresaderm is a topical antibiotic solution used in the treatment of fungal or bacterial infections of the skin and ears. Tresaderm works to kill the infection while reducing inflammation.

• TriTop: TriTop is a topical anesthetic ointment that has anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties. It treats infections and provides relief from itching and irritation. It can either be used short-term or long-term.

In addition to prescription medications, there are a number of sprays, drops, and shampoos on the market specially designed to relieve hot spot symptoms. Browse hot spot products now

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