Dogs are not just favorite pets, but full members of the family. When they become ill, it becomes a real tragedy for the owner. If suddenly, waking up in the morning, he found a swollen muzzle in a dog, then you need to understand the reasons. You can not leave this symptom unattended. It is advisable to immediately make an appointment with the veterinarian. The fact is that it is not possible to independently discover what exactly served as the provoking factor. So, let's look at the causes of pathology and methods of treatment.
Main reasons
There are many reasons why a dog's face is swollen. What to do in such a situation will be described a little later. First, let's look at all the factors. These include:
- Purulent inflammatory process.
- An allergy to an external irritant or food.
- The consequences of an injury, in particular a hematoma.
- An inflammatory disease is myositis.
- Tumor formation.
- The reaction to drugs.
Allergy
The most common reason why a dog's face and eyes are swollen is allergies. There are a lot of irritants. The reaction in the animal can occur in contact with chemicals, detergents (shampoos), plants. Also a provoking factor are insect bites (bees, spiders, etc.). Less commonly, allergic reactions occur to medications, including vaccines. It is important to take a test before taking medication. This will help to avoid serious consequences.
Quite often, dogs have a food allergy. Some breeds, especially decorative ones, have a genetic predisposition to it. Food for such individuals must be selected carefully. To introduce new products into the diet in small portions, checking the reaction of the body.
Regardless of what caused the allergic reaction, the consequences can be very serious. In severe form, not only the dog's face swells, and throat edema develops. And this can cause a tracheal rupture. If heavy breathing, a change in the color of the mucous membrane (a characteristic blue color appears) are also added to the main symptom, then you should immediately seek qualified help.
How to treat an animal if it has an allergy? First of all, it is necessary to determine to which stimulus a reaction occurs. Contact with him should be completely excluded. After the diagnosis, the veterinarian prescribes a course of antihistamines and steroids. The swollen area is treated with an antibiotic-based ointment. This will help reduce itching. Mandatory drug therapy is supplemented with a special diet.
Infections
If the dog's face is swollen, what should I do? The first step is to examine the skin of the head for damage. Often, after an insect bite or another animal, an infection develops at the site of the lesion. Pus accumulates in the wound. This leads to an increase in body temperature. Abscesses are localized most often on one side. May spread to the neck. Very painful.
If the dog's face is swollen and she refuses food, water, then this is a sure sign of the development of an infectious process. In no case should you delay treatment. The fact is that pus can enter the bloodstream, and this will lead to infection. Therapy includes the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs. Surgical drainage may also be needed.
Tumors
A swollen muzzle in a dog may indicate the formation of tumors. They are localized in the oral cavity or in the throat. In addition to external changes, the animal's appetite is markedly reduced. Bleeding may occur. Often with neoplasms, a sharp unpleasant odor comes from the dog’s mouth. Swelling from the muzzle can spread to the eyes, which greatly increase in size. This happens due to uncontrolled proliferation of cells.
Treatment should be started as soon as possible. The fact is that malignant tumors lead to the death of a pet. However, if radiation therapy is started on time, it is quite possible to save the animal’s life. Also, the doctor may decide to remove the formation surgically.
Diagnostics
If the dog's face is swollen, the diagnostic method will depend on the root cause. Medical examination is carried out only by a doctor.
- When infected, the damaged area becomes hot. You can determine it by touch. The dog is in a fever. She reacts sharply to touch, can bite, as she feels severe pain. Suppuration is visible in the wound. As a rule, an examination is enough to make a diagnosis.
- If you have an allergy, you must pass a general blood test. Scraping from the skin is also taken and a test is made to determine the type of irritant.
- If the dog's face is swollen and the specialist suspects that the tumor was the cause, a comprehensive examination is prescribed. A biochemical analysis may be required. The fence is carried out under general anesthesia. The doctor punctures the formation with a special device and takes the material for examination.
Preventive measures
Many dog owners are interested in what preventive measures should be taken to avoid the formation of swelling of the muzzle. It is worth noting that everything will depend on the reason. If we are talking about mechanical damage, then the owner can easily prevent the development of pathology. Preventive measures are simple - carefully monitor the pet. Do not allow him to come into contact with wild animals. Hassles with other dogs should also be avoided. Regularly inspect the skin and oral cavity of the pet. Sniff the smell from the mouth. This will help in time to detect the inflammatory process and begin treatment.
It is important to exclude hard bones from the diet. When split, their edges become sharp, which can injure the gums. Accordingly, this leads to the development of an abscess. If the cause of the edema is an allergic reaction, then you can take tests to identify the irritant. The owner will have to limit the contact of the animal with all substances that can cause a reaction.
Unfortunately, there are also such reasons because of which the edema appears regardless of the conditions of detention. These include tumors. In this situation, the sooner the therapy is carried out, the more likely the pet to recover.