By the Pethocyn editorial team. Published October 31, 2026. Updated November 1, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the article.

A pressure sore is a wound that forms where the body presses on the same spot for too long. The US National Library of Medicine describes pressure sores as skin damage that comes from staying in one position for too long [1]. The pressure squeezes the skin and the tissue under it, and the damaged tissue can break down into an open sore. You may also hear them called bed sores, pressure ulcers or decubital ulcers.

If your pet cannot get up or move well, ask your vet how to prevent pressure sores, and see your vet about any sore on a pressure point. Advanced sores heal slowly, so it is far easier to prevent them and to treat them early [1].

For general wound care, see minor wound care for dogs and cats.

Which pets get them

The main risk is lying in one position for long periods. In people, the risk is highest for those who are bedridden or cannot shift their own position [1], and the same is true for pets. Veterinary studies point to these groups [2][3][4][5]:

  • dogs and cats with paralysis or severe weakness of the legs;
  • pets that lie down for long periods because of illness, injury or recovery;
  • pets with a splint, cast or bandage, which can press on the skin beneath it;
  • thin pets, since a study of dogs lying on their side found the highest pressures in thin dogs [2].

Owners of dogs with long-term paralysis often take on regular turning and hygiene to lower the risk of these sores [5].

Where they form

Pressure sores tend to form where bone sits close to the skin [1]. In dogs lying on their side, a pressure-mapping study found the shoulder, the hip and the ribs to be the usual risk zones [2]. Under a cast on the back leg, pressure can build up over the point of the hock [3]. The hock is the joint halfway down the back leg.

A related problem over a pressure point is the hygroma, a fluid-filled swelling. See elbow hygroma in dogs.

Pressure sores can lead to serious infections [1]. A sore that looks small on the surface can be worse underneath, so let your vet check it.

Prevention

Prevention is the best approach [1]. The steps vets and the studies point to are:

  • change your pet’s position often, because frequent turning is key for pets that cannot move [2][4];
  • give your pet a thick, pressure-relieving bed, which lowered pressure at the risk zones better than a blanket on the floor or a standard mat [2];
  • keep the skin clean and dry [1][5];
  • check the shoulders, hips, ribs and hocks for redness or sores every day.

A good bed alone is not enough: in the mattress study, even pressure-relieving mats could not keep pressure low enough at the risk zones, especially in thin dogs, so regular turning is still needed [2]. Your vet can tell you how often to turn your pet and what bedding suits your pet.

Treatment

Your vet chooses the treatment. Basic wound care includes cleaning the wound and debridement, which means removing dead or damaged tissue so the wound can heal [6]. Bandages may be used to protect the area. Large or deep wounds may need surgery to close them, such as skin flaps or grafts [6].

At home, as directed by a vet:

  • change your pet’s position as often as your vet advises [2][4];
  • keep the bedding soft and padded [2];
  • care for any bandage only in the way your vet shows you;
  • go back for every recheck.

Outlook

Advanced pressure sores are slow to heal, which is why early treatment is best [1]. Many sores can be prevented with regular turning and good bedding [2][4].

These are statements about groups of animals. They cannot predict how one pet will do. Your vet can explain what this means for your pet.

When to see your vet

See your vet if your dog or cat:

  • cannot get up or move on its own, so you can plan how to prevent sores [4][5];
  • has a sore or open wound over a pressure point, such as the hock, hip or shoulder [2][3];
  • has a splint, cast or bandage and a sore near it [3].

FAQ

Why do paralyzed pets get bed sores?
A pet that cannot shift its weight keeps pressing on the same spots, and staying in one position too long damages the skin [1]. Frequent changes of position help prevent this [4].

How can I prevent pressure sores?
Turn your pet often, give it a thick, pressure-relieving bed, keep its skin clean and dry, and check its pressure points each day [1][2]. Ask your vet to set a plan for your pet.

How are pressure sores treated?
Your vet cleans the wound and removes dead tissue, and deep wounds may need surgery [6]. Early treatment is best [1], so see your vet early.

The bottom line

Pressure sores are wounds that form where the body’s weight rests on one spot for hours at a time. They are most likely in pets that are paralyzed, cannot move or wear a cast, and they form over bony spots such as the shoulder, hip and hock. Advanced sores heal slowly, so prevention is best: turn your pet often, give it a thick, padded bed and keep its skin clean and dry. Your vet treats sores with cleaning and removal of dead tissue, and deep sores may need surgery.

This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your pet has a sore over a pressure point, see your vet.

Sources

  1. Pressure Sores. MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. Last updated December 18, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/pressuresores.html
  2. Caraty J, De Vreught L, Cachon T, et al. Comparison of the different supports used in veterinary medicine for pressure sore prevention. J Small Anim Pract. 2019;60(10):623-630. Abstract on PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31364781/
  3. Iodence AE, Olsen AM, McGilvray KC, Duncan CG, Duerr FM. Use of pressure mapping for quantitative analysis of pressure points induced by external coaptation of the distal portion of the pelvic limb of dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2018;79(3):317-323. Abstract on PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29466049/
  4. Bruno E, Salvador E, Balducci F, Antonucci M, Dalmonte T, Spinella G. Exploratory Retrospective Study on Rehabilitation in Dogs Affected by Acute Idiopathic Polyradiculoneuritis. Animals (Basel). 2026;16(19):3158. Open access (CC BY 4.0). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16193158
  5. Pryjmak J, Zablotski Y, Lauer SK. Caregiver burden and psychosocial outcomes in owners of dogs with chronic paresis and paralysis compared with owners of healthy dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2026;13:1837756. Open access (CC BY). https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1837756
  6. Santos JKVRS, Costa EDS, Fernandes CCL, et al. Integrative Therapies in Wound Healing in Small Animals: An Approach Beyond Traditional Medicine. Vet Sci. 2026;13(5):418. Open access (CC BY 4.0). https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13050418