Generally, when you hear someone talking about pets, what comes up top of your head is a dog. This is because we have grown quite fond of pups due to their usefulness, companionship, and loyalty. Little wonder it is estimated that nearly 37 percent of households across the United States house a pet dog or more.
Although we would love them to remain strong and agile for eternity, these canine beauties do get sick from time to time. One indicator of their sickness is their swollen faces which causes them to wince whenever you touch them. You might be wondering if you can infect them from contact with you. While the answer is in the affirmative, it does not happen all the time.
A swollen face is generally a sign of deeper underlying health issues, dogs with facial swelling frequently exhibit other symptoms are tiredness and poor appetite. Please, keep reading to learn about this ailment.
What Causes Swollen Face In Dogs?
It’s almost impossible to prevent facial swelling when you don’t know the causes. The reason behind a dog’s facial swelling is quite innumerable. Most times, having a swollen face indicates the animal’s health challenges.
This is why you notice that dogs with swollen faces are usually tired, and they lose appetites rapidly. Some primary causes of puffy faces are:
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reaction is the reason behind most swollen faces. Certain foods, animal bites like bee stings, exposure to toxins, and vaccinations, cause allergic reactions. If the allergic reaction is minimal, it will improve with time. But if it is a severe allergic reaction, you will need the services of a veterinarian.
Whereas puppies might be allergic to a variety of substances such as vaccine reactions, hay, dust, and an insect bite is the most typical reason for a sudden generalized facial swelling after being outside.
Whenever your dog exhibits indications of potentially severe response, such as face swelling, itching, nausea, rashes, or pimples spread throughout the body, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Moderate allergic reactions and mild reactions tend to diminish with little care, but severe reactions constitute a medical crisis that might require blood tests in this case, rapid veterinarian care is important.
The allergies might cause swelling of the eyelids, throat swelling, and a dog’s face swelling.
Dental Issues
Dental problems are another cause of swollen faces in dogs due to infections in the dog’s mouth, such as tooth root abscess, and other dental infections. Which manifests as abscesses in the dog’s gums.
These abscesses contain enormous pus, which causes the face to appear puffy. Also, oral injuries such as broken teeth cause swollen faces among dogs.
Dental problems in dogs should not be taken lightly because dental infections can be severe and it might require oral surgery to cure the infected tooth. Your vet will carry out dental X-rays before diagnosing your pup.
An Injury From Trauma
Trauma can cause visible swelling, which you may think is typical to humans but is also present in puppies. The trauma could be due to an injury sustained while fighting another animal or when it fell accidentally.
Essentially, a traumatic experience can make a dog’s face swell. Pet owners should note that bone fractures or any other type of injury require immediate veterinary attention.
Tumors
Tumors are among the reasons for a dog’s face swelling. Whether the tumor is malignant or benign, it swells up while found on the head or face of the dog. They can be extremely painful and can also indicate cancerous growth – thus, if your dog starts developing one, you should run to the veterinarian immediately.
Furthermore, lymphoma is among the most prevalent tumors in canines and it induces lymph node inflammation.
Diagnosing Facial Swelling In Dogs
At this stage, it is more likely that your veterinary doctor would request you to tell him the history of your dog. This will include their food timetable if you have vaccinated the dog recently, and the environments your pup has been frequenting (to detect whether an insect might be the cause).
The animal doc will ask about the symptoms you have noticed, how severe it was, and how long they lasted.
The veterinarian might further ask you if the swollen parts occurred rapidly or if they formed gradually. Please, at this point, disclose any unusual behavior the dog was exhibiting and how long the behavior change lasted.
After that, your veterinary expert will examine the dog physically, which might include obtaining its poop, urine, and blood examination.
The vet might also take a sample of liquid in the swollen parts of the dog. The vet could do this by a needle which they would later send to the lab for further investigation.
The vet expert may also study imaging, such as MRI.
If the veterinarian suspects some heart problems, they might carry out an echocardiogram. So, the veterinary expert’s treatment will largely depend on the diagnosis’s status.
Treatment Of Swollen Face In Dogs
Treating dogs with puffy faces depends on the veterinary doctor’s diagnosis while testing and examining the pup. The diagnosis would reveal the cause, which could be the bite of an insect, a dog’s allergic reaction, or something more extreme like a tumor.
If the cause is an allergy, the veterinary expert can develop a diet to curb it. This is usually adopted when the expert perceives that the swelling could disturb your dog from breathing correctly.
The veterinarian may proceed with the dog’s treatment, which usually involves applying antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications to an infection or inflammation.
If the dog’s inflated face is due to a reaction from an allergy, then the animal doc could apply antihistamines. However, if the allergic reactions were severe, the vet expert would incorporate steroids.
While treating the severe reaction, your pet is likely to be hospitalized. This is basically to monitor your pup closely, infuse oxygen when required, and administer steroids like corticosteroids via IV.
This will continue till your canine family member can be discharged and brought home.
However, suppose the puffy face is due to dental issues. In that case, consult your local vet. They would know what to do.
Recovery Of Swollen Face In Dogs
Well, it is only reasonable to anticipate your pet’s full recovery. However, this depends on whether you took care of the dog early and medically.
When your puppy recovers, you should pay attention to the suggestions, cautions, and recommendations to avoid future puffy-faced attacks.
Nonetheless, it would be in your dog’s interest if you knew some first aid home treatment in the event of a future attack at home.
Dog Swollen Face Home Treatment
If your pup has a face as large as a little pumpkin, going to the animal doctor may sometimes be impossible. At these times, you may need to solve these problems before finally contacting an expert to assist you. A home treatment plan for an illness that requires minimal intervention is not a bad idea.
If the swell is from the bite of an insect, it worsens as your dog licks the sore since licking spreads bacteria. To soothe your dog, all you need is to use a clean material to rub an excellent antibiotic ointment on the area. Before applying the cream, ensure the place is already dry.
If the dog’s condition does not get better in a day or two, the pet owner should do well to seek veterinary attention for proper treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. What Can I Give My Dog for a Swollen Face?
This is dependent on what is responsible for the swelling in the first place. If it results from an allergy to a reaction, then getting antihistamines from any clinic is an excellent place to start. However, if you are uncertain about the cause, you should employ the services of a veterinary doctor.
#2. Why Is My Dog Face Swollen On One Side?
If you notice that one side of the dog’s face is bulging, it could be that your dog got into traumatic situations such as below.
- Your canine got an injury: A traumatic injury could explain how your canine’s face bulges on one side. Something could have hit your pooch on one side of its face, which caused an infection. The thing that injured your dog could have infected it with bacteria.
- Insect Sting: It is equally possible that the reason for your dog’s lopsided face structure is its encounter with an Insect. It could be a bee or wasp.
- If this is the case, you have to ensure no wasp or beehive is around you. You can also use ice packed in a soft material that you will place on the affected surface to reduce the swelling.
You can also use paste or baking powder. If the sting is seriously affecting your dog, you should seek the services of a vet immediately. Severeness could entail blocking of airways. Just consult your doctor and monitor the dog 14 hours after the sting.
#3. Why can’t I use Benadryl?
Diphenhydramine tablet, which experts also call Benadryl, is one of the antihistamines one can use to reduce the effect of itch or an allergy.
Both dogs and humans can use it. People mostly use it for puppies when transporting them from one place to another. This is to reduce the effect of motion nausea.
It works well with most dogs as it can erase skin rashes in roughly an hour. The issue arises as to how to get the appropriate dosage.
Since dogs have smaller sizes than humans, it is only logical that you give them lesser dosages than humans.
Appropriate Treatment dosages for dogs:
When you want to use Benadryl for a dog, you should consider the dog’s weight. Essentially, about 2-4 milligrams is enough for one kilogram. You can use this a couple of times daily.
Is Benadryl risky for dogs?
As much as the correct dosage will be appropriate for most dogs, some dogs might react differently to the medication due to their allergies. So, a dog with an allergy to Benadryl will exhibit symptoms such as diarrhea, red rashes, chewing or licking its skin, and facial swelling.
Conclusion
When you notice swelling or that your dog’s face has become bulgy, Though it might not be life threatening, you should go to the vet. Before consulting a vet, the best you can do is clean the affected areas. This prevents further spreading of the ailment.
Related topic: Cherry eyes in dogs
*photo by Akchamczuk – depositphotos