Hot Spots on Dogs
Share
Dog Hot Spots: What's Causing Them — and What to Do About It
Hot spots — moist, raw, red skin eruptions that can appear anywhere on a dog's body — are one of the more distressing things a dog owner can deal with. They spread quickly, cause real discomfort, and tend to recur without explanation. Understanding what's actually driving them is the key to addressing them effectively, rather than just managing the surface symptoms.
What are dog hot spots and why do they keep coming back?
A hot spot is a moist skin eruption that becomes raw, inflamed, and a breeding ground for secondary bacterial infection. The name likely comes from the observation that they appear most frequently during hot summer months — heat, like sugar, is an activator of yeast, which is often the underlying driver.
The more important question isn't what a hot spot looks like — it's what caused it. Because hot spots that keep returning despite treatment are almost always a signal of something happening deeper in the body.
What's actually causing the hot spots?
Hot spots most frequently trace back to an imbalance in the GI tract — specifically, an overgrowth of yeast (candida), which is a normal component of gut flora that becomes problematic when the balance tips.
In a healthy dog, colonies of beneficial bacteria keep yeast in check. When those bacterial colonies decline — due to antibiotics, steroids, vaccinations, stress, or chronic poor nutrition — yeast is allowed to expand. Because yeast feeds on sugar, a diet high in high-glycemic carbohydrates accelerates the problem significantly. Potatoes, white rice, corn, wheat, and tapioca are common examples of ingredients that convert quickly to sugar in the body and feed yeast overgrowth.
When yeast overgrowth becomes significant enough, yeast cells can enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body — creating external symptoms that are rooted in an internal disorder. Hot spots and skin eruptions are among the most visible of these symptoms. The deep, unsatisfying itch that characterizes hot spots — often leading to constant licking — is a direct expression of this internal imbalance.
What the symptoms tell you:
If hot spots and localized itching are the primary concerns, the immune system is likely managing the yeast overgrowth to some degree — but not resolving it. This is the earlier stage, and it's the right time to intervene.
If the picture includes a wider range of symptoms — larger skin outbreaks, blackened skin, recurring ear infections, areas of elephant-like skin texture — this points to a more advanced, systemic yeast infection that requires a more comprehensive approach. See the Skin Rescue Kit for the full protocol.
What does diet have to do with dog hot spots?
Diet is one of the most significant contributing factors — and also one of the most actionable.
The vast majority of commercially available dog foods contain high-glycemic carbohydrates that feed yeast overgrowth. Beyond the carbohydrate content, many popular foods and treats also contain preservatives, artificial colorings, by-products, and low-quality ingredients that contribute to poor gut health over time.
Shifting to a quality, lower-glycemic food — with real protein sources and without the starchy fillers — reduces the dietary sugar load that keeps yeast thriving. The Nzymes Recommended Foods page is a good starting point for identifying appropriate options.
How do Nzymes products support a dog with hot spots?
A three-part approach addresses hot spots from the inside and the outside simultaneously.
Sprouted Granules or Antioxidant Treats — foundational immune and nutritional support.
Either product provides the live-food protein that acts as a nutritional resource enabling the body's own natural production of antioxidant enzymes. This foundational support benefits immune function and overall cellular performance — giving the body what it needs to address the internal yeast imbalance that's driving the hot spots.
Sprouted Granules are the more cost-effective option for larger dogs. The one-pound size lasts a dog over 60 pounds approximately three months, and twice as long for dogs under 60 pounds. Mixed directly into food daily.
Antioxidant Treats are an alternative — same foundational nutrition in a chewable tablet. For dogs over 60 pounds, the recommended protocol is four treats daily for the first two weeks, then two treats daily ongoing.
→ Sprouted Granules
→ Antioxidant Treats
Ox-E Drops — internal antimicrobial support.
Ox-E Drops are added to the daily diet to support the body's efforts against fungal yeast issues. Dosing: dispense drops into one teaspoon of water (one drop per 20 pounds of body weight, with a minimum of two drops) and add to the food bowl twice per day.
Mineral Mist — topical support for the hot spots themselves.
Mineral Mist is a ready-to-use 2% topical spray — colloidal silver, copper, and zinc in an ionized water base — applied directly to the hot spot areas. Apply three to four times daily to keep the affected areas moist and supported. Any other visible skin symptoms should receive the same treatment.
For those who prefer to make their own topical solution, Ox-E Drops can be diluted in distilled water at ten drops per ounce and applied the same way using a personal spray bottle.
If symptoms begin to spread or worsen despite this protocol, it indicates the yeast overgrowth is more advanced than initially apparent. In that case, the Skin Rescue Kit — the full systemic yeast protocol — is the appropriate next step.
Our Team is Available for Help:
Hot spots are uncomfortable for your dog and frustrating to deal with — especially when they keep coming back. If you'd like help identifying the right starting point for your dog's specific situation, the Nzymes team is available.
→ Sprouted Granules
→ Antioxidant Treats
→ Ox-E Drops
→ Mineral Mist
→ Recommended Foods
📞 877-816-6500 | Customer.Care@nzymes.com | Free consultation available
