My dog's allergies cause swollen ears, throat, and shaking. Is it serious?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Blu. Poor boy. It could be an allergic reaction that he is suffering from, and my main concern is that his face looks swollen. If his face swells too much, it could cut off his trachea, leading to respiratory distress. I would take him into a vet immediately to get checked out. Best of luck.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There seems to be two different types of 'spots' on Baxter. The pinky raised ones look like an allergic reaction, and the type that is usually caused by a bug bite. This would also make his ears swell and maybe his face including his muzzle/jowels and around his eyes. This will go away with time, and you can give him Benedryl as well, at a dose of 2mg/kg (which is about 50mg for a dog of Baxter's size). Please make sure the only active ingredient is Diphenhydramine, and that you don't get a 'non-drowsy' version as these have other drugs that are VERY toxic to dogs . The other spots that are only on his left side, under his left arm and down his left side, look like bruising on the picture, and more of a scratch, almost like road rash. If this is new as well then I would recommend getting Baxter seen right away, especially if he has no history of a big trauma. The bruising is especially worrying if he hasn't had a big hit/accident, as it is worrying for a clotting disorder. Best of luck with Baxter.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. The shaking could be a sign of discomfort. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Swelling of the face and mouth/facial swelling are often initial symptoms of an anaphylactic/allergic reaction. These reactions can occur in dogs after vaccines, after exposure to a food or substance they are allergic to, or after a bite from an insect. As it is impossible to predict whether an anaphylactic reaction will remain localized or progress to trouble breathing, which can be life threatening, it is safest to contact a 24 hour vet for Bella at this time to have her seen. The ER may recommend a treatment plan including anti-histamines, corticosteroids +/- epinephrine and montitoring until the selling has gone down. They will also likely recommend an at home dose for Benadryl after establishing a valid patient/client relationship if this should occur again as it is uncertain at this point what Bella is allergic to. Wishing Bella a quick recovery!

Poor Oreo! Please call a vet near you to have her seen immediately to help treat the swelling, as this could be an allergic reaction, and could become life threatening. Oreo may have ingested something she is allergic to or have been bitten/stung by something she is allergic to, and your vet can help direct treatment to help prevent worsening of her symptoms. If you notice any difficulty breathing that is an emergency situation, as it could indicate a severe allergic reaction, and requires immediate vet care. Good luck and I hope she feels better soon!

Check for any injuries or sting marks. If there are puncture wounds that ooze blood this may be a snake bite and you need to take Rikke to a vet right away. If it is an allergic reaction and not a swollen face due to snake bite, or a tooth root abscess or injury in the mouth or obstructed salivary duct or swollen salivary gland, then you can try Benadryl. Unfortunately we are not in a position legally to give out dosages. In order to do legally so we would have to have a patient-veterinarian-owner relationship with you. However you can look up a description of Benadryl as a medication here: https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/ If you suspect anything else beside allergy, if your dog is lethargic, has breathing problems or starts to vomit or gets diarrhea, you will need to take Rikke to a pet emergency room for an exam and treatment.

I'm sorry Tulli is having such bad allergies and she is currently suffering from some severe symptoms. Given that the Benadryl and cool bath isn't working, I would have her seen by a vet now. She could be suffering from an allergic reaction causing the hives, and it's also concerning that her eye is swelling up. The eye is such a delicate and important structure that any problem with it should be considered an emergency. Seeing a vet now so Tulli can get medication for her reaction is best. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.