Did my dog have a hot spot or 2?

One day about 2 weeks ago we noticed a pink bump on Loki's head, it was about 1/4 inch wide, and about 3/16 tall. As it healed, and went down, it is now white, but would swell up again for the first week. There is no hair in it now. We thought at first it may have been a bee sting or something.

Now he has 2 small bald spots, both >1/4 inch wide on the top of his head, about 1 inch apart. Only really noticeable if you look from behind and know they are there really. I have heard these 'hot spots' mentioned but have no idea what they are.

Any ideas what went on here?

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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on August 23, 2009 at 9:19am

A hot spot is an area where the dog chew over and over, it could be anything from food allergy to just hair matted together. Usually a hot spots are covered in dry or fresh blood, if it's gets really bad my prefer solution is get a pair of scissors and cut the hair surround that spot, yes it is going to look ugly, but it gives the area a chance to air out and heal on it's own, monitor your dog and remind him not to lick that area, you can buy store bought itching relief spray, give it a few weeks and the blood will become scap and it'll fall off on its own, it'll take sometime for the hair to grow back.

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Permalink Reply by Kyle, Megan and Loki on August 23, 2009 at 4:56pm

Alright, these did not bleed, nor did he scratch them much at all.

If they were say a sting or bite of some sort would the hair also fall out? One of them is about 1/2 grown back and not visible, the other is not, yet.

Thanks Sam.