Labradors have a habit of finding water wherever they go. A clean lake, a muddy pond, a backyard pool, or a puddle that barely looks deep enough to stand in can all be equally appealing.
Usually, the result is nothing more than a wet dog and a dirty floor. Sometimes, though, moisture, itching, and repeated licking can contribute to a much more uncomfortable skin problem.
Hot spots are red, inflamed areas of skin that can develop surprisingly quickly. They are particularly easy to miss on a Labrador because even though the breed has a relatively short coat, that coat is dense enough to hide what is happening underneath.
A Lab that suddenly starts licking, scratching, or chewing the same place deserves a closer look.
What Is a Hot Spot?
A hot spot is an area of acute skin inflammation, often referred to as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis.
It usually starts with something that makes the skin itchy or uncomfortable. The dog scratches, licks, or chews the area for relief. That damages the skin further, which encourages more licking and scratching.
Before long, a small irritated patch can become a much larger sore.
The moisture created by licking can make the situation worse, particularly when it becomes trapped beneath a thick coat. This is one reason hot spots sometimes seem to appear overnight.
Hot spots can occur on almost any dog, but an active Labrador’s lifestyle can provide plenty of opportunities for skin irritation to begin.
What Do Hot Spots Look Like on Labradors?
The appearance varies depending on how early you catch one and how much the dog has been licking it.
Common signs include:
- Bright red or pink skin
- A raw-looking patch
- Moist or weeping skin
- Matted fur around the area
- Localized hair loss
- Crusting or scabbing
- Swelling
- An unpleasant odor
- Persistent licking, chewing, or scratching
Sometimes the behavior is more obvious than the skin itself. You may notice your Lab repeatedly turning around to reach the same part of the hip, chewing at a paw, or scratching behind an ear.
Because the surrounding fur can hide part of the lesion, it helps to separate the coat and look at the skin directly.
If you are unsure what you are looking at, Goldie Dog Essentials has a useful visual guide explaining what hot spots look like on dogs.
Keep in mind that redness and hair loss can have many causes. Ringworm, allergies, bacterial or yeast infections, insect bites, and other skin conditions can sometimes look similar. A photograph online can help you understand common signs, but it cannot diagnose your dog.
Where Do Labradors Commonly Get Hot Spots?
A hot spot can develop anywhere a dog can lick, bite, or scratch, although some areas tend to cause more trouble than others.
Around the head and ears
Labradors have drop ears that can hold warmth and moisture. If something inside or around the ear becomes itchy, repeated scratching may irritate the surrounding skin.
A Lab that suddenly begins scratching one ear, shaking its head, or rubbing its face should have the ear checked as well as the skin around it.
Hips and upper legs
These areas are easy for a dog to reach with its mouth. A small itch can turn into repeated chewing, particularly when the dog is resting and has easy access to the area.
Paws and lower legs
Paw licking is common in dogs with itchy skin, allergies, minor injuries, or irritation picked up outdoors.
Check between the toes as well as the top and underside of the paw. Grass seeds, tiny cuts, debris, and irritated skin can easily go unnoticed.
Neck
Wet fur around the neck can stay damp after swimming or bathing, particularly beneath a collar. Removing the collar while drying your dog allows you to check the skin and gives the coat better airflow.
Base of the tail
Flea irritation and other sources of itching can lead dogs to chew around the lower back and base of the tail. If this area suddenly becomes a focus of attention, look for both skin damage and the reason your dog started chewing there.
Why Do Labradors Develop Hot Spots?
The hot spot itself often tells only half the story.
Something usually caused the initial itching or discomfort. The dog’s reaction then created a second problem.
Possible triggers include:
- Fleas and other parasites
- Environmental or food-related allergies
- Insect bites
- Ear irritation or infection
- Minor cuts or abrasions
- Damp fur
- Skin infections
- Matted or poorly maintained coat
- Repeated licking due to discomfort
- Irritation after outdoor activity
Allergies are also among the health issues Labrador owners may encounter, particularly when repeated itching, paw licking, or skin irritation starts to appear.
For Labradors, swimming deserves particular attention.
The breed’s double coat is designed to cope well with water, but that does not mean the skin underneath stays dry. A Lab can look fairly dry on the surface while moisture remains closer to the skin.
After a swim, run your hands through the coat and check areas that take longer to dry, including the neck, behind the ears, under the collar, around the legs, and near the tail.
The Licking Cycle Is Part of the Problem
Dogs lick themselves for plenty of normal reasons. Persistent licking is different.
Imagine a mosquito bite that becomes itchier every time you scratch it. A similar cycle can happen with irritated canine skin.
Something itches.
The dog licks it.
The skin becomes wetter and more irritated.
That produces more discomfort.
The dog goes back to licking.
Breaking that cycle is an important part of managing a hot spot. Even a carefully cleaned area will struggle to settle if the dog spends the next hour chewing at it.
Depending on the location, a veterinarian may recommend a recovery collar or another suitable barrier to limit access while the skin heals.
What Should You Do If You Find a Hot Spot?
Start by getting a clear look at the area.
Gently separate the surrounding coat and check how large the affected patch actually is. Hot spots can extend beyond the section you first notice.
If the lesion is painful, extensive, bleeding, producing discharge, or difficult to examine safely, leave further handling to your veterinarian.
For a small area of mild irritation, sensible skin care usually starts with a few basic steps.
Keep your dog from licking it
Stopping repeated licking or chewing helps prevent further self-inflicted damage.
Keep the area clean
Dirty, irritated skin needs gentle care. Products used on human skin are not automatically suitable for dogs, especially when the skin barrier has already been damaged.
Avoid trapping more moisture
Damp coverings and wet fur can work against you. After swimming or bathing, dry the coat carefully.
Watch the area closely
Take a photo when you first notice the problem. It gives you something objective to compare with later.
If the area grows, becomes more painful, starts producing discharge, develops a strong smell, or otherwise looks worse, contact your veterinarian.
Where Does Hypochlorous Acid Fit Into Dog Skin Care?
One ingredient that has become increasingly common in topical skin and wound-care products is hypochlorous acid, usually shortened to HOCl.
Despite the name, properly formulated HOCl solutions are used as gentle topical cleansers. HOCl is also produced naturally as part of the body’s immune response.
For dog owners, the important point is to choose a product intended for the purpose rather than mixing chemicals or trying to create a homemade alternative.
Goldie Dog Essentials’ Miracle Mist is one example of a hypochlorous acid spray for dogs. Its formula contains water, sodium chloride, and 0.02% hypochlorous acid and is intended for topical skin care.
For any product used on irritated skin, follow its label rather than assuming that more frequent application will produce a better result.
A topical cleanser can be useful as part of skin care, but it does not tell you why the hot spot developed in the first place.
That question still matters.
When Should a Veterinarian See a Hot Spot?
Some hot spots need more than home skin care.
Arrange veterinary care if you notice:
- Rapid expansion
- Significant swelling
- Pus or other discharge
- Bleeding
- A strong or unusual odor
- Obvious pain
- A large affected area
- Lethargy or other signs that your dog is unwell
- Repeated hot spots
- Persistent itching elsewhere on the body
- An irritated ear alongside the skin problem
- No clear improvement
- Uncertainty about what the lesion actually is
Recurring hot spots are especially worth investigating. Treating the skin every few weeks without finding the trigger leaves the underlying issue unresolved.
Your veterinarian may need to look for allergies, parasites, ear disease, bacterial or yeast overgrowth, pain, or another source of persistent itching.
How to Reduce the Risk of Hot Spots in Labradors
You cannot prevent every itchy patch, but a few habits make skin problems easier to catch before they get out of hand.
Dry your Lab properly after swimming
Do more than wipe the surface of the coat. Check the areas that hold moisture and give the undercoat time to dry.
Check the skin while grooming
Regular Labrador grooming is also an opportunity to look for redness, small wounds, lumps, parasites, and tender areas.
Pay attention to repeated licking
A dog that repeatedly returns to the same paw or patch of skin is giving you useful information. Investigate before the skin becomes raw.
Maintain appropriate parasite prevention
Flea bites can trigger intense itching in sensitive dogs. Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for parasite control.
Keep an eye on the ears
A dog scratching at an uncomfortable ear can damage nearby skin. Labradors that swim frequently deserve especially regular ear checks.
Look over the paws after outdoor adventures
A quick inspection after hiking, running through long grass, or playing on rough ground can reveal irritation before your dog starts working on it with their teeth.
Catch the Small Changes Early
With Labradors, getting wet and dirty comes with the territory. Trying to keep an enthusiastic Lab away from every puddle is probably a losing battle.
A better strategy is knowing your dog’s skin.
Get used to checking beneath the coat. Notice when licking becomes unusually focused. Dry your Lab well after swimming and pay attention when one area suddenly becomes itchy.
Hot spots can grow quickly, but the first clue is often small. Catching that clue early gives you a much better chance of keeping a minor irritation from becoming a much bigger problem.
