Lab has what looks to be hot spot where e-collar sits.

[Spuddieselwwu]

Got home from hunting last sunday and notice my dogs fur was all clumped where the e-collar sat.  I pet her and tried to clean it out  - i just thought she rolled in something sticky.  Didn't notice much until last night, I was down on the ground rough housing a bit w/ her and looked a bit closer - it looked like sores had developed.  Almost like a rash to the skin.

I googled - found that it looked like hot spots.  So I cut the fur around the area in hopes to dry it.  It seemed dry already, and *censored*d it with antiseptic.  Thankfully it's on her neck, so she can't lick it, she's not pawing it, it's not sensitive to the touch... I literally wouldn't know it's there unless i didn't feel the fur clumped together.   

Anyone experience this before? Ideally I'd like to avoid a vet trip and see if I can get it to heal on its own.  I'm not hunting her this weekend now, and keeping her inside and out of water and monitoring it closely.  What do you guys think?

[Spuddieselwwu]

Apparently the word "d-o-u-c-h-e-d" isn't acceptable on hunt-wa.

[Happy Gilmore]

most of the time it's from having the collar on in wet conditions for long periods of time. Trim down the hair around it and keep it dry. DO NOT use ointments or creams it will prolong healing process. Avoid anything like bag balm or petroleum based jelly products. I've found the best thing you can use to dry them quickly is colorless iodine. You can get it at any drug store/grocery store. It only stings for a minute 

For the future, take off the collar and dry your dog off before putting them up, keep the collar TIGHT while it's wearing it. 90% of people I see in the field don't have the collars very tight. Using shorter contacts also helps.

[Spuddieselwwu]

Thanks for the info! I will discontinue using the antiseptic, and switch to the iodine.

[HighCountryKing]

I've came across that same problem. Try making the collar a little tighter, just so you can slip a finger between the contact point an the skin. Blue coat is a really good thing to spray on wounds. It will help it not get infected, its cheap, an you should be able to get it at a feed store.

[ghosthunter]

My old dog would get chaffed by the collar. I left it off until I was set up to hunt.
That helped not having it on running out to where we hunt.

Vetericyn cleared it up real quick