Pressure Sores (Calluses; Hygromas)
Pressure sores are areas of skin and underlying tissue that are located over bony prominences and have been damaged by trauma from prolonged pressure or friction. They include calluses, which are thickened, hairless, wrinkled areas of skin over a bony pressure point. They also include hygromas, which are soft, usually painless, fluid-filled subcutaneous sacs (bursas) localized over bony areas where friction occurs – especially over the elbows. Another name for pressure sores in dogs is decubital ulcers. Calluses are quite common in companion dogs. Hygromas are seen less frequently, although they are not considered to be rare.
Pressure sores are almost always caused by chronic trauma to a dog’s skin and subcutaneous tissue as a result of lying on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time. Pressure sores are common in domestic dogs, especially in large, heavy or giant-breed dogs and those that are kenneled on cement floors without soft, well-padded bedding. Long-term pressure on an area of the body where the bone and skin are thinly separated compresses the blood vessels
Dogs with pressure sores – which include both calluses and hygromas – usually have a history of being housed on hard surfaces (cement, brick, wood), without well-padded bedding. They also commonly have a history of being recumbent (lying down) for prolonged periods of time.Pressure sores are visibly obvious. The most common site is on the elbows, but they also can occur on the hips, hocks, chest (sternum), side of the legs or anywhere else on
It is imperative that dogs with pressure sores be provided with well-padded, thick, soft sleeping surfaces at all times, to prevent further trauma. This may be all that is needed to decrease the size of the pressure sores and prevent their progression. There are many commercially available dog beds, mattresses and fabric-covered foam pads that will take the pressure off of bony prominences when a dog is resting or sleeping. If a pressure sore is