Why does my Great Dane have dry white patches on his elbows?

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is a callus that has formed at a pressure point. This is very common in the elbow. This actually does not need any therapy per se. However, one way to try to prevent it from getting any worse would be making sure to have a dog bed and well padded surfaces throughout the house as this forms from laying on hard surfaces. These only need treatment if they are severe and become infected which is not the case with Oliver. I hope you find this information helpful. Good luck and have a great day!

This could be caused by constantly lying on a hard surface, such as concrete or hard wood floor. If Bella is always lying on a hard surface, I recommend providing her a soft place to lay on, such as a dog bed or blankets. It could also be caused by allergies, an infection, or a number of other causes. If she isn't lying on hard surfaces all the time, then there is likely a medical cause behind it, and I recommend taking her into your vet for an exam.

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!

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

That looks like the beginning of a callus on her elbow. Most dogs develop these on their joints like elbows and hock as they age from the pressure of lying down on them. As long as the skin continues to look healthy I wouldn't worry about it too much.

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.