Swollen face and neck

[Flombee]

About a month ago our Rosie had a very swollen face and neck on one side in the morning when we woke up. She had energy & an appetite as usual but a lot of swelling. Bloodwork showed no signs of infection and ultrasound showed no pockets of fluid or pus that could be drained. They gave us prednisone steroid and it was gone in a few days. It’s about a month later and the swelling came back not as bad and they called in another rx which seems to be working again. We cannot keep giving her steroids every mont so I’m wondering if anyone has any exp with a similar issue as the vet says they don’t know the cause. I’ll attach a picture of her first swelling episode. I should add that as the swelling goes down a small lump can be felt in her cheek and one in her neck under her jawline.

 

[Jeffc]

Sorry this happening. There used to be a really helpful and knowledgeable poster here named Rusty’s owner. I haven’t seen her around here in sometime. Best of luck to your pup.

 

[Cbrugs]

So a few years ago we had a member whose Frenchie had one side of his face swollen. It turned out to be some sort of autoimmune disease if I am remembering correctly and he passed. I sure hope this is not the same case as yours.

Here is a thread I found about it - Swollen head

 

[Flombee]

So a few years ago we had a member whose Frenchie had one side of his face swollen. It turned out to be some sort of autoimmune disease if I am remembering correctly and he passed. I sure hope this is not the same case as yours.

Here is a thread I found about it - Swollen head

Thank you I’ll check it out. There was also a more recent thread that I posted in from July I think. One commenter even said it went down for them after about a week. That would be a long week with our little one all swollen up!

 

[2bullymama]

About a month ago our Rosie had a very swollen face and neck on one side in the morning when we woke up. She had energy & an appetite as usual but a lot of swelling. Bloodwork showed no signs of infection and ultrasound showed no pockets of fluid or pus that could be drained. They gave us prednisone steroid and it was gone in a few days. It’s about a month later and the swelling came back not as bad and they called in another rx which seems to be working again. We cannot keep giving her steroids every mont so I’m wondering if anyone has any exp with a similar issue as the vet says they don’t know the cause. I’ll attach a picture of her first swelling episode. I should add that as the swelling goes down a small lump can be felt in her cheek and one in her neck under her jawline.

This is not a swollen gland.... something ore is going on and you are correct continued steroids is not the answer. When Cheli has the issue his neck is swollen like under his jaw not the side of his face. have you looked to maybe getting a second opinion or having an x-rays/ultrasound done to get a look at the area... maybe it is an infected tooth or a rotted root of his tooth?

 

[Mavis]

I am no expert by any means, however, I've seen something similar featured on Dr. Jeff - Rocky Mountain Vet, several times where it is a salivary gland blockage or salivary gland inflammation. The swelling is from accumulation of salivary fluid. That would be the first thing I'd ask about with my vet.

Good luck to you. It's horrible whenever our dogs have a problem.

 

[Flombee]

This is not a swollen gland.... something ore is going on and you are correct continued steroids is not the answer. When Cheli has the issue his neck is swollen like under his jaw not the side of his face. have you looked to maybe getting a second opinion or having an x-rays/ultrasound done to get a look at the area... maybe it is an infected tooth or a rotted root of his tooth?

she did have blood work and an ultrasound both indicated there were no infections or pockets of fluid/pus that could be drained. It’s just swelling like you See with sprains. As the swelling recedes there are noticeable bumps marble or grape size that I would guess were lymph nodes or salivary glands

 

[Flombee]

I am no expert by any means, however, I've seen something similar featured on Dr. Jeff - Rocky Mountain Vet, several times where it is a salivary gland blockage or salivary gland inflammation. The swelling is from accumulation of salivary fluid. That would be the first thing I'd ask about with my vet.

Good luck to you. It's horrible whenever our dogs have a problem.

TY! I feel like the answer is something like what you’re suggesting too. The vets never seem to be interested in suggestions though

 

[2bullymama]

TY! I feel like the answer is something like what you’re suggesting too. The vets never seem to be interested in suggestions though

Please keep us poste, would be so happy to hear it has been resolved

 

[Flombee]

Please keep us poste, would be so happy to hear it has been resolved

From the beginning
Sat 10/28 I noticed her swelling coming back around 2:00pm and we got our vet to phone in another rx of prednisone low dose for swelling. It was about a grape size in her cheek under her eye. She got her first pill later that day and one for the next 4 days. Her swelling went down each day but could still be felt with a finger in her mouth on day 5. Day 6-9 she receives a half pill but on day 7, today, her swelling started coming back fast. This eve Nov 3 she’s almost as swollen as the worst it got on her first go round with this last month. It appears very round and full on one side of her face from under her eye over her jaw line to her neck. She’s still behaving the same as ever lots of energy and appetite thankfully. We called the vet and left a message but they haven’t called back. We are maintaining the rx as written and are not anxious to give more steroids without instructions from our doctors. She’s breathing fine if she worsens in any way we have the option of going to an animal hospital. I’m hoping it’s not that acutely serious as someone mentioned their dog had swelling alleviate on its own after a week. Wish us luck

 

[2bullymama]

From the beginning
Sat 10/28 I noticed her swelling coming back around 2:00pm and we got our vet to phone in another rx of prednisone low dose for swelling. It was about a grape size in her cheek under her eye. She got her first pill later that day and one for the next 4 days. Her swelling went down each day but could still be felt with a finger in her mouth on day 5. Day 6-9 she receives a half pill but on day 7, today, her swelling started coming back fast. This eve Nov 3 she’s almost as swollen as the worst it got on her first go round with this last month. It appears very round and full on one side of her face from under her eye over her jaw line to her neck. She’s still behaving the same as ever lots of energy and appetite thankfully. We called the vet and left a message but they haven’t called back. We are maintaining the rx as written and are not anxious to give more steroids without instructions from our doctors. She’s breathing fine if she worsens in any way we have the option of going to an animal hospital. I’m hoping it’s not that acutely serious as someone mentioned their dog had swelling alleviate on its own after a week. Wish us luck

keeping your baby in my prayers!!

 

[Flombee]

Thanks to all for your concern & prayers. The prednisone has been working and the swelling is down a lot. There is only one spot inside her cheek with a firm growth the size of a marble or small grape. The “grape” under her jaw seems gone for now. I somewhat expect the swelling to return a few to several weeks after the steroid wears off and the tenative plan is to see if she can heal on her own without the steroids. I want to get more bloodwork to ensure there is no infection happening, there wasn’t before but we want to make sure it stays that way. My thinking is that she has damaged or blocked a salivary gland by “going chainsaw” on various sticks, balls, rocks, trees and basically anything she can get in her mouth. I am not anxious for her to undergo surgery if it can be safely avoided but we won’t let her stay swollen if she shows signs of pain or distress either. She did tolerate a warm compress that actually seemed to reduce the swelling especially in her neck so that was good. Lastly a completely gratuitous picture of Rosie enjoying a warm compress!

 

[2bullymama]

Thanks to all for your concern & prayers. The prednisone has been working and the swelling is down a lot. There is only one spot inside her cheek with a firm growth the size of a marble or small grape. The “grape” under her jaw seems gone for now. I somewhat expect the swelling to return a few to several weeks after the steroid wears off and the tenative plan is to see if she can heal on her own without the steroids. I want to get more bloodwork to ensure there is no infection happening, there wasn’t before but we want to make sure it stays that way. My thinking is that she has damaged or blocked a salivary gland by “going chainsaw” on various sticks, balls, rocks, trees and basically anything she can get in her mouth. I am not anxious for her to undergo surgery if it can be safely avoided but we won’t let her stay swollen if she shows signs of pain or distress either. She did tolerate a warm compress that actually seemed to reduce the swelling especially in her neck so that was good. Lastly a completely gratuitous picture of Rosie enjoying a warm compress!

She is so precious! Looks like she really did enjoy the compress.

 

[Cbrugs]

Keep us posted!

 

[Flombee]

Bit more swelling as the steroid taper continues. Trying to get her seen with a specialist or at least bloodwork to check for infection as her breath is getting bad. Her breath was never bad before. Even though there was no infection initially the smell is making this seem like a dental issue right now. Wish the vet would call back.

 

[2bullymama]

Bit more swelling as the steroid taper continues. Trying to get her seen with a specialist or at least bloodwork to check for infection as her breath is getting bad. Her breath was never bad before. Even though there was no infection initially the smell is making this seem like a dental issue right now. Wish the vet would call back.

Praying hard for you all....

 

[Flombee]

Urgent care appointment today because her breath was very fetid. Expecting an antibiotic and possibly a fine needle aspiration.

 

[2bullymama]

Urgent care appointment today because her breath was very fetid. Expecting an antibiotic and possibly a fine needle aspiration.

 

[Cbrugs]

Urgent care appointment today because her breath was very fetid. Expecting an antibiotic and possibly a fine needle aspiration.

Any update after your appointment?

 

[Flombee]

Update: This is so frustrating. We cancelled her appointment which was scheduled for later in the afternoon because the swelling went down as did the fetid smell! We have rescheduled her for a non urgent care appointment.
Her breath smelled like purification and infection it was horrible! Not normal bad dog breath, I couldn’t even hold her it was so bad. Then her symptoms just 90% went away. She’s done this to an even greater extent twice before when in the morning she presented as PARALYSED in her back legs! Symptoms did persist to the vet who rxed gabapentin and she was running around within a couple hours! These little dogs can be an enigma. Lord give me strength!