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My dog has swollen elbows and one eye is black. What should I do?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Doberman Pinscher | Female | 55 lbs

My dog has swollen elbows that seem to have just shown up over night. They are soft and while I see her avoid sitting on them she isn't too bothered if you touch them. Also, I was away for work for a week and upon my return I tried to wipe away some eye discharge and noticed her eye is completely black. No iris or white can be seen and the third eyelid looks red and irritated. She has become skittish and I am worried that the infection went unnoticed too long.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 12, 2016

Poor Fluffy! The swollen elbows could be due to lying on a hard surface, and the point of the elbow is traumatizing the soft tissue. This condition is called elbow hygroma. It could also be due to infection or sudden trauma. The most concerning part if your description that her eye is completely black. It sounds like her pupil is much larger than the other one, which is a condition called anisocoria. You are correct that it could be she had an eye infection that went unnoticed too long, causing this to happen, but without seeing her in person, I can't say for sure. I would take her into a vet immediately. Her eye needs to be checked and treated right away in order to make sure she retains her eyesight. Please bring Fluffy into a vet now.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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