What is acute moist dermatitis in Golden Retrievers?

Golden Retrievers, with their sunny smiles and gentle and friendly personalities, have become the warmest companions in countless families. They are full of energy, and wherever they go, they are filled with joy, adding countless beautiful moments to life. However, there is a disease - acute moist dermatitis, which is like a dangerous element hidden in the dark, quietly posing a serious threat to their health, causing many golden retriever owners to be full of worries. ​

Acute moist dermatitis, often referred to as "hotspots" in the industry, is more common in the golden retriever group. When you find that your golden retriever, which originally had smooth and shiny hair, suddenly has one or several abnormally red skin spots on its body, the surface is moist, and there is even exudate, and the surrounding hair becomes messy, tangled, and accompanied by shedding, this is very likely to mean that acute moist dermatitis has entangled it. These lesions will make golden retrievers feel extremely itchy, and they can't help but lick and scratch frequently to try to relieve the unbearable itching. But this behavior often makes the situation worse. Seeing the dog getting irritated and restless due to the itching, biting its skin constantly, the owner is full of heartache and anxiety. ​

The causes of acute moist dermatitis in golden retrievers are more complex and diverse. Skin trauma is a common starting factor. For example, when a dog is accidentally scratched by a sharp object or bitten by a mosquito during play, once the integrity of the skin is destroyed, bacteria will find a breakthrough, quickly invade and multiply in large numbers. Golden retrievers have thick hair, which adds to their charm, but in hot and humid environments, it becomes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Especially in the hot summer, the temperature remains high, or the living environment is poorly ventilated and too humid, which greatly increases the chance of illness. Allergy is also one of the important factors that induce acute moist dermatitis. Food allergies, contact allergies, etc. may cause the golden retriever's immune system to "misjudge", thereby causing skin inflammation. In addition, parasitic infection is also a cause that cannot be ignored. Parasites such as fleas and mites move freely on the skin of golden retrievers, which can also cause acute moist dermatitis. ​

Once you notice that your golden retriever has acute moist dermatitis, timely treatment is urgent. First of all, it is very important to clean the affected area. Use mild saline to gently rinse and carefully remove the exudate and scabs. The whole process must be gentle to avoid aggravating the dog's pain. After that, the veterinarian will generally prescribe antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics according to the severity of the condition to fight bacterial infection. For golden retrievers with particularly severe itching symptoms, special antipruritic drugs may be needed to help them relieve pain. During the treatment period, it is essential to wear an Elizabethan collar on the golden retriever to prevent them from exacerbating the condition due to excessive licking and scratching of the affected area. Looking at the dog's slightly cute and slightly aggrieved appearance when wearing the collar, the owner is full of reluctance, but this is also for its early recovery.​

However, compared with the treatment after the disease, preventing the occurrence of acute moist dermatitis is a more critical link. In daily care, it is extremely important to comb the hair of golden retrievers regularly. By combing, the hair can be kept clean and dry, effectively reducing the chance of bacterial growth. Especially in the hot summer, it is appropriate to trim the hair of golden retrievers to prevent their hair from being too thick, but also be careful not to trim it too short, because the hair has a certain protective effect on the skin. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the living environment of golden retrievers is clean and well ventilated, clean the doghouse regularly, and replace clean bedding in time. In terms of diet, it is necessary to carefully select high-quality and nutritionally balanced dog food, and try to avoid feeding foods that may cause allergies. In addition, regular external deworming to prevent parasite infestation is also an important part of prevention work. ​

Every golden retriever is an extremely precious member of the family. They give us unreserved love and companionship. As owners, we shoulder the great responsibility of protecting their health. We should have a deep understanding of the relevant knowledge about acute moist dermatitis, do a good job in prevention, and provide timely care and professional treatment when our dogs unfortunately become ill. Only in this way can our golden retriever friends always be healthy and happy, continue to use their warm smiles to illuminate every corner of our lives, and accompany us through a long and beautiful time.