Hot spots...

I know a lot of people swear by Gold Bond Powder to help hot spots. 

Hot spots spread mostly because the dog chews on them.  Use some gold bond powder and perhaps some aloe or something to soothe the spot.  Stay away from creams and what not as that aids in wetness and only encourages the dog to chew.  Make sure it stays dry, and if you must, put a t-shirt on your dog.
 
Strauss has a rather large hot spot himself at present.  Took him to the vet, and a butt shave and $111.98 later he's on Prednisone, Cephalexin, and has some Chlorhexadine to keep the spot dry.
 
He also wears a t-shirt to bed so he can't chew the spot while I'm sleeping.

KayCee and Hunter had them often their firs couple of years--Golden Retrievew are also very prone to them--and i would take them to my vet and he would shave the area and clean with peroxide.  He told me to stop wasting my money.   Do the clipping and cleaning myself and if i had a cone, have them wear it a coule of days and continue to clean the place with peroxide.  IF after a cojple days there was not improvement, bring then and they would get the 'itchy shot" and if need be, put on antibiotics--the same one you mentioned had been given a couple of times when the spots got big over night. 
Hunter didn't have any his last two years (he was only 4 when ProHeart6 killed him) and KayCee hasn't been to the vet for treatment after I learned about the gold bond powder on a golden forum a couple of years ago.

I clip, clean with peroxide, let the area dry and sprinkle with gold bond powder, yet the foot athlte foot kind.  I do this 2-5 times a day==add the gold bond.  i only clean with peroxide several times ie if they get the area full of sand, etc while outside.   And I do usually got the old route for 2 days.  KayCee is allergic to fleas, live oak pollen and bermuda grass that we are sure off.  She gets her spots in fall and spring, but hasn't had one since last srping, none this fall so far, knock on wood.
 
EDITED  It has been my experince that when the spots start out back by the tail or under the arms, it was from flea bites.  One the neck, face, etc, was when the live oak pollen was flying or the bermuda grass just greening up.  I don't think there is anyway you can prevent them.

Thanks guys. I got some Gold Bond and it seems to have dried it up overnight. Right now it's pretty black and gross looking, but it's totally dry and doesn't seem to be bothering him anymore, so that's good. I've got him wearing an old pair of shorts anyway just to keep him from picking at it. []

Make sure you are pulling ALL old dead coat out with thorough daily grooming...esp if he's shedding and also make sure ANY wet areas are dried thoroughly with a force air dryer. Wetness or shedding...even wetness from a dog licking or biting can cause a hot spot in no time (esp base of the tail where it curls over as air circulation is poor there). Akitas can stay wet for DAYS and feel dry on the top.
 
If he continues to get them definitely look into thyroid issues...I think you said you had a panel done? Make sure it was a full one send to Dr Dodds [] Make sure you are not giving anything with soy in it as they're sensitive to that. You might consider adding kelp as a supplement if you've not done so already...or some type of fish oil.

[font="trebuchet ms"][color=#cc0000]Wetness or shedding...even wetness from a dog licking or biting can cause a hot spot in no time (esp base of the tail where it curls over as air circulation is poor there). Akitas can stay wet for DAYS and feel dry on the top.

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Oooh, I didn't even think of that! I'm betting that's what caused it...I gave him a bath on Friday because he got into some cat poop and had a good roll. [:'(] He is *terrified* of the blow dryer so I didn't dry him completely, just towel dried him and sent him on his way. I can definitely see how he could stay wet for a while with that wooly undercoat. I'll start introducing him and getting him accustomed to the blow dryer so that I can dry him properly next time I need to bathe him.
 
I've got a good slicker brush that I've been brushing him daily with, so I should be getting rid of all of the dead hair.
 
Nope, I haven't had a panel done on him...the thyroid panel I mentioned was in reference to my bulldog. [] But, if he continues to get them, I'll definitely have one done. He's not getting any soy in his diet at all- the little bit of kibble he gets is soy free and the rest of his diet is raw. The supplement I give him also includes kelp among other things, so he's getting a daily dose of that too. []

Awesome [sm=wink2.gif]
 
It is actually a saying/standard in Japan that PROPER Akita coat will take 3 days to dry. So...tho the American dogs don't typically carry AS MUCH coat they do take a long time. I know most folks swear by the K9II dryer for speed of dry, but that costs THE EARTH! Others have the Metro Air Force...
 
My boy long ago used to get them because the doofus loved to sit out IN the rain, all I had back then was a hair dryer and I think it took an hour JUST to do his legs where the hair's THINNEST! [8|]

Ugh I can see that I'm going to HAVE to get a good dryer for him eventually. His coat is like sheep's wool. I'm pretty sure my poor hair dryer isn't up to the task. [8|]  Thanks for the suggestions![]