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What Animals Teach Us About Enough

Sometimes, when I’m walking through the pasture in the late afternoon, I notice how still everything gets. The goats settle into patches of sunlight. The alpacas stare out over the field like quiet philosophers. The ducks nap together in a soft, feathered heap by the water pools. And the barn cats—always the experts in comfort—drape themselves over whatever warm surface they can find: hay bales, fence posts, sometimes even the hood of the tractor if it’s been sitting in the sun. Every animal has its own way of declaring, I have enough . Our trio of old lady goats—Stumpy, Lumpy, and Grumpy—are especially good at this. On cold mornings, they wait patiently for the first bit of sunlight to touch the barn wall, and then they shuffle toward it, positioning themselves just right to soak in the warmth. No fuss, no schedule, no guilt about not being productive. They simply stand in the sun and exist. Bucket and Sprocket like the dog beds and old couches we left out for them; the youngest goats...
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Blueberry vs. Hotspots on Dogs: What We Learned This Summer

It’s been a hot, humid summer here, and like the rest of us, our Great Pyrenees, Blueberry, has been dragging himself through the sticky weather. Usually he’s happy to flop in front of the fan like a giant rug, but this year he ended up with something much less fun: two hotspots.

One cropped up on his face, the other in his groin. At first, they didn’t look like much — just little irritated patches. But within a day, they grew red, raw, and inflamed. That’s the thing about hotspots on dogs: they can develop fast and get serious if you don’t act quickly.

What Are Hotspots on Dogs?

Hotspots, officially called acute moist dermatitis, are patches of irritated, infected skin. They’re often triggered by heat and moisture (hello, humid summer), but can also come from allergies, insect bites, or even a tiny scratch that your dog can’t leave alone.

When dogs lick, bite, or scratch at the spot, the skin breaks down further. Bacteria move in, and the infection spreads. Thick-coated breeds like Blueberry are especially prone to them because their fur traps heat and dampness against the skin.

a large great pyrenees dog wearing a donut for a hotspot on a dog
Blueberry with his rainbow donut
How We Treated Blueberry’s Hotspots

At the vet’s office, they shaved the fur around both hotspots to expose the full area. This prevented his fur from trapping additional moisture and bacteria. Then we were sent home with:

  • A drying solution to clean the spots and slow bacterial growth
  • Antibiotics to help heal the infection from the inside out
  • A big, puffy donut collar so Blueberry couldn’t scratch the sore on his face

The donut wasn’t his favorite fashion accessory, but it kept him from making things worse, and it was a lot better than a cone. Within a few days, the redness started to fade, and he was back to his usual self — happily hogging the fan again. And it didn't take long for his fur to grow back either!

(Here's the rainbow donut if you want one for your pup! Worked great. *Amazon Associates link!)

What You Can Do at Home

If you notice a hotspot on your dog, here are a few things you can do while you’re arranging a vet visit:

  • Trim the fur around the spot to keep it clean and dry.
  • Clean gently with a mild antiseptic solution.
  • Stop the licking and scratching — use a cone, donut, or even a t-shirt.
  • Keep it dry — moisture is the enemy.

Always Call Your Vet for Hotspots on Dogs

Even if you try home care, it’s best to have your vet check any hotspot. They can spread fast, and most dogs need antibiotics to fully recover.

Blueberry’s case was a reminder that sometimes, even with the best at-home care, professional treatment makes all the difference. If your pup ever develops hotspots, don’t wait — get them the help they need so they can get back to being their happy, comfortable selves.

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