Hot Weather and Hot Spots

We took our labrador, Kai, to the vet earlier this week for his annual vaccines. While he was there, I pointed out to the vet that I had found a rough patch of skin under his left ear. The vet felt it and said that it might have been where a tick had been, but that the tick had either fallen off or been removed (I find myself removing ticks on a fairly regular basis when Kai walks through the woods).

 

We  didn’t think anything more of it, but the following day, I looked at the spot, and to my alarm saw that it was wet, bloody and spreading. We went back post-haste to the vet who diagnosed it as a hot-spot and prescribed treatment. While the treatment seems to be having an effect, I must say that I was taken aback at how quickly a small, dry patch of skin had erupted into a festering wound. It would seem that we humans don’t get affected in quite the same way. We (or at least the more affluent amongst us) seem more prone to brown rashes on the chin and chest. I should point out that I have not experienced this particular rash, just in case you were drawing conclusions…