Acute Moist Dermatitis is often called “Hot Spots.” This condition causes a very painful, inflamed area of skin, usually with a bad discharge and odor. It is thought to be an allergic reaction to a bacterial skin infection. Lesions often spread Rapidly to surrounding skin.

Underlying causes of this condition often involve flea bites, inflamed anal glands, ear infection, clipper burn during grooming or other injuries to the skin. Usually something starts a pet licking or scratching at an area, which becomes raw and inflamed, then infected, and then more inflamed due to the infection. The infection is by bacteria found on the normal hair. Normal, healthy skin is usually very resistant to bacterial infection until the skin is somehow damaged.