Have you noticed that your dog has infected sores on their skin? If so, there's a good chance that they have "hot spots." Hot spots, otherwise known as flea allergy dermatitis, is a skin disease (dermatitis) caused by a dog's allergic reaction to fleas.

If your pet has hot spots, he or she will have itchy, inflamed skin that is hot, red and itchy. In many cases, the dog's skin begins to emit a foul odor because yeast and bacteria grow when a dog has unhealthy, inflamed skin.

When your dog scratches, this scratching allows the bacteria to rub deep into their skin, ultimately leading to hot spots. A hot spot is simply an infected sore. When a dog has flea allergy dermatitis, their skin is so sensitive that they can develop hot spots, even if they're only bitten by fleas twice a month while visiting the dog park or when walking on a neighbor's lawn.

What's happening is when your pet is bitten, they are having an allergic reaction to the fleas' saliva, feces and exoskeleton. Here are some important things to remember:

• The #1 cause of seasonal allergies is fleas.
• Just being bitten by fleas twice a month is enough for a dog (or cat) to experience continual hot spots.

Are hot spots common in dogs?

Hot spots are common in dogs, but they are also common in cats. About one in five veterinarian visits are for skin problems, and hot spots are frequent causes of these visits. While year-round itching is caused by food allergies, fleas are responsible for more cases of dermatitis than any other insect.

Any dog or cat can develop allergies to fleas, but some dog breeds have a genetic inclination to develop skin allergies, including: Golden Retrievers, Boston Terriers, Dalmatians, English Bulldogs, English Setters, Irish Setters, Lhasa Apsos, Pugs, Miniature Schnauzers, and many terriers.

If you think that your pet has hot spots, contact a veterinarian near you!