Dog's hotspot, paw infection, furunculosis and horse's mud fever and skin infections
Typical Skin Infections in Dogs and Horses
Animals can develop a variety of skin infections. In dogs, common conditions include hotspots, paw infections, and yeast (Malassezia) infections, which can appear around the anus, lips, paws, and ears. In horses, typical skin problems include rain scald (dermatophilosis), mud fever, and various fungal infections.
Below are general guidelines for managing different skin infections, such as canine hotspots, paw infections, and equine rain scald or mud fever. Separate instructions for yeast infections in dogs and fungal infections in horses are provided further below.
For canine furunculosis, consult your veterinarian to determine the need for topical treatment. SOLHEDS Derma products are suitable for supporting local care and complementing medical treatment.
Many pathogens responsible for severe skin infections are anaerobic, meaning these microbes (e.g., bacteria) thrive in oxygen-free environments. Therefore, it is essential to avoid creating anaerobic conditions on the skin, such as from thick ointments or dense creams. Depending on the situation, carefully trimming hair from the affected area can help improve air circulation and healing.
If the skin inflammation is widespread, long-lasting or severe, the veterinarian should always assess the situation and the need for systemic antimicrobial treatment.
You can find more detailed instructions for mud fever here.
The instructions for SOLHEDS natural products in the aid of management of the common skin infections: hotspot, mud fever, paw inflammation...
Topical Care for Skin Infections in Dogs and Horses
Cleansing and Topical Treatment of Skin Infections
Start by wetting the affected area and rinsing away any loose debris. Gently cleanse the symptomatic areas with antiseptic Derma1 Skin Care Shampoo, leave it for 3–10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. The more severe the skin infection, the longer the recommended contact time.
For acute, single-occurrence infections, washing can be repeated daily for 1–2 weeks. In cases of chronic or recurrent infections, cleansing 2–3 times per week is generally recommended. For minor, superficial infections, a single wash may be sufficient, especially when combined with Derma5 Germ Fighting wound cream.
For moist, oozing skin infections or infections in skin folds, Derma13 Zinc Solution is appropriate. Always ensure the skin is thoroughly dried after washing, as moisture can prolong infection.
If washing is not feasible but the affected area can be kept clean, treatment may be limited to applying Derma5 Germ Fighting wound cream or Derma13 Zinc Solution alone.
Daily Topical Care
Apply Derma5 Germ Fighting wound cream to clean, dry, inflamed skin once or twice daily. For oozing infections, use Derma13 Zinc Solution. In mild infections, a simple wash with Derma1 Skin Care Shampoo may be sufficient. Always use a clean towel to dry the skin.
The more challenging the infection, the more intensive the treatment should be. Recurrent or persistent infections are often associated with allergic reactions. In such cases, Derma2 Calming Serum may be a better choice after shampooing with Derma1. The serum supports the regeneration of damaged skin and missing hair while strengthening the skin barrier and alleviating allergic itching.
Note that only a small amount of Derma1 Skin Care shampoo is needed — for example, just a few drops on wet dog paws are sufficient.
Antiseptic Cleansing and Antimicrobial application — the Most Effective Combination
An antiseptic wash with Derma1 Skin Care Shampoo combined with an antimicrobial ointment such as Derma5 Germ Fighting or Derma13 Zinc Solution generally provides the best results.
Grooming and Choosing the Right Topical Products
Trim hair from the affected area to allow air circulation and keep the skin dry. Avoid thick, greasy ointments (e.g., paraffin-, petroleum jelly-, or wax-based products), as they trap dirt and create anaerobic conditions favorable for pathogenic microbes.
Treatment of Yeast Infections in Dogs – Antiseptic Cleansing and Support for Skin Balance
Effective management of canine yeast infections relies on antiseptic cleansing and restoring the skin’s natural defense mechanisms. In dogs, yeast infections are often secondary skin infections resulting from a weakened skin barrier and reduced immunity. The most common underlying cause is allergy, which allows the Malassezia yeast to overgrow. Breeds with skin folds are particularly prone to yeast accumulation in these “fold” areas.
Identifying the causes and contributing factors with your veterinarian is essential to control the infection and determine whether additional medication is required. This is a critical component of long-term management and prevention of recurring yeast infections.
Antiseptic Cleansing for Canine Yeast Infections
An antiseptic wash with Derma1 Skin Care shampoo helps reduce yeast overgrowth in dogs, soothes irritated skin, and supports the skin’s natural pH balance. The shampoo relieves itching without drying the skin, which is vital for dogs suffering from yeast-related skin issues. Derma1 shampoo also moisturizes the skin and cools inflamed areas, improving your dog’s comfort and supporting the healing of affected skin.
Instructions:
Wet the affected skin area.
Massage Derma1 Skin Care shampoo gently into the skin.
Leave on for 5–10 minutes, depending on the severity of the infection.
Rinse thoroughly.
Dry the skin completely to prevent moisture from promoting yeast growth.
The frequency of washing depends on the severity of the infection. Regular antiseptic cleansing is a fundamental part of managing canine yeast infections.
Dog Ear Yeast Infection – Effective Cleaning and Care for Canine Ear Health
For yeast infections in the ears, Derma8 Ear Cleaner SENSITIVE is suitable as part of both cleansing and medical treatment. It relieves itching, supports the ear’s protective barrier, reduces yeast growth, and thoroughly cleans the ears. Derma8 Ear Cleaner is well-tolerated even by dogs with sensitive skin, making it an excellent option for regular ear cleaning in dogs prone to yeast infections, including those with allergies.
Equine Fungal Infections (Ringworm) – Symptoms, Contagion, and Treatment
Equine fungal infections, caused by dermatophytes, are commonly known as ringworm or equine dermatophytosis. Common fungal pathogens include Trichophyton equinum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Moisture and skin damage increase the risk of developing a fungal infection in horses.
In some cases, the infection may resolve on its own. However, because fungal infections are highly contagious between horses and can spread extensively, treatment is recommended to prevent transmission. It is also important to note that ringworm is a zoonotic infection, meaning it can spread to humans—always wash and disinfect your hands after handling an affected horse.
Antiseptic Washing for Equine Fungal Infections
The antiseptic Derma1 Skin Care Shampoo is effective against most fungi that cause ringworm in horses. Wet the affected area, massage Derma1 Skin care shampoo into the skin, and leave it on for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Continue treatment daily for one week to control fungal growth effectively.
After washing treatments, it is advisable to isolate the affected horse from others for 2–3 weeks, as the risk of contagion persists even after treatment. Once the fungal infection has subsided, the skin can be supported in healing and hair regrowth by using Derma2 Calming Serum. Always dry the skin thoroughly after each wash, as damp skin creates ideal conditions for fungal growth.
Stable Hygiene to Prevent Recurrence of Fungal Infections
Good stable hygiene and thorough cleaning of the environment are essential for preventing equine fungal infections. Disinfect all horse equipment, including brushes, saddle pads, bandages, blankets, and any items that could transmit the fungus. Proper hygiene helps prevent transmission both between horses and from horses to humans.
Mare’s inflamed tailroot during heat
As the day length increases, mares start going to heat after winter. For some of the mares, the first heats of the season cause skin inflammation. The inflammation is under the tailroot against bottom. Wet the inflamed skin and wash it with Derma1 skin care shampoo. Leave it on for approx. 3-5 minutes. Rinse the inflamed skin and the entire anus carefully. Dry the area and apply Derma13 Zinc Solution cream to the inflamed skin. Continue the treatment until the inflammation is over.
HOW TO IDENTIFY SKIN INFECTIONS AND SYMPTOMS IN DOGS, CATS AND HORSES
Typical symptom of skin infections is red, warm and itchy skin. Wide variety of microbes can cause skin infection. These microbes can be bacteria, virus, yeast, fungus or mold. Even parasites can be causative agents in skin infections. Infection caused by microbes is managed with antimicrobic treatment. Different antimicrobic substances are effective for different microbes. To identify the correct antimicrobic substance, we recommend taking a sample from the infection site to be cultivated for diagnostic use. The information on antibiotic specificity helps to choose effective product for the infection. The treatment can be local/topical and/or systemic. An example of systemic treatment as an oral antimicrobic treatment is antibiotics or sulfa.
Povidone iodine, hexetidine, miconazole nitrate and chlorhexetidine are typical synthetic antimicrobic compounds, which destroy wide range of various microbes. There are shampoos and lotions based on these compounds. These compounds can cause skin irritation. Many natural compounds e.g. pure essential oils: lavender, mint, lemongrass, thyme, oregano and many others have antimicrobic properties.
Early diagnosis leads to better treatment outcome. Early diagnosed infections can often be treated at home with topical treatment. The aim of the topical treatment is to clear the area of infection (disinfect). Treatment consists of washing the area off from microbes and applying antimicrobic lotion.
The frequency of the treatment is dependent of the severity and the grade of the infection. How successful this treatment is depends on the effectiveness of the compound on the causative, infective microbe. Some microbe strains are resistant to common antimicrobic compounds. Antimicrobic treatment should not be interrupted too early, as it could worsen the infection and make the microbes resistant to antimicrobic treatment.Mixing or using various products only few days to treat the infection can have similar effect. Thick and greasy products should be avoided as they accumulate dirt on the infection.
TYPICAL SKIN INFECTION CHALLENGES IN DOGS AND HORSES
Every infection is it’s own independent disease , even though they can look alike. Typical skin infection in horses is mud fever and in dogs paw infections and hotspots. In spite of the same disease name, the various animals can require different treatment for their hotspot/mud fever infection, depending on the causative microbe.
The infection can invade deeper skin layers, which can be seen as secretion of pus. These infections are usually very painful to the animals. Supportive local treatment can be applied in deeper infections of furunculosis ( “paw infection”) and hotspots. Horses’ mud fever if not treated, can invade the deeper skin layers. Shaving off the hair has been considered helpful in these deeper infections. If the skin infection is wide spread or intensive, the veterinarian will always need to evaluate the need for systemic antimicrobic medication. Localised infections can be treated locally unless they turn into a systematic infection. Localised treatment cannot effectively treat an area it does not reach.
Skin infections can become chronic problem. Local symptoms are treated locally and systemic systemically. Underlying allergy is often found in chronic skin infection, which exposes animal to infections. Thus possible allergy should be investigated and treated properly. The problem in animal’s chronic infections is the continuity. The successful treatment of the animal’s infection requires commitment of the care giver to the daily treatment till the infection is cured. Cats and dogs are usually easier to care for as they usually live in the same household than the caregiver. Horse owners will often need to arrange more care givers in order to provide daily treatment.
Veterinarian is the best person to analyse the comprehensive clinical situation and define the right treatment.
PRINT PDF INSTRUCTIONS:
A dog’s hotspot, an acute skin infection, is treated by cleaning the affected area and using antimicrobial care products. Applying antimicrobic cream is the main form of treatment, but the skin can also be washed with an antiseptic shampoo if needed to enhance healing.
Trim the hair around the affected area.
Wash the area with Derma1 Skin Care Antiseptic Shampoo.
Apply Derma5 Germ Fighting wound cream or spray Derma6 Wound Oil on clean, dry skin.
If the infection is widespread or worsens, contact a veterinarian.
Hotspots usually develop when the skin becomes irritated and moisture gets trapped in the fur, keeping the skin wet. Risk factors include:
Wet fur after swimming or excessive licking.
Damaged skin, such as cuts, scratches, or bites.
Dog yeast infections are treated with local antiseptic washes.
Wash the affected area with Derma1 Skin Care antiseptic shampoo, suitable for treating yeast infections.
The shampoo is gentle but effective in controlling yeast overgrowth.
If the infection does not improve, contact a veterinarian.
Yeast infection on a dog’s skin usually appears as redness and itching, and the dog may scratch or lick the affected areas.
Yeast infection can also be recognized by a sweet, yeast-like odor.
Common locations include paws, ears, skin folds, corners of the mouth, and the anal area.
A dog’s paw infection is treated by keeping the area clean and using antimicrobial products. Applying balm is the main treatment, but washing with an antiseptic shampoo can enhance healing if needed.
Trim hair around the affected area if necessary.
Wash the area with Derma1 Skin Care Antiseptic Shampoo.
Apply Derma5 Germ Fighting Wound Cream or spray Derma6 Wound Oil on clean, dry skin.
If the infection is widespread or worsens, contact a veterinarian.
It is often due to skin issues between the toes and paw pads.
Sensitive skin in this area is prone to infections.
Typical location where allergy symptoms appear.
Treatment and prevention: Wash the area gently with Derma1 Skin Care shampoo if needed, and support the skin’s natural defense with Derma2 Calming Serum or Derma11 Anti-itch spray, which are suitable for these skin problems and help reduce itching.
A common horse fungal infection is ringworm, forming circular, hairless patches on the skin.
Derma1 Skin Care antiseptic shampoo is effective against most fungi causing infections in horses.
Wet the affected area, massage the shampoo into the skin, and let it sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Repeat treatment daily for one week to control fungal growth.