My dog's elbows are sore. What cream can I use & should I cover?

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!

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.

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.

Hi, yes this is typically a result from lying down/resting on hard surfaces. It is quite raw at present but over the course of time will heal and become a harder surface, might get pigmented too. You could take Charlie to see your vet to get an ointment to aid healing and pad his bedding and resting areas. We use foam mattresses in the hospital for dogs that are recumbent, and they are fairly easy to find, or you could use an extra large duvet filled over. Even if Charli is not recumbent, the soft mattress and bedding will help her too. Hope this helps !

It is hard to say without seeing this in person but this does have the appearance of an elbow callus. Some dogs develop these if they spend a good deal of time laying on hard surfaces. I would consider getting a cytology done on the area to be sure it doesn't have a secondary bacteria or yeast overgrowth, and beign sure that she has thick bedding to lay on, or consider getting some elbow pads, high quality ones are available at https://www.dogleggs.com/front-leg-products/ . You can also try a skin soothing product like this one https://naturaldogcompany.com/product/skin-soother-tin/

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.

The areas you are seeing on the elbows are likely a result of lying on a hard surface. The only treatment would be to encourage Tinki to only lie on soft padded surfaces. If the elbows are developing bumps and scabs, there may also be a skin infection involved which may require antibiotics from your veterinarian. If the areas are getting worse and Tinki will not lie on soft areas, sometimes I will recommend trying Dog Leggs ( https://www.dogleggs.com/standard-length-adjustable-dogleggs/ ). Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.