My dog's face is red around eyes, nose, mouth. Could it be allergies?

Hi. I would be thinking allergies in her case. It can cause redness, itching, secondary infections, even crusts in the area. Pets can be allergic to the protein in their food, environmental allergens, or a combination of the two. When they are younger like Rey, i would lean more towards food allergies. They are usually allergic to the chicken, beef or lamb....the most common ingredients in most over the counter dog foods. I would make an appointmet to get her checked out and get her on medications for secondary infection and itchiness. And also discuss food allergies with your veterinarian.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. 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!

It sounds like Ruffo may be experiencing an allergic reaction. This could be due to something in the environment, foods, bee stings, etc, especially if it is causing facial swelling or puffiness. I would definitely schedule a visit with your vet to figure out the underlying cause and get him started on some meds such as an antihistamines to help with the swelling and itchiness. If the swelling worsens on his nose, or appears on his face, head, or neck, seeking care sooner is best as this is considered a serious condition.

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.

She is cute. She could have some allergies, especially if she is licking or chewing on her body, causing the redness and you could talk to your vet about trying an antihistamine to see if that helps. If it doesn't seem to be bothering her, you could also just monitor for a bit and see how it changes.

As your vet said This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. It is very important anyway , in order to rule out skin parasites, to treat with a high quality flea treatment (advocate or advantage), then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Buster collar may be useful to avoid further scratching/rubbing. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lila. If she is turning red and itchy after a meal, an allergy or food hypersensitivity is possible. Typically the dog will also have skin lesions as well as vomiting and diarrhea if this is the case. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian to discuss her symptoms in greater detail. A prescription diet trial may be necessary. While chicken could be to blame, it could be any ingredient in her diet or another problem all together. I hope this information helps!