Why are my large dog's elbow sores worsening with pus?

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.

Start doing warm water and Epsom salt compresses several times a day. Try to keep her laying in soft areas instead of tile, concrete etc (easier said than done). She will likely need antibiotics, And these can take a while to heal. There is a product called “Dog Leggs” that you might want to look up that protect the elbows. A few of my patients have done well with these. Best of luck and be patient. They take a while to heal and can be frustrating. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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/

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bailey. He appears to have a skin infection over the area of his elbow elbow callus. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. This can be a difficult area to heal as you mentioned dogs tend to lay on their elbows. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him to prevent any further licking as this will make the wound worse. If an infection is present, he will likely need oral antibiotics to help it heal. I hope this information helps!

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.

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!

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.