HOLY Hot Spot!! HELP!!

[LexPauline]

It's late, really late, but I hope this posts tonight. I got done working around 10 and went and got my standard Allie for her daily brush out and banding. I called her out to the van, she jumped on the table as usual and I immediately noticed her back left hock was YELLOW upon closer inspection I found a HUGE hot spot! Fully formed swollen, hairless puss ...is present O.o ( I wanted to put a y on that ...is that not a word or am I missing something? lol). Not only that, but it one of the largest I have ever seen! There was absolutely nothing there last night and I can say with almost complete certainty that it was not there this morning either, at least if it was there it still had hair and it was no where near as bad, I would have noticed. Is it even possible for a hot spot to form that quickly?? She seems like her normal self for the most part aside from a bit of localized discomfort.

I shaved the area and examined closer. I do not see anything that looks like she was bitten or stung. Keep in mind I have no idea what I am looking for, but I assume some kind of hole or bite would be present? It is swollen and has discharge, but other than that it just looks like a big nasty hot spot. Does anyone think this may be something other than a hot spot? I bathed her, scrubbed it really good with soap and water and then Bactine. After I dried her I vet wrapped and banded the surrounding coat so as it would not interfere with the wound. Then I applied a coating of Neosporen. I also vet wrapped the right hock because it was rubbing and poking at the wound.

She is sleeping right now, I gave her some benidryl (sp?) and I am watching her like a hawk so as she does not lick or chew at it. Our Vet is over an hour away and I am booked solid this week ...there is no way I can take off! Someone please tell me this is just a hot spot.. I took photos and have posted them below. Just a warning, the photos do not look nice. The swelling did go down after the photos, but I don't think I will have a choice but to close down if it looks any worse in the morning.

[Helly]

Can't tell from a photo if it's just a hot spot or not, and we aren't vets anyway. But if it is a hot spot you want to dry it up. That means Neosporin is not the best choice. I know this might sound harsh, but in the past I've treated hot spots on my own dogs with Listerine. The original kind, that tastes nasty.

Now, before anyone feels it's necessary to take me to task for that, I am not diagnosing nor recommending an specific treatment. I am simply stating what I personally have done in the past.

[Particentral]

That looks like a chemical burn to me. I would NOT treat it myself. I would go to the vet ASAP and I am not one to rush off. ALso, I agree with helly. LIsterine and Gold Bond for HotSpots.

[Debbiedogs]

Good grief!!

Doesn't look like a hot spot to me. Also, never saw a yellow one as you described come up right away. Something else? Snake bite? Bad spider bite?? Good golly...

[Moonpiepoodlz]

OMG! That's horrible looking!! Poor thing. I hope she's okay

[LexPauline]

I have heard that from quite a few people now. It's makes sense if you think about what's in it really, it disinfects soothes and dries. Thing is I'm not sure IF this is a hot spot and just in case it is not I do not want to go irritating it further. It's swollen again. Anyone ever seen anything like this?

[D'tails]

That looks nasty. I would get her to the vet to be safe. I recently saw a show that talked about the high number of dogs carrying staph and MRSA. They showed pics just like that and said that we should never assume it is a hot spot, since the incidence of MRSA has reached epidemic proportions and the appearance mimics a hot spot.

[PuppyFluffer]

I don't know about your area, but around here we have the brown recluse spider. Their bites look EXACTLY like that.

[LexPauline]

The mobile vet is coming to see her at 3:30. TG for mobile vets! I will keep you all informed. I'm thinking ant or spider bite, but cannot find anything that looks like a bite? I don't see how it could be chemical burn she never leaves the yard and there's nothing harmful back there as far as I know.

[Helly]

That looks nasty. I would get her to the vet to be safe. I recently saw a show that talked about the high number of dogs carrying staph and MRSA. They showed pics just like that and said that we should never assume it is a hot spot, since the incidence of MRSA has reached epidemic proportions and the appearance mimics a hot spot.

A MRSA infection would look just like a hot spot at first. A hot spot is usually a staph infection. MRSA is staph. It's just a really nasty strain of staph.

And it's no wonder they're talking about the high number of dogs carrying staph, seeing as it's everywhere, including on our own skin. The infection only sets in if there's some sort of break in the skin.

[LexPauline]

That looks nasty. I would get her to the vet to be safe. I recently saw a show that talked about the high number of dogs carrying staph and MRSA. They showed pics just like that and said that we should never assume it is a hot spot, since the incidence of MRSA has reached epidemic proportions and the appearance mimics a hot spot.

What are you trying to give me a heart attack woman! lol, it's not MRSA, the whole thing formed in a matter of hours.

[D'tails]

What are you trying to give me a heart attack woman! lol, it's not MRSA, the whole thing formed in a matter of hours.

Lol, I'm just sayin'....

[DBT]

was that area 'under wraps' before this occurred??

i have a dog that breaks out just like that under wraps. if the skin or coat was slightly damp.or the wraps were pulling a bit of hair tight,or golly forbid the wrap was too tight etc

anything to do with wraps sets him off ,and then rapidly escalates to that sort of disaster

[pooh13]

What are you trying to give me a heart attack woman! lol, it's not MRSA, the whole thing formed in a matter of hours.

I really do recommend a vet look at this ,Due to the severity and that large of an area,something has definitely irritated this dog drastically to cause this much damage in such a short amount of time.My first guess is not a normal hot spot.

[LexPauline]

110.00 later and we have no idea what happened. I got some ointment antibiotics and directions on how to do hot and cold compresses three times a day. We are leaning towards some kind of bite. Ooand she got a Metacam injection, anyone heard of it? If it is a brown recluse it will get a lot worse :.( I am so scared, she said it will turn black and become a gaping wound and the affected flesh will likely die and fall off! I might have to shave her whole lower leg which means I more than likely will not be able to compete with her at APF. I'm so upset right now I can hardly type ..I'm gonna go sulk now.