97 Tips for Raising Labs
Following are approximately 97 questions readers of BigYellowDog.com submitted in recent years. They were answered by a licensed veterinarian on the site as a general service to all Lab owners. This information is for general reference only. Always consult your veterinarian for any questions about your Lab's health. We hope this information is somewhat helpful. At this time, we are not accepting any more questions.
Question
I recently had my Lab neutered and the vet noticed swelling on his elbows. She told me to keep an eye on it. Over a week's period of time, it got to be about the size of a small tangerine so I took him back to the vet. They drained the elbow and bandaged it up. A week later he finally tore the bandages off and there is no difference in size. My vet said that this is common in large breeds and if it doesn't clear up we may have to have surgery. She also said that it might have something to do with him laying on hardwood floors. What do you think? Any response would be appreciated.
Answer
This condition on your dog's elbows are called "hygromas," which are cystic swellings filled with a serous fluid due to pressure applied to the dog's elbows. As you stated this is common in dogs that are on hard surfaces such as hardwood, concrete, etc. This is not a serious condition and usually the swelling will subside or go away completely if you provide your dog a padded surface to lay on. One really good bed is called a Kuranda bed made specifically for this problem. The Kuranda beds are available online and the orthopedic beds are available at your local pet store.
