My dog has dark spots on her legs. Are they calluses? Should I worry?

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.

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From your pictures the area appears to be a normal elbow callus. If Samantha lays on mostly hard surfaces that could explain why hers are more pronounced. But the fact they are on both sides and look the same indicates they are likely normal for her. I hope this helps and have a good rest of the day!

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!

That looks like the beginning of a callus on her elbow. Most dogs develop these on their joints like elbows and hock as they age from the pressure of lying down on them. As long as the skin continues to look healthy I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Elbow calluses are quite common due to the pressure on elbows when dogs lay on hard surfaces. It is possible that Maya has developed lesions called comedones on these calluses. These lesions can indicate a bacterial infection, mites, underlying endocrine disease (such as Cushing's disease, but unlikely given Maya's young age), among others. Continue monitoring these lesions for changes, discharge, irritation, or licking. While this does not sound like an urgent condition, Maya's vet should examine these lesions within the next week or so to determine if further diagnostics or treatment is indicated.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. The spots you are seeing on the bottom of the feet could be secondary to callus formation or previous blister formation from friction or heat when running or coming in contact with hot surfaces. If she goes hiking a lot and walks through gravel, sometimes callus formation can cause these spots to show up. There are pad diseases that will cause discoloration of the pad, however this does not look concerning to me at this point in time. If the feet become swollen or you notice any wounds in between the toes that I would bring this to the attention of a veterinarian and have it examined. Further testing can be performed on this such as obtaining a biopsy of the paw pad. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I'm also available via consultation if needed