Hot Spots & Wet Eczema are the same thing. Dermatitis is “doctor-speak”. If you break down the parts of the word you get derm which means skin and itis which means inflammation therefore if you or your dog are suffering from dermatitis, it simply means inflammation of the skin. In dogs, it can be caused by anything that irritates the skin but the most common causes are:-
topical skin allergies,
food related skin allergies,
skin infections,
skin fold problems,
skin parasites like the flea, mite, lice or fly strike.
Patches of wet eczema, also known as a “hot spots,” or “moist eczema”, are usually a recurring condition in dogs. They occur where a dog licks and scratches too much. When the skin itches, the dog scratches or licks it. This in turn makes the skin sore and inflammed which is uncomfortable and itchy so the itch/scratch cycle is perpetuated. This causes the formation of a wet scab on the skin under the fur. The dermatitis can be confined to a very small area or alternatively you may find that it affects the entire surface of the skin. Because of the sparse hair covering on the underside of the abdomen, this is often the easiest place to notice wet eczema but hair that appears moist and lifted up is likely to be lying over the top of a hot spot.

Wet eczema can very often be treated successfully at home without the need to see a vet. However, if the condition is a very serious case, the treatment you are giving is not working well or perhaps the condition keeps recurring, it is best to have your vet give his opinion as to the best treatment as soon as possible.
Treatment
Sometimes anti-inflammatory treatments in the form of creams, tablets or injections may be given to ease the intense discomfort and a common remedy for this condition is cortisone because it minimises the itching.
1. Firstly, expose the affected region to the air by trimming the fur away from the area around the wet eczema. If the area is large, you will need to gently shave off the fur and expose the wet eczema patch. Exposing to the air should help enable the wet eczema to dry (as its name implies, “wet” eczema may be weeping or oozing) and scab over to speed up the healing time.
2. Use an antiseptic spray or gentle shampoo on the infected area. Make sure whatever product you use is gentle on the skin. When using the shampoo, be very gentle when you work it into a lather and thoroughly clean the area. Pat the surface dry carefully and avoid any abrasive rubbing of the area. Once the affected surface is clean and dry, apply hydrocortisone cream, which will help the wound to heal and minimise the itching.
3. In order to allow the area a realistic chance of healing, you must break the itch/scratch cycle so it is important to prevent further licking or scratching of the hot spot. It may be necessary to fit your dog with Elizabethan or Buster type collar for any times when you are unable to supervise their activities and ensure they leave it alone. It is also a good idea to ensure your dogs nails are trimmed neatly to minimise the amount of damage they may do in scratching.
4. If you feel that the affected area is not healing or is perhaps getting worse or even spreading, it is important to visit your vet for professional advice and treatment, possibly including tablets, a topical lotion to be applied directly to the skin surface or even an injection of cortisone. It is important to follow your vet’s instructions to the letter when treating cases of dermatitis to ensure that this very uncomfortable condition clears up as quickly as possible.
Since writing this blog, it has been suggested that powder for the treatment of Athlete’s Foot may also be helpful in treating wet eczema as it will help the area to dry and heal. I myself have not tried this so cannot comment with any level of authority, although it seems like a reasonable possibility and I just thought Id mention it!
Neem powder ( from Asian shops ) is great for drying up Wet Eczema and stops the itching straight away .
First I shave the hair away , wash it with mild anti-bacterial soap, pat dry, then dust the Neem powder on , next morning skin is dry and un-crusted.
My dog seems to suffer chronically from this condition , and taking her to the vet was expensive but also I didn’t like the idea of putting Hydra-cortisone cream on her which she licks ,
The Neem powder is a natural non toxic herb that is used for humans as well as animals
I couldn’t agree more Yvonne. Neem powder has been used and advised by many people and I know and I would certainly be happy for people to use it once they are certain what they are dealing with. For the first time it happens, it is safer to have the vet check over the dog to ensure that this is indeed the problem and not something else. Once you are sure, then Neem is an excellent choice. Thank you for getting in touch 🙂
Can you use Sudacrem to treat the condition?
Hi Tracey, great question! Sudocrem is not something I would recommend for dogs as it has Zinc Oxide in it, which is toxic to dogs, particularly if licked/ingested. If it were to be applied to a part of the body that a) the dog can’t lick, b) in a tiny quantity c) over a small length of time and d) on a larger dog …. then perhaps you might think it was worth the risk but me personally, I do not use this product on my dogs to be on the safe side.