These calluses usually occur on the elbows, outer sides of the hocks, hips and legs. The skin will thicken and become gray, wrinkled and the dog will lose all hair in the affected area. The best prevention against calluses is to provide the dog with a soft, padded bed area. Hot spots are usually seen in dogs that have heavy, dense coats like the Collie, Samoyed, German Shepherd and so on. They can appear in others but the heavy coat actually aids in worsening of the problem.
Hot spots seem to appear overnight and without warning.
They worsen quickly as the dog licks and chews at the skin to find relief from the pain caused by the moist, swollen, foul smelling area. Treatment should include clipping or shaving the area as well as a portion of the unaffected area around the hot spot, cleaning and medicating as soon as the symptoms appear. Owners need to use caution if they attempt treatment on their own. Hot spots are extremely painful and even the best natured dog may attempt to bite during the clipping and cleansing process. Hypothyroidism is the cause of many of the skin problems seen by veterinarians.