Why is my dog's cheek swollen? Can I give him aspirin for pain?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is very hard to tell from the image if the face is swollen on one side or not as we can't see both sides and don't know what his normal face looks like. That being said, if there is generalized (not a specific or discreet area) swelling of the muzzle, +/- around the eyes, +/- the ears, this is more consistent with a bee sting or insect bite and allergic reaction. This can be itchy as well. I would look for areas of hives or raised bumps on his body elsewhere. Ideally he would go to a vet to get a couple injections, one of a steroid (depending on how bad the swelling is and what other medications he is on, steroids can be very dangerous) and an anti-histamine. Without an exam by a vet, you shouldn't give any human medications to dogs, as the drugs may interact with medications he is on or conditions he might have. You vet might prescribe an anti-histamine (Benedryl is a common product used in the US. You MUST make sure diphenhydramine is the ONLY active ingredient as other human medications that are sometimes in anti-histamines can be very dangerous to dogs. The dose for a dog Hercules' size would be about 50-100mg by mouth up to three times a day). Other causes of swelling/lumps would be a bump or hit and swelling, infection, he could have something in his mouth, etc. If it is small lump/swelling and he doesn't seem bothered by it, the best thing to do might be to just monitor it for now. If it doesn't get bigger/more swollen or the swelling doesn't spread, then you can just keep an eye on it. If it isn't gone by 24-48 hours have it seen by a vet. Best of luck with Hercules, I hope he feels better soon.

A swollen cheek can be caused by either an infected tooth or an allergic reaction. If the are is irritating for Archie or seems to bother him, then an allergic reaction is more likely. At any rate it’s best to get your vet to examine Archie to either treat this with steroids for a reaction or get a dental cleaning scheduled for an infected root tooth abscess. Best of luck moving forward with Archie and I hope this swelling resolves soon! Take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an infection of a tooth for example, a mass or even an allergic reaction. It is not possible to know with just a picture. However, it is not recommended to give a dog Advil as this is not used in veterinary medicine due to its possible toxicity especially without possibly an appropriate dose. There is not much you can do at home without going to a veterinarian. For that reason, I recommend you consider going to your veterinarian for further assessment and possible treatment. They will start with a physical examination and possibly diagnostics depending on what the issue seems to be. You can consider your local humane society as they sometimes offer more affordable veterinary care. Have a great day!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. When dogs are 'non-ambulatory'- not walking on a leg, this is usually a sign of significant pain. Also, swelling is concerning for either a significant injury (fracture/dislocation), an infection or abscess (pocket of pus), or in older animals we worry about cancers. I would recommend having Swayde seen by a vet to see if anything serious is going on, and would recommend x-rays. Best of luck with Swayde.

Poor Maka. I would not recommend to give any Tylenol, ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve) or human prescribe meds as most of these are toxic to dogs. You can give him 1/2 tablet of baby aspirin twice a day but I would not continue this long term because it can cause an upset tummy. As soon as you’re able to talk to your vet, I would talk to him about giving something that is more appropriate for dogs. Your vet should be able prescribe him something. I hope this helps!

Poor Cooper! I'm sorry to hear that he has a swollen ear. As long as he is acting normal otherwise (eating and drinking fine, active, etc.) this would not normally be considered an emergency. But if you feel that he's very painful or uncomfortable, you could certainly opt to take him to an emergency clinic for quicker treatment. I would not recommend giving him aspirin, as this can cause severe stomach issues in some dogs. It will also severely limit your veterinarian's treatment options on Monday, as no other anti-inflammatory medications or steroids can be given until the aspirin is completely out of his system (usually 3-5 days). If he is scratching at the ear, you can place an e-collar (plastic cone) on his to keep him from damaging it further until you are able to see the vet.

Please do not give Bandit anymore ibuprofen. This medication can be very toxic to dogs. The swelling could be from trauma or infection. Ideally, he should be examined by your veterinarian for confirmation and treatment. Antibiotics may be indicated for infection and appropriate antiinflammatories can be dispensed as well.