Hi,
I'm new to this forum and would like to introduce myself and also ask a question.

I have three Malamutes (pets not work/show), two dogs and one bitch. They are all neutered/spayed and live together in harmony. I have one grey/white male, one red/white male and the female is also red/white. The oldest is 5 years, the bitch is 4 years 6 months and the other male is 2 years old.

Although I have often browsed this forum I did not join until yesterday, so would like to say hello to all and look forward to reading more now that i'm a member.

My queston is this; My bitch suffers from Elbow Hygroma and it's a nightmare trying to keep a bandage on her. She absolutely hates the buster collar, goes into shut down and won't move so the only option I have is to use a bandage. At present I am using Tubigrip as it's elasticated and doesn't slip so easily but it still moves down eventually so I have to keep an eye on it. I need to keep it covered as she licks it making the condition worse.
Does anyone know of a good way to keep a bandage on this area?
I would be very grateful for any advice please.

Well my boys a lot older but I actually got him a children's light jumper and put that on him and it didn't take long for him to get used to it.  Thankfully the hygroma cleared for a couple of months but have a feeling it's coming back.

Hello & welcome to the forum :)

I've no experience of this myself, but would putting a bandage/tubigrip around both elbows, joined with a strip of bandage up over the shoulder help keep it in place?

Don't know about the condition but re the collar(alternative to Buster) I have just ordered a comfy collar for my girl in preparation for her spaying www.comfycollars.co.uk, might be worth considering. 

Thank you, I have ordered a comfy collar and will also be taking her to the vet on Monday. Obviously her licking it makes it far worse but still can't figure out why she gets these pressure area's as she only ever sleeps on her bed or sofa and never on the hard floor, unlike the boys who do but have no probs with their elbows.
I will post his findings in case anyone else ever gets this problem - am wondering if she has a weak immune system as in the past has had an anal gland abscess and got an infection after being microchipped, the other dogs didn't and had antibiotics after her spay - "just in case", my vet said!
Blinking dogs - worry the life out of me!

By the way - I like the idea of a jumper, could get her a lightweight one as she's in full coat, will try that while I wait for the collar- should help protect her elbows too!
Will try all three - thanks for the advice.

I only recently read about this condition, and was interested to find that some dogs just won't lie on a soft surface, and exacerbate the situation.  Is she one that insists on getting all the bedding out, and lying on a bare bed?

I haven't had the problem, just interested if people find some dogs worse than others at contributing to the problem.

my rottie does that.  He takes away all the bedding and then crashes onto the hard floor or crate without any padding.  Even when it is cold - weird!

One of my Bearded Collies does it!  Although I haven't had any elbow problems, I did read that it can cause problems.

She has a very large Ferplast bed that is easy to scrub.  But all my dogs have dog duvets.  When she gets her clean cover put on, she can't wait to jump in her clean bed, then scrunch up her nice clean duvet, and get to the back of it, on her bare bed.

That's the strange thing - she is a comfy girl who always sleeps on her dog bed which has extra pillows and a fleece on top or she sleeps on the doggie sofa.  She does seem to like to lie on her right side mostly and have read on line that even if sleeping on soft beds can still get it. Am wondering if i've put too many pillows in her dog bed (she loves it though) and am creating more pressure because it's so bulky ....hmm!
I really think that her main problem is the constant licking though, because if I can keep it dry for a day or so it looks so much better.
I put some Tubigrip with cotton wool padding underneath and it has worked so much better than a bandage, because it's elasticated it has free movement when she walks - not come off yet. Bet she has a go at it during the night when no ones about though, cos so far she's been an angel!
Don't worry it's not too tight.
Thanks again for all of your advice, will re read if she doesn't get better and will post what my vet has to say.

Aaaahhh the joys. Although not a hygroma, my bitch currently has a decubitis ulcer on her elbow caused by lying on the laminate flooring. She will absolutely not lie on a bed despite these being littered around the house!

Anyway, we have managed to heal it courtesy of a £2 Asda long sleeve t-shirt for 7-8 year olds! I was reluctant to use any sort of bandaging in that area as there is a real risk of any over-tightness causing circulatory problems. Although she hates the rather fetching pink t-shirt with a panda on the front, she's worn it for 2 weeks and it has completely healed. I have left it on to try and really make sure I have broken the cycle of licking which made the problem 100 times worse! I am going to take it off over the weekend when I am around for the full two days to make sure she doesn't start licking the area again.

One thing my vet told me was, once healed, moisturise the area thoroughly. There are products which harden the skin and claim to protect against breakdown. However, my vet warned that he believes that a breakdown of skin in an area which has been "hardened" results in a deeper ulcer. Soft, moisturised skin means breakdown tends to be more superficial.

What about one of these, I have one for one of my boys, not for the condition you mention but becuase he feels the cold, but they are easy to put on, they stay on and he loves wearing it: http://www.equafleece.co.uk/store/dogs.html

Wow - thats a great site, all those models posing in their togs - wondeful, thanks for that!

Off to Asda tomorrow for the said long sleeved tee shirt!

Many thanks to all, you have been brill!

Ooops -  sorry in my introduction I didn't mention my two little terrier crosses and by the time I tried to edit it, was too late.
So just for the record I have a shitzu x yorkie (Bruce) and a chihuahua x yorkie (Britches) both 6 years old. Both neutered and spayed.

Sorry lil guys for forgetting you. xx

The long sleeve t-shirt is a good idea. Although they are brilliant, your Mal might get a bit hot in an Equafleece at the moment, & you'd have to order a huge one! I got one for my Rottie, he loved it til I shrunk it in the wash.

My vet told me to moisturise the area with vaseline when one of my dogs had the same thing.

Wouldn't dream of putting a fleece on her, as you rightly say - too hot!
Had thought of a mans cotton shirt, cut down so as it fits across the shoulder's, arms and down her legs. Actually the Tubigrip is working well and today the whole area has shrunk and the swelling going down. I couldn't use vaseline/vitamin E oil as it is a soft hygroma, not hard and moisturising would make it softer still. She needs to stop licking it, which at the mo she is - hope it lasts! Thanks for your input

You can get something specifically for it, looks like an elbow bra. Fits a large ddb so I'd think you should be able to find one.

> looks like an elbow bra

I love thet terminology :-D

The jumpers I got are t-shirt material with long sleaves, got mine from Tesco's three for five pound.  Just have to keep remembering to roll it up when he goes out for a wee LOL!

Thought i'd try a tiny amount of fucidin on it last night and as she hasn't licked it at all (Tubigrip has worked a treat) have found today it's half the size and drying out nicely. May not even have to visit the vet on Monday as the hygroma is becoming hard now.
Thought the licking was half the problem all along!

Like the "elbow bra" idea though!