What is a lick granuloma?
Occasionally, a thickened area of new scar tissue can form around a hot spot. It will appear lumpy and bleed easily. This is called a lick granuloma and generally occurs when the inflammation is chronic. The infection may have spread to the deeper layers of the skin and require more aggressive treatment. Your veterinarian might even recommend surgical removal of the granuloma. What is the treatment for hot spots? The wound itself needs to be kept clean and undisturbed for healing to occur. Usually, the area is clipped to remove overlying fur (shaving can cause further irritation) and washed with a mild soap or antiseptic. The hot spot might need to be gently cleaned several times a day to remove crusty build-up. If inflammation is severe, systemic antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed by a veterinarian. Topical treatments may be used, but care should be taken to ensure the cream or ointment is not going right into the dog’s mouth! In some cases these can be toxic whe