What to do if my dog's eye sore from a tooth abscess won't heal?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I believe this is likely a tooth root abscess which could explain why it got better initially and now he worsen again as the main issue such as what is causing the abscess needs to be addressed as well. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

Yes it is quite possible this could be related to a dental abscess and a full oral exam by your vet (possibly under sedation) would be advisable, followed by extraction if appropriate as well as pain relief and antibiotics as prescribed

I would add that I think it's unlikely for a tooth root abscess to cause the eye to actually pop out (Proptose) however without definitive treatment the problem (the bulging and the infection) are going to get worse. Having that pocket of infection in the gum will likely cause the bacteria to translocate to the bloodstream, where it could cause other problems, including with the heart and the liver. I would consider seeking another opinion, perhaps of a veterinary dentist. I have anesthetized many, many older dogs for tooth removal, and my personal opinion is that removing diseased teeth is necessary. If Enzo has blood work prior to surgery, and possibly even a chest x-ray to check his heart and lungs, in the hands of a qualified veterinarian who is confident with anesthesia and dentistry he will likely do fine. If you don't have the tooth removed, your only other alternative is using antibiotics in a "pulse" fashion, such as 3 weeks on antibiotics, followed by 1 week off. Clindamycin is sometimes used in this fashion, but again, results are suboptimal and the infection within the root pocket will never completely resolve - it may improve, but it won't resolve.

It should resolve with the treatment described. If not, recheck with your veterinarian. If it is an abscess, it may need to be lanced and drained. You should also confirm the entire tooth and roots has been removed. A bit of tooth root left behind may cause infection.

You'll need to have Missy examined by your veterinarian. It may be local infection that abscessed or it may be a tooth root abscess. She may need to have it lanced, drained and flushed or she may need a complete dental cleaning and possibly an extraction. Antibiotics and pain management will likely be required as well. This is probably not something that can be treated at home nor will it heal on its own.

Antibiotics are essential in a tooth abscess which is causing Mindy to be unwell but as with human tooth abscesses if the problem repeats itself or fails to resolve then removal of the damaged tooth is generally recommended if the pet is healthy enough for a full general anesthetic. If she has other health conditions which make anesthetic more risky then it can become a very difficult balancing act between trying to prevent pain and infection and not causing any undue harm and further complications. I would recommend you contact the vet to discuss Mindys individual care plan. You may also arrange a second opinion and a full dental assessment if the pain and infection continues and you do not feel like your concerns are being addressed

You can use a hot compress on the area to see if you can get the infection to drain. That should help relieve some of the pain. While I prefer to use specific dog pain medications you can give aspirin to help with the pain. I give it with a meal. There is a section on this website with information about common over the counter medications that you can give and the recommended dosage. The veterinarian will probably put Chico on antibiotics and schedule a dental cleaning with an extraction if needed. I’m glad you are taking him in soon as this is quite painful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Chico.