Bedsores On Dogs
Ulcers and pressure wounds can affect any dog breed at any age however most commonly occurs in larger breed dogs.
Bedsores on dogs. Bedsores can begin as calluses thickened areas of skin where the hair has been rubbed off and they can also be hygromas puffy soft. Another technique that has been successful in treating wounds is low level laser therapy. There are multiple underlying causes for dog skin sores including parasites fleas mites poor grooming dog skin infection bacterial pyoderma fungal endocrine diseases skin or hair follicle disorders disorders such as seborrhea medication side effects from corticosteroids and allergy it is rare for a sore or lesion to appear without.
Sores on dogs can be a serious problem that requires medical intervention or a minor issue that simply requires a little cleaning and care. Pressure sores are more typical with older dogs or overweight dogs. Pressure sore symptoms pressure sore wounds are fairly obvious to the naked eye and most commonly occur on the boniest parts of a dog such as hips elbows hocks knees chest or side of the legs.
Treatment of bed sores in dogs. In veterinary language bed sores are called hygromas decubital decubitus ulcers or pressure sores. Sometimes dog owners don t even notice the condition until the sores open and ulcerate.
Pressure sores in dogs are fairly obvious to the naked eye. Don t allow the dog to lie on pressure sores. Unlike typical calluses bed sores look like a yellow or red fluid filled bruise or an open ulcer.
In most cases dogs develop gray colored hairless calluses in these regions but some develop into bedsores. Treating the sore itself. They are similar to bed sores in people.
Use foam pads or pillows to take pressure off the sore. Pressure sores are caused by your dog laying in place for too long or from highly repeated movements such as getting up and down in the same way. They often occur on a dog s elbows hips hocks chest or side of the legs but can develop anywhere on the body where harsh contact takes place.
Relieving the pressure that caused the sore. Bed sores develop where the skin over your dog s elbow hip or other bony body part meets the surface of the ground or floor particularly when a dog spends great deals of time in the same position. As your dog gets older they tend to move around less.
I used vet wrap to help cushion the sores but other things that may be helpful for some dogs with pressure sores on the back legs are non slip dog socks dog boots hock braces and hocks wraps. If a dog lies for too long in one position or if the dog frequently bangs an elbow or hip on a hard surface when she lies down she can develop a sore at the point of contact. Improving nutrition and other conditions to help the sore heal.
What you need to know about sores on dogs.
