Listerine, Pet Care?

Hot spots, also known as Summer Sores or Moist Eczema, can seemingly appear spontaneously anywhere on a dog’s body and the area involved can spread… real rapidly.  This case has a variety of causes. What is sure is that it will be home to bacteria and will be somewhat difficult to treat.  Most kinds of bacteria can be cultured from a hot spot. Fortunately most respond to oral and topical antibiotics. These sores create the environment for bacterial contamination of the skin so be careful and remove those hair tangles that often happen to hairy dogs. Moisture can come right after a bath, wet grass, from swimming or being out in the rain,

In essence we have to treat the sores and kill the germs, bacteria and other stuff in them. My yorkie had a sore and it went bad so I got it to the vet. Since she was that hairy, I did not see the gravity of the infection.

The Vet saw two, then three and then more. I had been out over that weekend on a business trip and I suppose my housemates did not see any of the hot spots that flared up

Something new I picked up from the Vet recently about pet care. She did say we had to place some form of antiseptic on the skin. She got some Listerine and started dabbing it on the sores with a piece of cotton. I was surprised and couldn’t believe what she was doing.

Well, she said that Listerine is an Oral antiseptic and it kills bacteria and germs in the mouth. It has the same chemicals that they use to treat these types of sores. I asked her of there were side effects like burns or whatever. She said the only thing I have to be worried about is the dog smelling better than my breath.

After the treatment, she placed a cream type skin antibiotic on the wounds and sores and then told me to repeat the procedure 3 times a day. He also told me to comb the hair everyday or get it trimmed in summertime.

“Oh well” I thought to myself, and I went home and followed instructions. After about two days, I saw the sores had dried up and within a few weeks the hair had started growing back.

It worked. No side effects, the dog did smell like it brushed its teeth. I added (well, my vet taught me) another weapon in my arsenal. Another addition to my pet care regimen for hairy dogs; Wash and DRY well, Comb the dog’s hair to remove tangles and excess and Listerine for those ugly and unhealthy sores.