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Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

Last post 10-08-2007 11:07 AM by rexandbaby. 16 replies.
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  • 10-07-2007 9:47 AM

    Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    My pup Zack went outside the morning ran around teht ree and came back with a swoellen eye, he could barely open it, then about 10 minutes later his muzzle was swollen, is there any idea what it could be?

    He is on route to the 24 hour emergency vet hospital, but I just have no idea

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  • 10-07-2007 10:03 AM In reply to l.michelle

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    oooo poor guy!!! hope he feels better soon, i'm sure the vet will be better able to help than i, but sounds like something stung him or bit him. maybe a bee or a spider.
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  • 10-07-2007 10:04 AM In reply to l.michelle

    • Thalie
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    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    It sounds like a reaction to some kind of bite or sting (yellow jacket, spider, snake,etc.). Did you see him stop and snif in a particular spot ? Could there be a nest of something in or close to that tree ? I would go and investigate the area before letting them back out there. Poor Zack, I hope he comes back all better from the emergency vet

    Nathalie & the Monstresses

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  • 10-07-2007 10:04 AM In reply to l.michelle

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    Bee stings.  First time it happened to us you wouldn't believe how swollen Shilohs face got.  I was in such a panic that my vet met us in his parking lot on his day off.  I love my vet!!!  Let us know what happens...

    [/i] Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant----unknown
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  • 10-07-2007 10:08 AM In reply to luv_my_3_labs

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    But it might not be anything life threateneing?  Because this is such a de ja vu for us here, ona sunday taking our pup to the vet only to have to be put down two days later.  Horrible Horrible

     We worry so much about them.  That's why my parents didn't wait to see the outcome they took him right away.  I will keep you all posted

    But thanks so much, I will definately go invesitgate, because Maddie was stung by a wasp on her bum last week, I think the neighbours have a wasps est somewhere because there are tonnes in their backyard

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  • 10-07-2007 10:39 AM In reply to l.michelle

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    This could be a bee sting, a spider bite, a snake bite, etc.  Your doggie first aid kit should contain Benadryl for situations like this.  The dosage is 1-2mg/lb of body weight 2-4 times/day.  Yes, that sounds like a lot, but dogs metabolize it much faster than humans.  Tablets or liquid are OK, but do not use the "sugar free" liquid (contains an artifical sweetner).

    In this case I would have used the 2mg/lb dosage - 1mg when I saw the swollen eye and another 1mg when I saw the swollen muzzle.  Swelling of the muzzle would have me worried about breathing obstruction.

    Tablets are usually the easiest way to give Benadryl, but the liquid will get faster results in emergency situations. 

    Note:  Giving Benadryl doesn't mean that you shouldn't also consider going to the vet (for observation if nothing else), but it will help to minimize the reaction.

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  • 10-07-2007 10:45 AM In reply to l.michelle

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    definetly sounds like a bite.... living in the South we have all kinds of creepy crawlies and flying assasians.   So I never panic about bumps, swelling etc after pups come in from the yard.

    Benedryl   the wonder drug  ....  even the generic... I buy it by the 100 count and keep it everywhere, the car, my purse, the house, the rv...

    When you take your dog to the ER vet they give them a shot of guess what  ?  yep   and then you shell out boocoo bucks.  I tell my puppy families that when the above sceanario occures give the dog a benedryl , crate or sit with them for  20 minutes or so..if it doesn't get worse you are on the right track, and by worse I mean they begin to have issues breathing.  It takes  anywhere from an hour to several hours for the hives to vanish.  The biggest side effect of any antihistamine is drowsiness, pup should take a nice little nap.

    Between diapers , benedryl, imodium, pepto bismal and liver  the dogs and 5 grandkids have run up a huge bill !

    Bonita of Bwana
    AKC Rhodesian Ridgebacks
    Champions, Therapy Dogs and Awesome Companions
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  • 10-07-2007 11:02 AM In reply to janet_rose

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    Caution:  Before giving a liquid human medicine to a dog, always check for artifical sweetners.  The regular use of any artifical sweetner should be avoided, but never give anything with Xylitol. 

    "A dog who ingests Xylitol may experience a sudden drop in blood sugar which will result in depression, loss of coordination and seizures.  Symtoms may be seen within 30 minutes to an hour after eating the products.  Some of these products may include gum, toothpaste, gum drops, hard candy, multivitamins, cough drops and mouthwash."  http://www.strongpets.com/xylitol.php

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  • 10-07-2007 11:51 AM In reply to janet_rose

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    Thank you all, again, I will check for the xliytol (sp)

    He just got home, they gave him a shot of steroids and told us to get the benedryl.  Oddly enough, despite having had 5 dogs previous to these two (all my life) we have never encountered anything like this before, so it is so new to us we had no idea what to do.

    He is kind of tired looking, but he has had a busy mornign so far and will probably nap. The vet told them to give him 2 tablets of the i think 25mg benedryl?  I am unsure of the mgs, My Father knows though. 

    Thank you all again for your help!  You are all so helpful and nice, and so quick with replying to problems, it really puts people at ease. 

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  • 10-07-2007 12:30 PM In reply to l.michelle

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    Absolutely everything Janet said ... but give the Benedryl FOUR times a day (you'll probably have to wake him up to give it to him) each day for at least today and probably tomorrow.

    This is called "anaphylactic shock" -- it can *be* life-threatening IF the airways swell shut -- so FROM NOW ON you keep not just Benedry, but the children's "elixer" (liquid benedryl) on hand.  The elixer acts FASTER and in the case of a dog who swelled  this fast you may need it.

    The OTC caps are 25 mg.  usually

    The elixer is 12.5 mg a teaspoonful.  That means you give a big dog a TON of it (so it seems).  Literally you'd give a 75 pound dog SIX TEASPOONFULLS at once. 

    but it hits the bloodstream faster and can literally save their life.  I have, upon occasion with a big dog who was swelling before my eyes, literally just opened their mouth and POURED.  Why?  Because the 2 mg dose is actually still quite low -- a vet can and *will* exceed that to respond to an emergency.  And frankly, the dog's throat, proportionately, won't really allow them to swallow more than is safe, IN THIS CASE. 

    My point is this -- the **second** time can be worse than the first.  Just like humans dogs can develop extreme allergies to things like bee stings, wasp stings, certain contact allergens (like plants) and even the bites of spiders.

    Snake bite will swell but not like that.  and you'll SEE fang marks. 

    One night a dog I had let out literally 2 minutes before came in COVERED with "hives".

    Hives in a dog?  Yep -- it looks like someone hit their fur with spatters of water and they 'shook' and SOME of the hair is standng straight up and some is lying down.  It looks literally like someone flicked water on them. 

    Socks was covered in this raised skin from the tip of her nose to the back of her neck and down her chest to her paws.  THAT fast.  *I thot it was red ant bites* -- but it was so late I couldn't figure it out.  but that was the time I upended the bottle of benedryl in her throad -- she must have had 5-6 spoonfuls (by the time she hacked some back OUT at me).  No, dearheart I didn't drown you!!!

    Seriously -- ALWAYS keep Benedryl now, and make sure every human who takes care of this dog always knows it's reactive to SOME sort of insect.

    We never did find out what Socks got into that night. 

    Good luck -- this is the scariest stuff because it happens SO fast.  Just be aware it can happen AGAIN, fast (particularly if there is a nest or something out there).


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  • 10-07-2007 1:21 PM In reply to l.michelle

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    I'm so glad to hear he's ok! Poor sweetie!

    LSTM (Laughing Silently to Myself)

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  • 10-07-2007 1:41 PM In reply to FourIsCompany

    • huskymom
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    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    I agree with Callie.  Make sure you always have Benedryl on hand.  If you go camping, to the park, to the lake, to the neighbors even.  My dogs don't have allergies, but I do.  I have to carry an Epipen if I'm out of city limits and I have Benedryl on hand at all times.  I keep some in my purse, diaper bag, stroller, glove box, kitchen, bathroom.... yada yada yada.  Those extra few minutes it takes to find it can mean the difference between life and death.  The bad part is not knowing what to avoid.  Like your pup, I don't know what I reacted to so I have to really watch.  If you can figure out that part of the puzzle, it can be a real help. 

    Candace



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  • 10-07-2007 3:19 PM In reply to l.michelle

    • Thalie
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    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    I am glad to see he will be all right. The Benadryl could very well make him a little drowsy so do not fret if he sleeps more than usual.

    When you go and check the yard, do not forget to check the ground. Yellow jackets (a kind of wasp) build their nests underground. Spip got stung in the butt when she was a pup (she sat on one opening that we had not noticed); I've never heard her yelp that bad since. If there are so many wasps around, there is a nest somewhere (either at your place or close by at the neighbors). We have had yellow jackets, mud daubers and a few years ago a huge hornets' nest under some faschia boards.

    Another thing you could perhaps do to help the swelling go down (if it has not yet) is to hold something frozen (bag of pea covered in a kitchen towel) on the side of his face for about 10 minutes at a time three or four times until tonight.

    Nathalie & the Monstresses

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  • 10-07-2007 8:50 PM In reply to calliecritturs

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    calliecritturs:

    This is called "anaphylactic shock" -- it can *be* life-threatening IF the airways swell shut -- so FROM NOW ON you keep not just Benedry, but the children's "elixer" (liquid benedryl) on hand.  The elixer acts FASTER and in the case of a dog who swelled  this fast you may need it.

    I am glad to hear that Zack will be OK.  As Callie said, anaphylactic shock can be very serious and can happen very fast.

    Get a children's dosage syringe and practice giving Zack a liquid (without most of it winding up on you).  Water with a little chicken broth should work well.  Reward Zack with his absolute favorite treat when he cooperates.  Here are instructions on how to administer the liquid

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  • 10-07-2007 9:03 PM In reply to janet_rose

    Re: Need Help! Swollen eye and muzzle!

    Here are some books you might consider adding to your library:

    Giffin & Carlson, Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, 11/1999
    http://tinyurl.com/4zf2q

    Gustafson, Sid, First Aid for the Active Dog, 7/2003
    http://tinyurl.com/zma3v

    Murray, Michael, The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medications, 3/2002
    http://tinyurl.com/3vws3

    Roby & Southam, Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat (Dell Ref.), 10/1998
    http://tinyurl.com/6zxoh

    Shojai, Amy D., The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats (Prevention Pets), 3/15/2001
    http://tinyurl.com/fxv7v

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