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My dog has hot spots. Bathing makes them worse. What can I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My dog has hot spots , bathing her does not help. I have been using Exploring on her spots.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Paula Simons

Veterinarian

Published on December 9th, 2014

The key to combating hot spots is to keep the area clean and dry. Hot spots usually worsen when a dog starts licking the affected areas. You can try putting a cone or shirt on your dog to prevent licking/chewing at the area. You can also try cutting or clipping the hair around the hot spot to help dry the area out. I would stop bathing your dog as moisture can often make a hot spot worse. Severe hot spots need to be addressed by a veterinarian who will give your dog medication to help heal the sores.

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