Some dogs have a habit of plopping down on the floor, hitting their elbows in the process. This wear and tear on their joints can cause the tissue under the skin to swell and fill with fluid, known as a hygroma. Hygromas often form over a pressure point like the elbow or hip.
In the early stages, hygromas are treatable but can become infected or grow to a size that causes your dog pain and discomfort. Accordingly, it’s best to consult your veterinarian about an appropriate course of action. Here’s what you need to know about hygromas in dogs including the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.
“A hygroma is a fluid-filled swelling that develops over pressure points or bony areas,” says Dr. Kelly Hood, DVM, in-house veterinary expert at Pet Portraits and consultant for California Dog Kitchen. They can form on the hip or ankle and are commonly seen on a dog’s elbows. Hygromas may not be noticeable at first, starting out as small lumps under the skin.
Any dog can develop a hygroma. However, some breeds are more likely than others to develop these noncancerous growths. Hygromas can grow up to two inches in diameter and may affect one or both elbows. The size and severity of hygromas depend on the amount of trauma caused when a dog lies down on the ground.
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“Hygromas aren’t usually painful unless they become infected,” she says. A sign of infection is a clear fluid or colored discharge, which can prompt your dog to lick the area. In addition, hygromas can grow and cause the skin to thicken and harden. If your dog seems uncomfortable or reluctant to lie down, or the area feels warm and swollen, she recommends bringing your dog in to see a veterinarian.
Hygromas are caused “by repeated pressure or trauma to bony areas,” Dr. Hood says. Among those at risk of developing hygromas include senior dogs, dogs with a sedentary lifestyle, and dogs who tend to lie on hard surfaces like hardwood or tile for extended periods. Over time, these hard surfaces can exert stress on your dog’s joints, leading to inflammation.
“This can trigger the body to form a fluid-filled sac as protection, kind of like a blister,” she says. It’s the body’s way of trying to protect the inflamed area. If your dog continues lying on hard surfaces, the hygroma can get bigger. “A prolonged irritation can lead to complications like infections, abscesses, or ulcerations, which can be painful,” she adds. Granulomas (i.e., masses of inflamed tissue with sand-like deposits) and tissue erosion may also occur.
Another risk factor for hygroma is the dog’s size. “Larger breeds, such as Great Danes, Labradors, German Shepherds, and Mastiffs, are more prone to developing hygromas,” she says. Their heavier body weight can cause them to hit the ground with greater force, putting pressure on bony areas where hygromas tend to form. Spending long periods lying on hard surfaces can increase the chance of hygromas developing and becoming infected.
While many hygromas may go away uneventfully, the sight of one can be alarming to dog owners. Consulting a veterinarian can help determine if the hygroma is getting larger or becoming infected. Typically, hygromas are diagnosed through a physical examination. In addition, the vet will ask when you first noticed the swelling and if there have been any changes in your dog’s behavior or sleep habits. “In some cases, we may do a biopsy or fluid aspiration to rule out infection or other conditions,” Dr. Hood adds.
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For hygromas that are small and without complications like infection, your veterinarian will recommend using soft bedding and protective padding to prevent further trauma to your dog’s joints. You can purchase a dog bed made with memory foam or use foam tiles to cover the floor where your dog sleeps. Padded surfaces help cushion the joint and keep the hygroma from growing or developing a lesion.
“If the hygroma is large or infected, treatment may involve drainage, laser therapy, or, [as a last resort,] surgical removal,” she says. Infected hygromas can be treated with antibiotics. Chronic or severe cases may require drainage, flushing, surgical removal, or skin grafting. Given the risk of a recurrent infection, it’s important to care for the wound after surgery, keeping it clean and using padding to avoid further injury.
Hygromas are less likely to develop in the first place if you can reduce the pressure on bony areas. “Protective padding can help prevent hygromas,” Dr. Hood says. “Ensure your dog has a soft bed or surface they can lie on and limit time on hard surfaces.” It’s also important to keep your dog at a healthy weight, so there’s less force on their joints when they lie down.
Keep in mind that, if your dog does require surgery, this may not address the underlying cause of hygroma. Plus, it doesn’t prevent new growths from developing. Therefore, keeping your dog in good shape and using protective padding can go a long way toward preventing hygroma and keeping it from recurring. Catching hygromas early can help you avoid invasive and expensive treatments and longer recovery times for your dog.
If your dog is a senior, has mobility issues, or is recovering from surgery, she recommends creating a cushioned resting area and monitoring your dog. Make sure they change position regularly to relieve stress on their joints. Lastly, “be sure your vet checks all joints for signs of arthritis or other degenerative joint disease, so there is no other underlying issue that may affect the mobility of the joint or create a painful condition,” she adds.
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In the early stages, hygromas are treatable but can become infected or grow to a size that causes your dog pain and discomfort. Accordingly, it’s best to consult your veterinarian about an appropriate course of action. Here’s what you need to know about hygromas in dogs including the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.
What Is a Hygroma?
“A hygroma is a fluid-filled swelling that develops over pressure points or bony areas,” says Dr. Kelly Hood, DVM, in-house veterinary expert at Pet Portraits and consultant for California Dog Kitchen. They can form on the hip or ankle and are commonly seen on a dog’s elbows. Hygromas may not be noticeable at first, starting out as small lumps under the skin.
Any dog can develop a hygroma. However, some breeds are more likely than others to develop these noncancerous growths. Hygromas can grow up to two inches in diameter and may affect one or both elbows. The size and severity of hygromas depend on the amount of trauma caused when a dog lies down on the ground.
alvarez via Getty Images
“Hygromas aren’t usually painful unless they become infected,” she says. A sign of infection is a clear fluid or colored discharge, which can prompt your dog to lick the area. In addition, hygromas can grow and cause the skin to thicken and harden. If your dog seems uncomfortable or reluctant to lie down, or the area feels warm and swollen, she recommends bringing your dog in to see a veterinarian.
What Causes Hygromas, and Which Dogs Are at Risk?
Hygromas are caused “by repeated pressure or trauma to bony areas,” Dr. Hood says. Among those at risk of developing hygromas include senior dogs, dogs with a sedentary lifestyle, and dogs who tend to lie on hard surfaces like hardwood or tile for extended periods. Over time, these hard surfaces can exert stress on your dog’s joints, leading to inflammation.
“This can trigger the body to form a fluid-filled sac as protection, kind of like a blister,” she says. It’s the body’s way of trying to protect the inflamed area. If your dog continues lying on hard surfaces, the hygroma can get bigger. “A prolonged irritation can lead to complications like infections, abscesses, or ulcerations, which can be painful,” she adds. Granulomas (i.e., masses of inflamed tissue with sand-like deposits) and tissue erosion may also occur.
Another risk factor for hygroma is the dog’s size. “Larger breeds, such as Great Danes, Labradors, German Shepherds, and Mastiffs, are more prone to developing hygromas,” she says. Their heavier body weight can cause them to hit the ground with greater force, putting pressure on bony areas where hygromas tend to form. Spending long periods lying on hard surfaces can increase the chance of hygromas developing and becoming infected.
How Do You Diagnose and Treat Hygromas?
While many hygromas may go away uneventfully, the sight of one can be alarming to dog owners. Consulting a veterinarian can help determine if the hygroma is getting larger or becoming infected. Typically, hygromas are diagnosed through a physical examination. In addition, the vet will ask when you first noticed the swelling and if there have been any changes in your dog’s behavior or sleep habits. “In some cases, we may do a biopsy or fluid aspiration to rule out infection or other conditions,” Dr. Hood adds.
Cavan Images/Getty Images Plus
For hygromas that are small and without complications like infection, your veterinarian will recommend using soft bedding and protective padding to prevent further trauma to your dog’s joints. You can purchase a dog bed made with memory foam or use foam tiles to cover the floor where your dog sleeps. Padded surfaces help cushion the joint and keep the hygroma from growing or developing a lesion.
“If the hygroma is large or infected, treatment may involve drainage, laser therapy, or, [as a last resort,] surgical removal,” she says. Infected hygromas can be treated with antibiotics. Chronic or severe cases may require drainage, flushing, surgical removal, or skin grafting. Given the risk of a recurrent infection, it’s important to care for the wound after surgery, keeping it clean and using padding to avoid further injury.
What Can You Do to Prevent Hygromas?
Hygromas are less likely to develop in the first place if you can reduce the pressure on bony areas. “Protective padding can help prevent hygromas,” Dr. Hood says. “Ensure your dog has a soft bed or surface they can lie on and limit time on hard surfaces.” It’s also important to keep your dog at a healthy weight, so there’s less force on their joints when they lie down.
Keep in mind that, if your dog does require surgery, this may not address the underlying cause of hygroma. Plus, it doesn’t prevent new growths from developing. Therefore, keeping your dog in good shape and using protective padding can go a long way toward preventing hygroma and keeping it from recurring. Catching hygromas early can help you avoid invasive and expensive treatments and longer recovery times for your dog.
If your dog is a senior, has mobility issues, or is recovering from surgery, she recommends creating a cushioned resting area and monitoring your dog. Make sure they change position regularly to relieve stress on their joints. Lastly, “be sure your vet checks all joints for signs of arthritis or other degenerative joint disease, so there is no other underlying issue that may affect the mobility of the joint or create a painful condition,” she adds.
The post What to Know About Hygromas in Dogs appeared first on American Kennel Club.
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