Seeing your dog's face all swollen can be so alarming. Nobody wants to see their dog having any kind of health issues.
So, what should you do in this emergency?
Is it always serious or can it be a non-life-threatening issue? This article will discuss all of these things and the potential causes of a swollen face in dogs.
Continue reading to find out everything about swollen face in dogs!
Swollen Face - Causes
In reality, there is no one cause of a swollen face in dogs. Truth be told, there are various reasons why your dog's face is all puffy today. Usually, the swelling is caused by exposure to an external element.
A negative reaction to an external element is called an allergic reaction. However, that doesn't mean that plenty of other things cannot cause a swollen face, so let's get in all the reasons behind swelling in the face!
Allergic Reactions
We have already mentioned the allergic reaction because it's the swelling is commonly caused by an allergy. There are many different things that your dog could get an allergic reaction to, like the vaccine, certain medications, foods, bug bites - especially bee stings, exposure to toxins, pollen, and other potential environmental allergens. Bee sting allergy is specific because mild cases can cause dog lip swollen on one side, with more severe cases being dog lips swollen and dog nose swollen.
Allergic reactions happen in such a way that they cause an inflammatory response in your dog's body. When your dog is allergic to something, he can get hives all over his body, as well as some swelling - most commonly around the face and neck, along with other symptoms.
The dog facial swelling can extend to the muzzle and the eyelids, as well. If the neck starts swelling, this is where this allergic reaction can become serious. The neck swelling can be very dangerous because it can affect breathing.
The dog allergic reaction swollen face can be a sign that your dog needs a mild medical intervention. However, if the swelling starts to affect breathing because of the dog snout swollen, your pup will need a serious intervention, because a major allergic reaction is considered an emergency situation.
Dental Issues
Almost every human being on the planet has experienced facial swelling when dealing with dental issues. It's the same with dogs, and the swelling can be caused by a problem with the teeth, gums, or mouth.
Things like tooth abscesses and dental problems can cause a swollen face. The infection can go deep under the gums, and create a small pocket filled with pus, which makes the face appear swollen.
That pocket also causes the face to be tender, so be careful if you touch that area - you can hurt your pup. The swelling can go beneath the eye, and affect the sight on that side - but there are other causes. Injuries in the mouth, a broken tooth, as well as periodontal disease can also cause some swelling to the face.
Trauma
Almost every human being on the planet has experienced facial swelling when dealing with dental issues. It's the same with dogs, and the dog face swollen on one side (under eye) can be caused by a problem with the teeth, gums, or mouth. Other ways the problems can be presented is with dog jowls swollen, and/or dog cheeks swollen.
Things like tooth abscesses and dental problems can cause a swollen face, and even a dog abscess on neck. The infection can go deep under the gums, and create a small pocket filled with pus, which makes the face appear swollen.
That pocket also causes the face to be tender, so be careful if you touch that area - you can hurt your pup. The swelling can go beneath the eye, and affect the sight on that side - but there are other causes. Injuries in the mouth, a broken tooth, as well as periodontal disease can also cause some swelling to the face.
Tumors
Tumors can grow anywhere on the body, including the face, and the head. Not all abnormal growths are cancerous, they can be rather benign but still unpleasant.
Tumors - benign and malignant, can grow and spread all over the tissue, which can cause pain and build up in the nerves. After a while, the tumor can cause damage to the nerves in the face, the muscles, and lastly, bones.
Another thing that causes swelling like that is cysts. Cysts are growths filled with fluid, and they are commonly harmless. However, they can cause swelling, pain, and overall discomfort. Whatever it is, you should visit the veterinarian to see all the treatment options.
How To Treat Facial Swelling In Dogs?
Of course, treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms. If your pup seems like he is not doing too great, you should find the nearest location of a veterinarian to get a diagnosis. The dog nose swollen or dog mouth swollen may be preventing your poor pup to breathe properly, and the vet should rule out other causes.
The treatment is usually simple for all animals, but the veterinarian needs to check out first if it's an allergy - because that can lose the throat. So, for each issue, the treatment is different, so let's check out the treatment according to the diagnosis!
Treatment For Allergic Reaction
The treatment of the problem at hand is more or less the same, but the choice of drugs administered depends on the severity of the symptoms. Some food allergies can cause very bad signs and symptoms.
For extreme reactions, and major infections, the swollen face is a serious issue that needs to be treated. Remember, a swollen face is not the same as breaking out in hives - a swollen face can mean a swollen neck, which can obstruct the airways and give the pup trouble breathing. All in all, this is an emergency, and your pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible for emergency care.
Moderate and mild reactions usually don't have to be seen by a veterinarian - these can be treated at home. All you need to do is get some antihistamines and administer them to your poor pooch. If you aren't sure about the dosage for pets, contact the vet just to be on the safe side. The veterinarian on the phone may suggest some anti-inflammatories as well, as a part of the allergies treatment plan.
To rule out extreme reactions, check if your dog is breathing as usual, and if there isn't any lethargic behavior. On the other hand, if the cause of the swollen face is unknown, you should visit the vet to find out the diagnosis.
Treatment For Dental Problems
Oral and dental issues and infections mean that your dog may require work from dental veterinary professionals. The pros will usually start the treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications to treat the underlying cause.
Afterward, the doctor will likely decide on anesthesia for a dental cleaning and a thorough exam. While under anesthesia, the vet may also decide to do dental x-rays.
The vet will provide medical advice, but they may also decide to perform oral surgery to treat other symptoms or issues. The dog will likely get sent home with another round of antibiotics.
Treating Trauma
If the dog has experienced trauma to the head or facial area, the treatment will depend on the severity of the trauma. The vet will require to do an x-ray to determine how bad is the trauma, after providing the dog with the first aid. When getting the treatment, the dog may get antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and some care alongside everything.
Treating Tumors
If the veterinarian is worried that the uncontrolled growth is in fact a tumor or cancer - the vet will need to do more testing. The vet will recommend doing x-rays, testing the tumor via biopsy, or blood tests.
The treatment itself depends on the severity, and the diagnosis itself. If the tumor is malignant, the plan will require radiation, chemotherapy, and even surgery.
How To Prevent Facial Swelling?
When the dog's face is swollen, the best way to deal with it the next time is to avoid it completely. The vets that do provide medical advice always say that prevention is the best remedy.
If your dog experiences allergies, you should do your best to minimize the exposure to the allergen. Talk to the vet about them prescribing antihistamines you can give to your dogs to prevent the attack.
If the allergens are present in food, your pet eating a special diet will certainly help a lot. If the dog is allergic to vaccines, always let the veterinarian know before they start giving the shots.
On the other hand, if the issue at hand is an allergy to a bee sting, or animal bites (skin allergies), try to treat your pooch with antihistamines as soon as you see that the issue happened. We do advise you to talk to the vet about this before you start giving the antihistamines for the allergies on your own. If the dog's skin is still rashy after a day, see the vet immediately - the meds may not be enough.
If the presumptive diagnosis is that your dog doesn't have allergies, but dental problems - they are easily prevented. All you need to do is take good care of your pup's teeth, and that's it - much simpler than preventing allergies.
Trauma cannot be prevented at all - but you can try to aim to keep your pup safe. So, you shouldn't let your pup run free, and limit playing with other dogs. If any trauma does occur, you should visit the vet to check out the signs and issues.
The same thing is with tumors - they simply cannot be prevented. The key is to act early if you do notice any signs of growth on the jaw - detecting a rare condition as soon as possible is principal for treatment, especially for Great Danes.
Preventing A Severe Allergic Reaction
All major reactions require special care. Food allergies can cause facial swelling and serious allergic reactions like anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock is life-threatening and the dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
If the dog's allergic reaction is this serious for, let's say, insect bites, try to do your best to keep your pup away from the allergen. If the insect bite is that dangerous, it might be best to stick to parks, rather than the woods.
Dog Face Swollen - Bottom Line
Facial swelling doesn't have to be serious, but it's usually caused by an allergic reaction. Try to look for other signs - like runny eyes or hives. Allergic reactions are easily treatable, and some are even preventable - like food and most skin allergies.
Preventing an insect bite is not possible, but taking good care of your pet is the key to keeping him safe! Treating all the signs as they occur means your pet won't experience anything truly dangerous!
