A hot spot on a dog is a red, inflamed skin lesion that appears quickly, oozes, and may contain pus. It is also known as pyotraumatic dermatitis or acute moist dermatitis. Hot spots can be found anywhere on a dogs body, but the most common sites are the head, legs, and hips. These painful, itchy, and smelly sores may be very obvious or may be hidden beneath matted fur. Hot spots are usually caused by self-trauma when a dog scratches an itch so vigorously that it creates an open wound. Many things can cause the initial itch in dogs, including allergies, fleas, or other parasites, anal gland inflammation, and frequent skin or ear infections. The goal in treating a hot spot is to stop the trauma and prevent the development of a deep skin infection, so the first step in treating hot spots is to stop the self-mutilation. Some options to prevent your dog from doing this include placing an Elizabethan collar (also known as an E-collar or cone) that stops the dog from chewing at the hot spot, covering the hot spot with a sock or bandage to act as a barrier, and continued monitoring and treatment of the underlying cause to prevent future hot spots. Topical antibiotics, desiccating sprays, and soothing reagents will be more effective when applied to a clipped, clean skin surface. Oral antibiotics and other medications may also be prescribed by a veterinarian depending on the severity of the hot spot.