German Shepherd dog

I've seen it on the elbows and the hocks. The easiest and cheapest means of diagnosis is via a fine need aspirate. You apply the aspirate to a slide, stain it, and examine microscopically under a microscope on a low power field. If you see a bunch of crystalline structures, these are calcium deposits.

Generally speaking the prognosis is good--providing that you keep the the dog from traumatizing the surgical site. Consider buying a No Bite collars--much less annoying than an Elizabethan collar.

The trick to bandaging and elbow (or hock) is to bandage the entire leg and foot. When bandaging a leg, be sure of the following:

(1) Place "stirrups" (1 inch, porous surgical tape) perpendicularly along the entire lateral and medial aspects of the limb (distal to the surgical site) before applying additional bandaging material. The stirrups keep the wrap from shifting. You may need to keep the leg wrapped for up to a month with bandage changes twice weekly.

(2) Place small amounts of cotton between the toes and between the large pad and the toes---to keep the toes dry and free of irritation from rubbing against one another.

(3) When incorporating the foot in the bandage, be sure to leave a small opening between the middle toes to allow the foot to breath.

(4) If you use Vetrap to cover the wrap (generally, made or rolled cast padding--covered with stretch gauze), be sure not to stretch the wrinkles out of the material. Have your vet show you how to apply the Vetrap

There are various theories as to whether calcinosis circumscripta is a geneticially predisposed disease for GSD's.  Google "canine calcinosis circumscripta". I'm not certain that anyone has the answers. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks for the info Louise, he had the growth removed 8days ago, it appears to have healed well no sign of infection or irritation.

Pam