Dog stung by bug, face swelling, black gums. Should I see a vet?

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!

That snout does look swollen. It is best to take her to your vet ASAP as you are doing as swelling of the face, neck, or head can quickly get serious. Your vet can give her a shot to help reduce the swelling quickly while they help find the cause of it. Bee stings and other insect bites can definitely cause swelling that quickly, especially if Candy ate a bee or wasp!

Bobos could be suffering from an allergic reaction to a bite or sting, even if you cannot find a wound. If that is the cause of the swelling it should go away within 1-2 days. But he could also be suffering from a tooth root abscess, which is a condition that needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Check your dog's teeth and if you see a lot of tartar, if there is a bad smell and red gums it is very likely a tooth problem. If the swelling does not subside within 2 days you will need to have Bobos examined by a vet. Tooth abscesses are terribly painful. He would need a teeth cleaning under anesthesia, the abscessed tooth would need to be removed and Bobos will need antibiotics.

A sudden swollen face is usuaally caused by some allergy, either an insect bite or an environmental allergy, or could also be a rattle snake bite. Check for oozing little wounds, there would be a little blood oozing but not coagulating. If you find those on the head, your dog likely was bitten by a snake and needs to be seen by a vet right away. If your dog has breathing problems, vomits or is lethargic, he should also be seen by a veterinarian right away. If he is happy, eats and drinks, you can observe the swelling and it should go down within 24 hours. Of course you can also take him to the vet if he is not in distress. The vet will give him an exam and likely an antihistamine and/or steroid injection.

Depending on the severity of the reaction to the bite or sting, your dog may require some measure of veterinary care. This could include something like a steroid shot to reduce inflammation, IV fluids to help provide supportive care, or an antivenom to combat the bite of a potentially harmful snake. A vet will also be able to assess any sort of bodily harm and/or organ damage that may have been inflicted by another animal / insect. I would recommend bringing Jojo in to a vet as soon as possible. In the event this is a snake bite, these matters can sometimes be time-sensitive.

Hello. A mass as you are describing could be from a bug bite, and if so the swelling should go away in about 48 hours. If the swelling continues past that time then I would be worried about an abscess/cyst/tumor. If it isn't painful or bothering her, and it continues to get smaller then you can monitor it, however if it doesn't go away, gets bigger, gets hard, or becomes painful, then I would recommend you have it seen and tested with a "Fine needle aspirate". Good luck with Bella.

If the Benadryl was effective, I would have expected to see a reduction in the swelling by now. Sometimes allergic reactions require stronger drugs to treat such a steroids, and it sounds like this may be the cause for Moose. Because the swelling hasn't reduced and the reaction appears to be progressing, it's time to see a vet immediately. Please take him into an ER vet clinic if your regular vet is closed; 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.