My puppy has a swollen face. Could it be a bite? Is it serious?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
I think my puppy got bite I'm not sure he has a swollen face can you help I dont want home to die
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 11th, 2018
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!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on February 11th, 2017
Your dog may have mange, a severe bacterial infection, allergies to something in his environment, there are a number of possibilities. I recommend getting him in to see your vet for an exam and some labwork to determine what the problem is with his skin. Based on these results you vet will be better able to advise you as to what is going on with your puppy and how best to treat it.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
About 2 weeks ago my dog came in and she had a knot on her head the swelling went down into her face and into her snout the next day I nursed her back to health and she seem to be back to normal three days later. Now she show swelling on her head it'
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! It is not possible to know what is exactly going on just based on a picture. This could be due to an infection or an allergic reaction for example. I would highly recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi there, we have a 4mth old pit/lab puppy, 2 days ago we took her to the vet for her 2nd to last round of shots. We also gave her the 1st dose of simparica yesterday morning. Later in the day we noticed her snout was swollen on the left side and don
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco 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!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have an 8 month old puppy, who has some localized swelling on her face. There is a small, scab like crust, and if squeezed, there is a yellowish discharge, with no odor. This just appeared this afternoon, and we were not aware of any sort of injur
I would keep a close eye on it, but she doesn't need to be rushed to an emergency clinic unless she's lethargic, refusing to eat, or the swelling is getting noticeably worse. This could be something as mild as a bug bite or previously unnoticed injury (particularly if she happens to live with a cat, but she could have scrapped herself on something a few days ago without it being obvious). It could also be the start of something more serious called Puppy Strangles. Because of the possibility of Puppy Strangles, I would recommend a check up at the vet tomorrow (or an emergency clinic tonight if you notice the changes mentioned above). Here is some additional information about Puppy Strangles: https://www.caninejournal.com/puppy-strangles-treatment-cost/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was stung or bit and is showing signs of a reaction. Extreme swelling on her neck and mouth.
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question. Oh my, that is quite swollen, and I'd be concerned that this swelling could increase and affect her breathing. This is a medical emergency and cannot be treated at home. Please take her into a vet immediately to get this treated. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hey! I was brushing my dogs teeth today when I noticed a red spot by her mouth. It seems to be swollen and agitated, and it is bleeding a bit. She was not in any pain when I touched it and the area around it. It seems rather tough. Is this something
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco 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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
a street puppy on side of my home is having a swollen neck once it was burst and thn after two three days again his neck got swollen... what could be the disesase ..nd can any medicine is given to him
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. What you are seeing could be an infection / abscess. It could also be puppy strangles if this is a puppy. The puppy likely needs veterinary care to receive the most appropriate treatment. Depending on what it is, he may need a course of an antibiotic with or without steroids. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 4 week old puppy had a small wound in his back and without exams to be sure it was parasites the vet gave an injection called Trisullak (Sulfadiazine, Trimethoprim and Tylosin) and a third part of a pill called Septra. After 2 hours i saw a swolle
Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern. That is quite the large bulge on poor Baby's neck! I would not expect the sulfa drug that was given to Baby to cause this focal swelling of a single lymph node. I am more suspicious of this being puppy strangles. This can cause the lymph nodes to become markedly enlarged and the face swollen as well. Unfortunately by advice for you is to take him to the veterinarian as most likely the treatments that need to be administered should be done by a veterinarian. This could also be an abscess in this area, in which case needs to be drained by a veterinarian. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My puppy’s eyes and mouth have been swelling on and off all day. The first one is very recent and the second two are from this afternoon
Poor Lola. This looks like either an allergic reaction, infection, or juvenile pulpy strangles ( cellulitis). This type of swelling, or cellulitis, manifesting as marked swelling of the muzzle, eyelids, and face in a puppy between the ages of 3 weeks and 6 months of age. It then can even progress to lymph nodes, causes a fever, etc. I would start with an exam with your veterinarian and go from there.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
This morning I noticed my chihuahua had half of her face swollen and her eye is really red. I don't know if it was some sort of bug bite, but I want to make sure that it is nothing life-threatening.
Your poor pup! That looks uncomfortable for her. When you have swelling like that, it can definitely be from a bug bite,. But, also really common, especially if she is older is for that to be from an infected tooth. You will need the help of a vet to determine which one and get the appropriate treatment-- meds for an allergic reaction or antibiotics that can be given for a tooth root infection until dental surgery can be performed. Good luck with your baby!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
My puppy have a weird type of swelling on his head .... First one appeared 4 weeks ago...it got disappear.... Now again a second one is appearing...
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! You may be describing inflammation, an infection, hematomas or even growths. To know how to better manage this, it would be needed to reach a diagnosis. For that reason, I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat him accordingly. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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