My dog's elbow hygroma: What are non-surgical options beyond braces?

Yes, this looks like a hygroma. In addition to having him lay on a soft bed I recommend getting dogleggs elbow protectors. You can have him wear them until the hygroma resolves and his elbow forms a callus. It will protect the other elbow also. If Rocky is like most dogs he will continue to lay on hard surfaces even if you have beds available. The elbow protection will reduce the chances of the hygroma getting infected or bigger. Dogleggs.com., they are a great company and have the best elbow protection available. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Rocky.

Hygromas never go away on their own; even with surgery they often don't heal well. It is best to leave them alone. I don't know why the hygroma got hard after the injection. I assume his body is having a reaction. If you want to have it removed then the vet must surgically remove the hygroma. You will need to put padding down (soft bedding) so he doesn't continue to lay on hard surfaces. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/hygroma-in-dogs )

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. Louie is very young to develop any masses, but it is possible. It is also possible that he injured the joint & this is joint fluid collecting under the skin. The most likely possibility is this is a hygroma. What has probably happened is Louie was resting on a fairly hard surface & the pressure of his weight has created tissue damage over the elbow bones. A fluid pocket forms as the body tries to produce its own cushioning. I do encourage you to have your veterinarian examine this, but do change his bedding to something much softer & pliant, as the hygroma may simply begin to resolve on its own over the next 2-3 weeks. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for your question. A swelling like this could be a couple of things. If Blue does not appear painful and is not limping, this may just be a hygroma, which is just a fluid filled swelling from laying on the hard ground. If this is the case, I would simply recommend soft bedding, and try to keep him from laying directly on the hard floor, and it should improve over 2-3 weeks. If it is painful to the touch, hot, or if Blue is limping, this could be an infection and he should be seen by your veterinarian as soon as you can get him in. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Treatment depends on the severity of the elbow dysplasia. In most cases, surgery is the recommended treatment, but the vet may try medical management if the problem is very mild or so severe that the joint is not likely to benefit from routine surgery. Bailey would need to be evaluated by a vet to determine what course of treatment would be best for his elbow dysplasia. Best of luck.

Where surgical treatment is not an option then the alternative options are: pain relief medications; joint care diets (hills); strict weight management; physiotherapy; acupuncture; chiropractic care and possibly steroid injections. It is important to assess her quality of life and comfort levels to ensure she is not suffering undue pain