Why are my senior dog's elbow calluses bleeding and falling off?

Question

My parents senior GSD (rescue a year ago) has thick, crusty, gray/black elbows. Yesterday a chunk of the thickened skin came out, down to the raw, and bled profusely. Today the other elbow has done the same. What causes the sudden dislodging and other than topical antibiotics and compression what can be done? Diagnostic tests? Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | spayed | 98 lbs

Christie Long, DVM · Accepted Answer

It's tough to say without seeing these, but they sound like decubital ulcers. These often form on the pressure points (like elbows) of older large breed dogs that are a bit arthritic and don't move around well. They often become infected and painful, and need antibiotics as well as pain relieving medications. Your parent's vet can make bandages out of sponge material that pads the area around the ulcer and lets the center part heal. If I'm wrong and that's not what these are JoJo will need x-rays to look at the joints themselves, and possibly a needle aspirate of the lesions.

Why are my senior dog's elbow calluses bleeding and falling off?

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