Why are my dog's elbows losing hair and becoming dry and callused?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The first picture is hard to make out. The 2nd looks like a callus on the ankle. The last picture is normal in dogs and is the elbow callus. If Zenalda is not scratching and isn't missing hair elsewhere, it is normal to have thick hairless skin at pressure points. Is she starts losing hair elsewhere I would have her checked for either a skin infection, ring worm or mites. Hope this helps!

Hello, and thank you for your question. Large breed dogs commonly develop calluses on their elbows as they age. It may be that you are seeing the formation of these calluses. However, if he is scratching or licking at the elbows, or if you are noticing redness or discharge in the area, then it may be an infection that warrants a vet visit and medication. If it is only dry and flaky and Rosco is unbothered, you can try applying a barrier cream such as vaseline to protect the area from trauma, and also provide him with plenty of soft bedding to rest his elbows on when he is sleeping. This may help to prevent trauma to the elbows as they gradually form a callus. I hope this helps, and that Rosco is well!

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 a callus that has formed at a pressure point. This is very common in the elbow. This actually does not need any therapy per se. However, one way to try to prevent it from getting any worse would be making sure to have a dog bed and well padded surfaces throughout the house as this forms from laying on hard surfaces. These only need treatment if they are severe and become infected which is not the case with Oliver. I hope you find this information helpful. Good luck and have a great day!

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly allergies. The alopecic lesions are calluses which occur due to pressure on the bone ends. This can improve by adding more padding where she normally rests on. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like a pressure sore. Some dogs develop this dry, thickened skin around the 'bony' part of the legs. It usually happens to bigger dogs that often lie on hard surfaces. Please, try to use olive oil or a thick cream on the changes twice a day for 3-4 weeks. if it doesn't help, you will have to take Kovu to your local vets for an appointment.