Dog Facial Swelling – Facial Swelling in Dogs Causes, on One Side, on Nose Bridge, Itchy

Allergic dog facial swelling

Dog facial swelling occurs when parts of the face such as the nose, muzzle, eyes, chin, and ears become enlarged. The swelling may appear symmetrical on a specific part or be found on just a single side of the face. The nature of enlargement also varies with some swellings growing abruptly and going down just as fast while others may keep growing over time. Below we explore the various causes of facial swelling in dogs and how you can help your dog.

Dog Facial Swelling Causes

Dog facial swelling may take the form of hives or bumps. It mostly affects the front part of the face but may spread out to the throat and jaws. Below are the causes of swelling on dog face.

Dental Problems

Oral diseases and dental problems could cause dog facial swelling. When they have fractured or infected teeth or gum disease that is not attended to, abscesses could result. When a dog has problems with their teeth, it also becomes hard to eat because they experience pain. Additionally, they could develop a fever. This can be treated by removal of the teeth that have problems. Full course antibiotics could also help where the problem is brought about by infections.

Abscesses

An abscess forms when there is an accumulation of pus on a specific part of the body. They occur after a dog has had bites, been wounded, scratched or any other form of skin abrasions. After these, bacteria may enter the skin and multiply quite fast resulting in inflammation and infection. It is then that there is the formation of pus, a thick yellowish fluid.

This is usually formed as a way of protecting the body against the spread of infections. Where the dog facial swelling appears as a red raised bump that is warm and squishy, you could be dealing with abscesses. These are painful too and your dog will express discomfort when you touch the swelling.

While some abscesses can be drained and treated at home, there are those that should have professional treatment. Talk to your veterinarian so that you can decide on what best suits your dog.

Tumors

These arise from the uncontrolled growth of cells. Both cancerous and noncancerous tumors in dogs could occur resulting in facial swelling. Mouth tumors cause difficulties eating, tumors in the eye sockets result in the area around them bulging while tumors on the surface of the skin may not be much of a problem unless they are cancerous.

The tumors may be painful or painless and will be accompanied by other symptoms such as bleeding and a terrible odor. Any tumor that results in dog facial swelling should be examined by a veterinarian to evaluate if it is cancerous. Early treatment is always recommended as it could help put to a stop the growth of cancerous tumors and increase the chances of your dog survivor.

Allergies

There are a lot of things dogs could be allergic to. These include plants, chemicals, food, insect bites, bee stings, and others. When they suffer severe allergic reactions, facial swelling in dogs is common. In rare cases, an anaphylactic reaction could occur. This is life-threatening and could see your pet suffer symptoms beyond swelling such as having trouble breathing, passing out and the gums turning purple.

The most effective treatment for allergies is ensuring that the dog is not subjected to the allergen. This means eliminating what is causing the reaction from his environment or removing the dog from the environment harboring the allergens. To relieve the symptoms, antihistamines can help.

Salivary Gland Swelling

Also referred to as a salivary mucocele in dogs, is usually as a result of the rupturing of a salivary gland within the mouth. As a result, there is an accumulation of fluids outside the gland which leads to the swelling of the connective soft tissues. These are then seen as a mass around the neck or head of the dog.  The swelling takes the appearance of a mucus filled sac. In addition to causing difficulty in swallowing, oral pain and eye pressure, it also results in facial swelling.

Salivary gland swelling may be caused by trauma on the face, foreign objects in the mouth as well as ear canal surgery. Treatment usually requires drainage of the swelling. Antibiotics may also be offered.

Lymphatic Obstruction

When there is a lymphatic obstruction in your dog, they suffer lymphedema. This is the accumulation of lymph fluid in the body tissues. In most cases, the accumulation of fluids is not painful and if squeezed with a finger, the swollen area will form a depression.

Trauma

When the dog facial swelling occurs spontaneously, it could be as a result of physical trauma. This could be as a result of bumping into things, being hit by a car or a ball among other injuries. Where the force resulting in the trauma can be identified and your dog does not seem to be in excessive pain, some cold presses can help relieve the pain.

Injury

Injury in the form of punctures, lacerations, bruising could result in dog facial swelling. These may occur when a dog is involved in fights with other pets when they get hit with a blunt object or where they get into accidents. Injuries need to be treated well so prevent secondary infections as well as relief the facial swelling in dogs.

Facial Swelling in Dogs Treatment

When the allergic reaction is suspected to be the cause of facial swelling in dogs, Benadryl can be used. This will help fight the reaction reduce the swelling and eliminate any resulting hives. Administer the recommended amount where you suspect reactions from food, bee stings, and contact with chemicals as well as reactions from plants.

To diminish the swelling and accompanying pain, you can treat the area with cold compresses regularly.

Dog Face Swollen On One Side – Dog Swollen Mouth One Side

A dog face that’s swollen on one side may be as a result of any of the above causes. Whether it occurs on the right or the left side, on one lip, on the ear, muzzle, either of the eyelids, there are a number of possible causes. These include insect bites, tooth abscess, trauma or injuries. Teeth problems are especially common on one side and could see a formation of abscesses and the resulting swelling on one side.

Dog Face Swollen and Itchy

When you observe a dog face swollen and itchy, this is most likely as a result of an allergic reaction. This is most common on the muzzle and around the affected dog’s eyes. Another reason why there would be swelling and itching would be if there is a wound on the face that is infected. To relieve both the swelling and the itching, the root cause has to be identified and treated. Benadryl can be used in case of allergic reactions. Using a cold press can also help relieve the swelling and itch.

Dog Swollen Nose Bridge or Muzzle

There are a number of reasons why a dog swollen nose bridge or muzzle may appear. Where the swelling appeared suddenly, an allergic reaction is likely to be the cause. The presence of foreign objects such as foxtails in dogs could also result in swollen nose bridge or muzzle.

This is more so if the dog has had some time outdoors. A swelling that appears small but keeps growing could be caused by the presence of a tumor or fluid accumulation. The right diagnosis can be done by your veterinarian.

References

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