would aloe vera gel work well for a canine hot spot?

[grasswire]

It seems like such a nice natural alternative to a hydrocortisone treatment. The border collie is gonna need something ASAP and I have aloe vera on hand.

[Kali]

1. it won't hurt anything

what do you feed? most skin problems/allergies are diet related

[grasswire]

2. this dog eats a home-cooked diet

Good meat scraps from our table, some whole grains (plain brown rice, bulgar wheat), cooked vegetables. A canine vitamin supplement. He eats better than our kitties and probably better than many humans in this world, sadly.

I think I need to bathe him with a soothing dog-wash regularly, to help soothe things. He's a rescue dog who spent two years in a shelter before a family member of mine adopted him. Then the family member had two babies and now I have the dog.

[Kali]

3. might want to add some lecithin, yeast, cod liver oil

check for fleas, on dog and in bedding/environment

poultice or rinse with tea (black or green - the tannins help dry the spot) two or 3 times a day. then you can put the aloe or try smearing the oil of a vit E cap (also add to food)

exercise and fresh air too

[Biker13]

4. Where is the "Hot Spot"?

Is it a result of licking? I ask because I had a Golden that did that out of bordom during the winter months. The Vet called it a "Lick granuloma" Border Collies are very active also, so maybe your pup has cabin fever!

I had a hard time clearing it up, but mostly I had to stop the constant licking.

[grasswire]

5. that's possible

It's on his back hindquarters. I'm going to try to find a source for the inflatable soft collar that's a substitute for an elizabethan collar. My local pet shop doesn't have it.

[Biker13]

8. Now You Taught...

me something! I didn't know there was a "soft" collar! Our Orange Retriever is having ACL surgery, so I'm going hunting for one of these now.

Thank you!

[flvegan]

6. I probably wouldn't choose aloe

I don't think it will help it dry out and might just muck up the spot more. Black tea works as a home remedy. If you have a PetSmart nearby, I've heard of folks using Rescue Remedy applied right to the hot spot and having great success.

[lunatica]

7. An ointment called Calmoseptine

It works on any irritation of the skin. I've used it on my dog when she occasionally licks her privates sore. It instantly soothes the spot and feels cool when applied.

It is used by nurses and Home Hospice people to keep skin healthy. It heals and keeps rashes from incontinence at bay, even when the patients have been incontinent for years. So far it's helped in any skin rash anywhere I've applied it. The stuff is outstanding. You'll never use anything else again.