My dog's head is swollen, warm, and tender. Is it an allergy or bite?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Laika and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. I see what you mean about the swelling, it is quite pronounced! This could be from a bug bite or it could be an allergic reaction. Oftentimes Benadryl is not strong enough to treat these issues, and stronger drugs like steroids may be needed. The best thing to do for her is take her into a vet immediately to get this treated. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is most likely an allergic reaction. He needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. This is typically treated with steroids and anti-histamine medications and they do well if treated promptly. Have a good night!

Hello. That is a pretty nasty reaction/infection. I would definitely recommend antibiotics for a situation like this. You will need to see your veterinarian who can examine the area & start Lilly on the appropriate therapy to clean things up. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Those images could either be a bite that is infected, or could be a very enlarged lymph node and a condition called 'puppy strangles' where the lymph nodes swell up. Either way, it looks very serious and requires medical attention. The treatment for these two different conditions is very different and treatment for one could make the other much worse. I recommend you bring your puppy to a veterinarian right away for treatment. Best of luck with your little one, I hope he feels better soon!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the picture, this could be a mass of some type or due to an insect bite. If this does not resolve within 24-48 hours, then I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The main problem with bite wounds is that they can get severely infected. I definitely understand your concern. I highly recommend that you have Cop evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to start medications for inflammation and antibiotics if an infection seems likely. Good luck and have a wonderful day!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. This could be an allergic reaction is there is no sign of trauma. The concern here is that the swelling is spreading, and it could get big enough to obstruct her breathing. I think it's best to have her seen by a vet now to get this treated. I hope this helps.