My dog has a hotspot under her arm. Should I use steroid cream?

Question

My dog has a spot under her arm that appears to possibly be a hotspot. She had one previously on her stomach that developed a secondary infection. The spot under her arm looks similar to the spot that appeared on her stomach last year. We noticed an area that the fur was matted together and after cleaning it with warm water, I noticed the irritated skin underneath. Would it be ok if I put some steroid cream on it? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | 75 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

I wouldn't put steroid cream on it, because this could make it much worse. Hot spots usually have an infection present, which will flourish in the presence of steroids. It appears to be minor based on your description, so you can try a couple of things at home to help this. 1) Wash the area with warm water and a medicated shampoo (can get this at the pet store) once a day. Use a cloth and gently wipe away the scabs. Do not scrub, because it will irritate the skin more. It's OK if all of the scabs do not come off in each washing. 2) Make sure the area is completely dry after washing. You should start seeing good results within a week after starting this. It may take a few weeks before it's completely cleared. If two weeks go by and it's not getting any better, then it's best to have a veterinarian exam it. Also, if it appears to get worse, then it's best to take her the vet for treatment. I hope that helps and this gets cleared up soon.

My dog has a hotspot under her arm. Should I use steroid cream?

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