Dog Community

pink & puffy cheek

Posted : 5/13/2006 9:38:36 PM

My puppy, Gracie, has developed some sort of irritation on her cheek...I guess that's what it's called. It's where her whiskers come out above her mouth. Anyway, I noticed the beginning of this week that it was pink so I've been watching it. Today it feels kind of hot and it's a little puffy. She has plastic bowls and I'm wondering if that could be what's causing it...? The things I've read though say plastic bowls can cause dogs noses to turn pink; her nose is normal looking. Any suggestions or ideas? If it means another trip to the vet then I'll have to take her but the poor little thing has been there so often lately that I hate to take her again if it's something simple like changing bowls.

calliecritturs

Posted : 5/13/2006 11:25:00 PM

Plastic can harbor bacteria ... it can also react to their skin. Try changing to metal or something. Is the dog rubbing it's face on anything?

Patt

Posted : 5/14/2006 2:01:05 AM

I've never had a problem with plastic dishes. I would watch it closely and if it keeps swelling or hot I would contact your vet to see what he suggests.

dyan

Posted : 5/14/2006 7:22:07 AM

Ollie, my sons Great Dane always ate from stainless steel bowls. He had an acne problem, in spite of it. BUT it did seem when we gave him plastic toys he would get irritated around his mouth even more.
I would try a different bowl because of it,,,stainless steel would be good. They wash up wonderful and they are not porous.
But for sure watch her to make sure it doesn't get worse in the meantime.

Bethany

Posted : 5/14/2006 12:08:30 PM

I will go tomorrow and get her a new bowl. Last night I washed her bowl really well though so hopefully that'll help in the meantime. It doesn't seem to be bothering her and no, I haven't seen her rubbing her face. I've tried touching it to see if it seems to hurt her. It doesn't seem to be really sensitive but it's hard to tell b/c every time I do that, she thinks I'm trying to play and starts licking all over my hand. It's always something with her I swear - she is my high mainenance dog!

Bethany

Posted : 5/18/2006 2:51:53 PM

OK here's an update - her cheek is still doing something funky. I can't take her to the vet til this weekend but it still doesn't seem to be bothering her. I wanted to throw this out though and see if anybody could make sense of it. In the mornings right when she wakes up, her cheek looks tons better. By the afternoon when she's been up and running around all day, it has turned back pink and puffy. Could this be a result of something she's allergic to outside? Any ideas?

cakana

Posted : 5/18/2006 3:37:36 PM

Just a guess, but I wonder if she isn't rubbing it during the day. My labs got bad allergies and she sometimes paws at her face/eyes. If the area is already a little irritated, it probably doesn't take much to flare it up again during the day. Have you tried putting anything on it? Like maybe some hydrocortisone cream? Might be worth a try until you can get to the vet.

Bethany

Posted : 5/18/2006 4:47:29 PM

I've never seen her rubbing it but that certainly doesn't mean she isn't. Will it hurt her if she licks the cream off?

cakana

Posted : 5/18/2006 5:21:28 PM

She wouldn't necessarily have to rub it with her paw but maybe just rubbing, even accidentally on the ground when sleeping might be enough to irritate it. I guess that would happen at night too though, so I don't know. I'd try using either Neosporin or something with hydrocortisone in it. You don't need to put much on and for the small amount you'll use, it shouldn't be a problem with her getting sick from ingesting it. I've actually been having to put it on my labs paw, the top, and just nag her to keep her from licking it off. I don't use much though and hope that it has enough time to soak in and do some good before she slurps it off.