How to Treat Hot Spots on Dogs With Homeopathic Remedies

A "hot spot" is a round sore on a dog's skin that, if left untreated, can be spread to other areas of the skin. They are often the result of something as simple as the dog getting a scratch and licking the area too much in an effort to comfort himself. Sometimes hot spots are just as easy to heal as they were to create.

Things You'll Need

• Electric Dog Clippers
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Cotton balls
• Black/green tea bags
• Small bowl
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup grape seed oil
• 4 Tbsp sweet almond oil
• 4 Tbsp Tea tree oil
• 2 Tbsp Lavender essential oil
• 2 Tbsp Myhrr essential oil
• 2 Tbsp Neem oil
• 8 oz. beeswax
• Medium size microwave safe glass bowl
• Jar with a tight fitting lid

Instructions

Tea Bag Remedy

1. 

   Tea contains tannic acid, a substance that is very helpful for drawing out infection.

   Brew four cups of tea, one teabag per cup. Remove teabags and set them aside for later.

2. 

   Soak cotton balls in hydrogen peroxide using a small bowl.

3. 

   Shave off a minimum of 2 inches of hair surrounding the hot spot, starting at the base and shaving outward, so as not to irritate it your dog's skin any further.

4. 

   Wash the affected area with the hydrogen peroxide-soaked cotton balls until the area is clean.

5. 

   Apply the cooled teabags as a compress 3 to 4 times a day until the infection has gone away. This can be accomplished by holding the used tea bag against the sore spot on your pet for 5 minutes. Fresh bags should be prepared daily.

Heather's Ultra Healing Balm

1. 

   Place beeswax in the glass bowl.

2. 

   Place the bowl inside the microwave and heat for 1 minute. The beeswax should be melted. If the wax is not completely melted, return the bowl to the microwave, heat for another 30 seconds, and check to see if the wax is melted. Keep heating, a few seconds at a time until the wax is melted.

3. 

   Add the olive, coconut, grape seed and almond oils. Stir. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds.

4. 

   Stir in the tea tree, lavender, myrrh and neem oils. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Remove the mixture from the microwave, stir, and set aside to cool.

5. 

   Pour the balm into a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.

6. 

   Apply to hot spots 2 to 4 times a day or as needed until the hot spots are gone.

7. 

8. 

Tips & Warnings

• Although the general rule when making preparations such as these is 2 parts liquid to 2 parts emulsifier (beeswax), the ratio can be adjusted according to how thick or thin you would like the ointment to be. For thicker results add more beeswax; for thinner results, add more liquid. Beeswax is a staple for homemade remedies.

• Homeopathic remedies should not be substituted for veterinary care. If you have tried these methods and they are not working, seek the assistance of a qualified veterinarian immediately.

• Do not use this preparation on cats. Tea tree oil is toxic to cats, and can be fatal if ingested.

• Never use a pan on the stove to melt beeswax as it is flammable. When a recipe calls for melting beeswax, use a microwave, bunsen burner, or a double boiler only.

References

• Dog Hot Spots: Natural Remedies
• Dog Tip: Remedies for Insect Stings,Hot Spots, and Other Conditions
• Earth Clinic: Natural remedies to cure hot spots

Resources

• Opossom Sally's Goldenmean: Dog health page