Dog remedies for elbow calluses

Video: Hygroma Swollen Elbow

If your dog has elbow calluses, rest assured, he’s not alone. Countless dogs get elbow calluses and the reason for them is as simple as being a dog. Unless you own a lap dog who spends 90 percent of his day lounging on people’s laps and on pretty pillows, your dog will eventually grow elbow calluses as he ages, just as guitarists develop calluses on their fingers and athletes develop calluses on their feet. You can’t blame them though, on those hot days, dogs love to lounge on tiles or hardwood floors. Since the dog’s elbow is quite pointy and vulnerable, the skin on the elbow protects it from pressure by building a layer of tougher skin and soon, an elbow callus is born. Read on for some tips on treating them and preventing them from getting worse.

Video: Dog Sore Elbow, Calluses and Hygroma Solution [DogLeggs Review]

Keep Your Dog Lean

Calluses are like bed sores, so the more pressure on the floor, the more the skin needs to build a tougher and thicker callus. Elbow calluses affect mostly large dogs for a good reason. The larger the dog, the more pressure. If your dog is on the heavier side, the increased pressure of his weight may predispose him to calluses. So if your dog is overweight, keeping him lean not only will decrease the pressure, but it will also help reduce the instance of joint problems in the future.

Video: How to remove a corn on a dogs paw.

Soften Things Up

It may sound obvious, but the less your dog sleeps on the floor, the less likely he is to develop unsightly calluses. Provide your dog with a cozy, soft bed and make it an extra appealing place to be. Praise when he sleeps on the bed, provide rewards on the bed by placing toys there and when he is on it, give him a bone or a stuffed Kong to enjoy while he’s lying there. If it’s summer and your dog is hot, consider investing in one of those cool, refreshing beds made just for dogs.

Invest in Elbow Pads

If sleeping on soft places isn’t your dog’s cup or tea, you can invest in special pads made purposely for dogs suffering from this problem. The elbow pads with cushion your dog’s elbows so they are less likely to grow calluses, and will also prevent them from getting worse.

Lube Them Up

You can soften the skin on the elbow by applying Vaseline or some coconut oil. Alternatively, there are many over-the-counter products purposely made to soften dog elbow calluses.

Video: Squeezing a callous on a dobermans elbow

While calluses are a cosmetic issue more than a medical one, things can get worse if they start cracking and bleeding. In worse cases, the elbow can develop a hygroma, a generally non-painful, fluid filled pouch caused by chronic irritation at a dog’s bony area that can be difficult to treat and has a tendency to recur. Dog elbow hygromas can reach sizes of up 2 inches in diameter and can become infected, so it’s best to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

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