{"id":671,"date":"2026-07-01T12:00:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T16:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.truecareveterinaryhospital.com\/blog\/?p=671"},"modified":"2026-07-01T12:00:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T16:00:48","slug":"hot-spots-in-dogs-what-causes-them-and-how-to-treat-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.truecareveterinaryhospital.com\/blog\/hot-spots-in-dogs-what-causes-them-and-how-to-treat-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot Spots in Dogs: What Causes Them and How to Treat Them"},"content":{"rendered":"
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They often start small and can be mistaken for an insect bite or mild irritation. But before you know it, that tiny spot turns into a full-blown patch of angry, oozing, foul-smelling skin. Welcome to the world of hot spots<\/a>, aka acute moist dermatitis in dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

These painful sores can appear suddenly\u2014in a matter of hours\u2014and trigger a perpetual cycle of intense itching, hair loss, and infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, our team at True Care Veterinary Hospital<\/a> provides a helpful primer on acute moist dermatitis in dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Hot Spots in Dogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hot spots, also known as acute moist dermatitis in dogs, are inflamed, infected areas of skin that can develop suddenly and worsen just as fast. A typical red moist lesion on dog skin may look raw, oozy, and painful\u2014and your dog will likely be very focused on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Causes Hot Spots?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Warm, humid weather\u2014like our classic New Jersey summers\u2014creates the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive, especially for our canine friends with long or thick coats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common hot spot triggers include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n