Why does my dog have blackhead-like spots on her elbow callus?

Hello, sorry to hear about Butters. I think those are his elbows?? If so, this can be the early development of a callus, commonly seen in dogs as they age because of the pressure point at the skin of the elbow that is created especially when dogs are laying down. Alternatively, this could be comedones that can be seen with skin allergies or local skin irritation. If Butters does not seem to be bothered by them, is not licking them, scratching, or lozing hair then you can monitor the area for any of those signs. If he is showing signs, then he could be having allergies and you should consider having your veterinarian examine the areas to see if he needs to be further evaluated for allergies and determine if he needs to be treated for these. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to see well on these pictures but these look like calluses at the elbow. These are just basically the result of pressure on bony protuberances like the elbow. These are very common in large breed dogs like Labrador Retrievers. You can add more bedding for her to lay down. Otherwise, if no discharge or inflammation occur, it is ok to just monitor this. Good luck and have a good day!

Hello, elbow & hock calluses, or hygromas, are common on most large breed dogs, regardless if they spend their time on a couch or concrete. There is very little muscle under the skin in these areas, so the skin is easily damaged. Often with time, the skin toughens up & no longer become easily damaged. In the meantime, Koba may need antibiotics, or gentle cleansing of the area with an antibacterial wipe, such as Hibiclens. Then talk to your vet about the use of additional padding, or protective braces for his elbows. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Based on your pictures, it does look like Boo has developed an elbow callus. These happen when there is too much pressure when lying on a hard surface. Try to encourage Boo to rest on more padded surfaces, but generally require little more to treat. But I do recommend letting your veterinarian take a look at Boo's elbow at your earliest convenience just in case something else is amiss that would only become apparent after a hands on examination. Hopefully, all will be well with her & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is not uncommon for larger breeds to develop elbow callouses. Monitor for any licking or chewing of the spots. An e-collar (cone) can be used if necessary to stop licking. Provide a padded bed or beds for him to lay down. Consider adding an essential fatty acid supplement, such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps, to his diet. These may promote healthy skin and coat.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely just a callus which happens commonly at the elbow joint given it is a pressure point due to the presence of a bone in that region. I would not be too concerned about this. However, if you ever notice any discharge or open wound in this region, have him evaluated by a veterinarian as that can be an infection. Best of luck!

This is a developing elbow callus. Large dogs often develop these because they flop down on hard surfaces and the irritation causes a callus to develop. To prevent this from getting bigger I recommend having many soft beds available where Bruno likes to lay so he doesn’t keep irritating the area. In very large breed dogs elbow calluses can be a normal development from the amount of weight put on the elbow when they lay down. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care Bruno.