Why does my dog get puffy, red swelling above eyes intermittently?

This is most suspicious of a demodex (a microscopic mite) infection. They tend to have irritation and hair loss around their eyes and other parts of the face. It can also affect other parts of the body. Demodex is actually normally found on dogs and does not usually cause a problem. It is not uncommon for puppies to react to it at this age though. However, they usually will clear the infection on their own and don't need treatment. This will normally go away within three weeks. If it lasts longer than that or gets worse (losing hair on other parts of the body), then it's best to get her diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian. For now, you can give a little relief and prevent infection by washing the area gently with baby shampoo. Use cool water and flush the area for at least 5 minutes once a day. I hope that helps and Lola starts to get better soon.

Hello, thank you for your question about Riley. If Riley has environmental allergies and his skin is easily irritated it is possible that he is exhibiting similar symptoms on the skin around his eyes. Some dogs show signs of skin irritation in this location. It is also possible that this is a growth on his eyelid. Dogs can develop growths, however most are benign and unlikely to cause a problem. I would recommend having Riley seen by your veterinarian so that they can examine his eyes and get a better idea of what is going on. Hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lilly. Her eyes look very irritated. She may require a steroid drop to decrease the swelling in her eyes. Blepharitis is commonly due to allergies. This can be due to something in her diet, environment or even something she has come into contact with such as a shampoo. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see how the skin is red in the folds on his face under the left eye. It is not unusual for pugs, frenchies and bull dogs to get a facial fold dermatitis. Moisture builds up in the wrinkles and an infection can occur. There are wipes you can get to to wipe the affected areas. I like Mal-a-ket wipes or Douxo chlorhex wipes. Your Vet should carry them Good luck!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It does sound like an allergy. When a dog gets bitten by an insect or wasp/bee the eyes (or entire face) swells up and becomes itchy. It may be reaction to pollen and plants but insect bites are more common in this part of the year. When the eyes are swollen and itchy you can put cold compresses on the eyes. In most of the cases, administering anti-histamine medication (like Benadryl) is also OK, but please, confirm with your local vets that Kali can have Benadryl, if necessary. Small skin scratches are most likely due to excessive scratching. It is something that should be avoided, if Kali becomes itchy again. The best way to avoid self-inflicted wounds is a head cone.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to an eye injury or conditions such as a corneal laceration, corneal ulcer, conjunctivitis, dry eye (also known as KCS), among many other conditions. I highly recommend that you have Mika evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Further therapy would be based on the findings. Good luck and best wishes!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see and hear that Buddie is having problems. Of course food can be a reason but other things may be involved also. Allergies are very high this time of year. Late summer/early fall allergies due to weed pollens affect many people and pets. This is due to an inhaled allergy or breathing in the allergens. Other reasons could be due to an environmental irritant (not an allergy), bacterial infection around the eyes involving the eyelids, or some problem directly related to the eyes themselves. Any problems in this area causing eyes to be red, swollen, eyelid changes like you describe should be investigated as soon as possible. I would advise getting Buddie seen by your veterinarian so they can gather a detailed history including food/treat changes, etc and then they can do a complete examination, eventually focusing in on the eyes. Eye tests which may be performed include corneal stain to check for ulcers/scratches, tear production, and pressure measurements inside the eyes themselves. These will assess the health of the eyes and this is important since the eyes are very important sense organs and eye problems can deteriorate rather quickly. Once a diagnosis is made or suspected, your vet can discuss and implement a sound treatment plan. Good luck with Buddie. I hope he gets more comfortable soon.