Why does my senior Aussie have inflamed lip sores and how to treat them?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sores on the lip can be caused by many different factors, but most likely is she chewed on something that has caused a wound. Other possible causes are immune diseases that attach the junction between the lip and the haired skin, however this is very unlikely given her age and the localized region. It does look like the wound might be infected however, so getting it seen by a vet to see if antibiotics are required is a good idea. If it doesn't bother her, and she is eating/drinking ok, then you can try just keeping it clean with a salt-water solution, and monitor. If it looks better every day then keep monitoring, but if it isn't better after a couple days, or looks worse at all, then bring her to a vet right away. Do not apply any medications/creams, just keep it clean with salt-water. If she is pawing/scratching at it then an E-collar to prevent more trauma can help it heal, and if it is bothering her getting it seen by a vet is a good idea. Best of luck with Ozzy!

It is difficult to say what might be causing the sores without seeing what they look like and where exactly they are located, but one possibility might be that the lower teeth are cutting into the upper lip due to the teeth being misaligned (malocclusion). If you would like an expert to take a look at pictures of the sores, you can request a Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach consultation.

Lesions like this can be related to acne, folliculitis or allergies. Typically this does respond to antibiotics but if allergies are the issue, the condition can reoccur. Dogs breeds with heavy jowls/lips are more prone to this condition. Washing all the food/water dishes and all chew toys once a week can help. Your veterinarian may also carry medicated wipes the clean the area daily. Lastly, if allergies are suspected, Jax may need a special diet or even blood testing to determine the offending allergen. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

That is sure an impressively swollen lip! Poor Claire! This type of swelling could be a few things. Even though your vet thought the teeth look okay, we can't tell what is going on under the gumline, and an abscess from an infected tooth could be a possibility. Autoimmune disease is also a possibility. She could have a ruptured salivary gland. Or it could be something as simple as an insect bite. It is hard to get a full idea of the extent of the swelling from just the pictures alone. A fine needle aspirate, or using a needle to collect some cells from the swollen tissue, could give a better idea of the cause. I hope it is something that goes away quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This looks like lip fold dermatitis or inflammation on the moist skin around the mouth. Applying a drying antiseptic such as salt water or a chlorhexidine rinse can be very effective, antiinflammatory and antibiotic medications may be required if not resolving in 7-10days or if it becomes painful

It could be an infection or possibly an auto-immune disease. Have your vet take a look at the lesions to determine the exact cause. Your vet can do a biopsy, if needed, to help diagnose and then prescribe medications to treat the problem. He may need an antibiotic and/or an anti-inflammatory.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could have been due to a traumatic injury while playing. I think though that it would be a good idea to have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. The main reason is making sure that there is no other traumatic injury present that needs to be addressed. Otherwise, at least on the picture it looks fairly superficial so you can plan on applying a thin film of triple antibiotic twice daily until you see your veterinarian. Good luck!