Dog Hot Spots

Princess Lulu had a small (5 cent piece size) hot spot appear on the side of her face under her ear.







She had one of these a couple of years back in a similar position.

Last time I used some spot treatment stuff that ended up making her vomit, shes only little being a toy poodle, so this time around I wanted to take a more natural approach.

I did some research on what the spot things are & what people use to treatment them (got to love the net).

The problem with these spots is that they can double overnight & can be very uncomfortable for the dog if not treated.

We are lucky that Lulu is such a smoochy dog that we notice everything!

So we need to dry this spot out (no creams).....

I read that Witch Hazel has been used.

Which Who?

It looks like this - you can get it from Coles for about $4.00 (in the cleansing section).

More info on this product at the end of the post.







We have been putting it on her 3 times a day since Friday and it's almost gone!







Some info from Discovery Health:

Despite its name, there is nothing to fear from this low-growing shrub, although its healing properties may seem a little like witchcraft. Actually, witch hazel may have gotten its name from its association with dowsing, which was once thought to be a form of witchcraft.

Witch hazel's branches were once the wood of choice for dowsing rods, whose purpose was to locate water, or "witch" a well. Although witch hazel was once used to find hydration, it is now used as an herbal remedy to dry and cleanse skin.

Witch hazel contains resin, and flavonoids, which help it work
as a soothing, anti-inflammatory agent that can help relieve hemorrhoid pain.

Uses for Witch Hazel

The bark, leaves, and twigs of witch hazel are all high in tannins, giving this plant astringent properties. Astringents are substances that can dry, tighten, and harden tissues. You may use an astringent on your skin to tighten pores and remove excess oil.

A styptic pencil is a type of astringent, too, for astringents also stop discharges. The astringent tannins in witch hazel temporarily tighten and soothe aching varicose veins or reduce inflammation in cases of phlebitis (an inflammation of a vein). Witch hazel also contains procyanadins, resin, and flavonoids, all of which add to its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. A cloth soaked in strong witch hazel tea reduces swelling and can relieve the pain of hemorrhoids and bruises.

Almost all pharmacies carry some type of witch hazel preparation in the form of lotions, hemorrhoidal pads, and suppositories. Besides their use topically for hemorrhoids and veins, witch hazel lotions are useful on rough, swollen, gardener's or carpenter's hands. You can also use witch hazel internally to treat varicose veins, hemorrhoids, or a prolapsed uterus, although not the witch hazel/isopropyl alcohol preparation frequently found in drug stores.

Its ability to shrink swollen tissue makes witch hazel appropriate to treat laryngitis as well. And a throat gargle of witch hazel, myrrh, and cloves reduces the pain of an uncomfortable sore throat. Again, use fresh tea or tincture, not the drugstore witch hazel, which contains isopropyl alcohol. You can rinse your mouth with witch hazel and myrrh for cases of swollen and infected gums. Place a dropper full of tincture of each herb in 1/4 cup of water and use as a mouth rinse. A teaspoon of strong witch hazel tea combined with one drop each of myrrh and clove oil makes a pain- and inflammation-relieving gum rub for use in teething babies.

A cotton swab dipped in a witch hazel, goldenseal, and calendula tea and applied to the outer ear is useful in treating swimmer's ear. Swimmer's ear is associated typically with pus and moisture in the outer ear canal. Witch hazel helps dry up the secretions, while goldenseal and calendula fight infection.

- Posted by Jazz's iPhone