Swimming Doesn’t Come Naturally to All Dogs
Magnolia Veterinary Hospital News
Is It a Hot Spot?
June 21, 2025
If your dog won’t stop licking, chewing, or scratching one spot, it’s natural to wonder: “Is something wrong with my pet?” While occasional itching can be common, constant attention to a single area can signal a more serious issue, such as a hot spot. These inflamed patches of skin can appear almost overnight and quickly become painful and infected without treatment.
Let’s explore what hot spots are, what causes them, and how to help your dog heal quickly.
Road Trip Ready: How to Travel Safely with Your Pet This Summer
May 14, 2025
Sunshine, open windows, and the promise of new adventures—summer road trips are hard to resist. And if you’re like many pet parents, there’s no way you're leaving your four-legged friend behind. Whether you're headed to a cabin up north, the lake for the weekend, or on a cross-country tour, traveling with pets takes some extra planning. But with a little prep, your journey can be just as smooth for them as it is for you.
Before you gas up the car and grab the treats, here’s what you need to know to help your pet stay healthy, safe, and comfortable on the road.
Categories
Recent Posts
Why Get a Preventive Care Exam?
If you only visit our Magnolia Veterinary Hospital when your pet is injured or sick, you’re missing the opportunity to get a complete picture of her health. The preventive care exam allows our veterinarians to detect potential health issues and begin monitoring or treating them right away. By committing to preventive care, you could extend it by months or years. It’s well worth the investment when you consider how much love and joy your pet brings into your life.
Preventing and Treating Hot Spots
Acute moist dermatitis, more commonly known as hot spots, occurs due to a bacterial infection on your pet’s skin. Your dog or cat will naturally bite, chew, lick or scratch his skin in response to an irritant. Unfortunately for your pet, this tends to increase rather than decrease his discomfort. Anal gland disease, allergies to fleas or food ingredients, mange, tick bites, and inadequate grooming are the primary causes of hot spots in companion animals.
Summer Safety Tips
Your pet is part of the family and you naturally care about her safety. You also want to include her in family activities whenever possible over the carefree days of summer. By keeping the following safety tips in mind, your entire family can have a summer to remember.