Dog's face swollen like a balloon after fight, what's wrong?

Thank you for submitting your question. I'm sorry to hear about the dog fight. I'm concerned that her face is still swollen this many days after the fight. There is a chance an abscess has now formed. Bacteria are introduced under the skin with the bite. The skin tends to heal over the wound trapping the bacteria under the skin. If the infection grows, a swelling known as an abscess forms. This will likely require antibiotics, if not surgery to heal. Your dog will need to see a veterinarian. In the meantime, you can try warm compresses at home. Apply a warm washcloth to the swollen area for 5 minutes three times per day. I hope this information!

Swelling can be caused by trauma or infection. If she hasn't been hit or hurt herself on that side, it could be an abscess/infection. She will need to be physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the exact cause. Trauma may be managed with anti-inflammatory and pain medication. If it is infection, the underlying cause will need to be determined and treated for resolution.

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!

I would be concerned the urinary accidents could be related to an infection and possibly internal injury but could also be down to fear and anxiety. I would recommend an urgent vet check before any kidney damage develops. Please arrange an appointment for her as soon as possible

Cats can definitely inflict damage in a fight. cats can also carry and cause disease to the animals that they do injure. Because of the swelling, especially in the throat area, I urge you to take your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible so that they can start appropriate treatment. I am worried that there may be a large abscess that is accumulating around the throat area and it may impair breathing. I believe it is simply too risky to wait to see if this will just pass. I hope this helps and that you were able to see the vet as soon as possible.

I’m so sorry to hear about the little Dachshund. I have serious concern for him because he could have fractured face or skull bones. He absolutely needs to go to a vet to have his neurological status checked out. I have seen dogs die or recommended euthanasia because of a poor prognosis. If you really really can’t go to the vet, ice will be your best tool. It works quite well for both pain and swelling. 5 minutes in each affected area every 4 hours. As far as over the counter medications, none of them are super safe, but probably the “least bad” choice would be aspirin. Be sure to use a product labeled for dogs and use the dosing on the bottle. See the link below for more information about the safe use of aspirin. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/aspirin/ For example, you can try something like this. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-buffered-dog-aspirin-75-tablets-for-large-dogs-2404762?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplp2404762&sc_intid=2404762&cm_mmc=PLA-GG-_-PTC_P_BND_PLA-GG_FY17_SCShopping-TM-_-Non+VIP+-+TM-_-92700026086767577&kwid=p26086767577&device=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIytS42-yy2QIVSZR-Ch2Ecw26EAQYASABEgJGxPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Obviously, the other part of this story is that unless you would like to have puppies -which I do not recommend- I strongly recommend spaying you female or neutering both males. Best of luck to you all.

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.