Swollen Muzzle

[Just Midol]

The entire right hand side of my dogs muzzle has flared up. It's not soft, really hard actually but something is definitely going on as it wasn't like it yesterday.

Can this be a symptom of teething?

[dunnwarren]

Could he have been bitten by something? Does it seem itchy at all? Have you checked his gums for absecces (sp) There might even be a small fragment of bone stuck between his teeth.

[persephone]

Can this be a symptom of teething?

I've never seen it happen with normal teething.

My first thought is an infection.. from a bite or something.

a retained abscessed tooth?

an insect bite?

Something in the sinus cavity?

Sounds like a vet visit, Midol.

[persephone]

dbl post sorry

Edited December 2, 2008 by persephone

[Tailwag]

Maybe a bee sting or a grass seed ???? I know one of my guys tried to eat a bee but came out worse for wear ....keep an eye on it and maybe get it checked out

[Just Midol]

Probably a bee.

Bastard, I didn't want to stay up tonight. He needs to go to the vet for a check up anyway but he can go up in a few hours.

Thanks guys.

(going to inspect gums and such now.)

ETA: It appears to be ABOVE the gum line, like if I shove my finger in his mouth it is above where my finger goes up to.

EDIT: Scratch that ETA. Had my fingers on the wrong side. It's above his teeth and runs up to under his eye and covers almost the entire muzzle length.

Edited December 2, 2008 by Lord Midol

[dunnwarren]

Sounds like an infection of some sort, could be grass seed as mentioned before. Think the vet is a good idea at this stage. Grass seeds are very common here and usually dont show up till its too late and a trip to the vet is necessary.

[Just Midol]

A grass seed hey?

You mean literally, a grass seed? As in a seed that grass grows from?

[Tailwag]

A grass seed hey?

You mean literally, a grass seed? As in a seed that grass grows from?

YEp they are the ones given the dry conditions the grass seeds are notoriously bad at the moment, can get all sorts, arrowheads, spirally ones, little ones that have fluffy bits on top, and you dont know they are in till it is usually too late

[dunnwarren]

We have a problem with what I call spear grass, it's pointed at one end and has spikes on it as it lengthens, nasty little buggers they are, I'm forever mowing the grass in the dog runs because at this time of year it goes to seed regardless of how long the grass is.

[Just Midol]

I put grass seeds down a few weeks ago

We've had tons of rain though, my house is never dry It still could be one though. Vet opens in 30 mins.

[TangerineDream]

Pop a Polaramine or other antihistamine down throat while you work it out - might not fix the problem, but won't hurt and you might hit the jackpot. I had Tango swell up with a large lump on one side when the molars come through and then the other side when that molar came through so that's a definite possibility _ he was accidentally biting the inside of his cheeks, so check the inside of the mouth for cuts next to teeth...

[dunnwarren]

It's not the grass seeds that you put down to make a lawn, it's the actual seeds that grass makes. Oh and while I think of it, send some of that rain down to us here will you? It's incredably dry here.

Edited December 2, 2008 by dunnwarren

[Just Midol]

Tangerine, we don't have any We only have nurofen here and no other pills at all. It was tough enough getting my fingers in his mouth but I'll try and look for cuts We're talking one VERY drivey dog here so he likes to bite

Ahh, so the seeds grass makes. Well, we'll see what the vet says.

Dunnwarren, you can have it I'm sick of it, the dirt has just dried so it's no longer mud but $50 says we get more rain this w/e.

Edited December 2, 2008 by Lord Midol

[dunnwarren]

I love the sunshine coast. Always thought you Queenslanders were willing to share lol. Seems like you are getting all the rain and us down south are missing out. So bad here we havent been able to use outside water at all for years now. Sorry bit off topic but good luck at the vets.

[Patters]

My dogs respond to both ant-bites and bee-stings, on the face, this way. Usually lasts a day or two. They usually don't have any reaction to bite/sting on their bodies or legs. And I'm talking "little" dogs here!

Sometimes the area around the eyes swells so much that the eye closes/or is held wide open. If the eye doesn't blink, speak to your vet about what sort of drops(can't remember name - Nu-Tears, I think) to stop the eye/s from drying out.

Keep close watch on his breathing also, in case the airways are compromised due to swelling.

If in pain, call vet re appropriate painkillers. Other than that, a warm wash cloth seems to ease the swellling.

[Just Midol]

Went to the vets.

He is allergic to some kind of plant, but we don't know what plant so I'm ripping all shrubs out of the garden to see if its the grass. If its the grass, then we have to keep it short. If that fails, fake grass in his run.

His swollen face is caused by one of two things:

1) Bite.

2) Impacted Tooth.

She is voting 1, as his teeth don't appear to be sore but she can't be certain as he cries/whines if she touches anywhere near his swollen area (including his entire mouth) so all drive building work is off for now and he has 5 days to improve or he goes under. She is worried if its the bite that it'll turn into an abscess as it is very painful for him.

Apparently he is growing too fast as well. Less protein for the machine.

[persephone]

Poor boy.. he will be very sore Hopefully with AB's ,it will settle.

[Just Midol]

Ohh yeah, I have antibiotics and she jabbed him with something for the pain but I've forgotten what it was

[Tailwag]

least you got it checked out, hope he comes good.