Why is my Boxer's elbow swollen with fluid but not bothering him?

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From your pictures it appears Logan has an elbow hygroma. A hygroma is a fluid-filled swelling caused by repeated trauma. These non-painful swellings typically occur over a pressure point or bony prominence such as the outside elbow. A non-infected hygroma is largely just a cosmetic worry. You can try to help by adding extra padding to bedding and buying special elbow pads. With this type of therapy it is possible to have it resolve with in several weeks. Infected hygromas require surgical intervention. I hope this helps and I wish Logan the best!

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.

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.

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.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Hygroma when they get this big can be difficult to treat. The first step is to prevent further trauma by providing adequate bedding such as memory foam or something else with extra padding. The hygroma likely needs to be drained and have him placed on antibiotics. Along with that, an anti inflammatory and antibiotic as well as warm compresses applied to the leg can be beneficial. Cold laser therapy is also a treatment to consider but not all clinics have this treatment option available. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.