My dog has a hot spot — what should I do tonight?
Hot spots (acute moist dermatitis) spread fast if left wet and licked. Keep it dry, keep it covered, and block the tongue.
Tell crittr what's happening
What to watch for
- Spreading redness past the original patch in 24 hours
- Yellow pus, thick crust, or fever (systemic infection)
- Hot spot on the ear flap — usually needs an oral antibiotic
Common questions
Is this actually an emergency?
Most of the time, no — this category is usually safe to manage at home with monitoring. That said, every critter is different. Run your specifics through the chat above for a read on your pet, not the average.
What symptoms should I watch for?
Three signs worth watching in the next 24–48 hours: Spreading redness past the original patch in 24 hours; Yellow pus, thick crust, or fever (systemic infection); Hot spot on the ear flap — usually needs an oral antibiotic. If any of them show up or get worse, move up one tier (home → vet, vet → ER).
Do I need to pay for a vet visit just to ask?
No. Our triage chat is free — it'll tell you whether a vet visit is actually warranted before you spend anything. If you do need a licensed vet, we connect you to one via Vetster or AirVet in minutes, from your phone.
Can crittr fill a prescription for this?
If a licensed vet prescribes meds during or after triage, yes — Rx orders are routed through our licensed pharmacy partner (Chewy Pharmacy). You can also browse our OTC picks directly; we only stock items our vet advisors actually recommend.