SPIDER BITE HELP OR?

[outlaw13]

I got this 5 year old walker one week ago and yesterday after i got home from work i noticed that the right half of his head was swollen. His lips, under his eye, and his whole jaw area. Now the day after i got him i noticed a small lump(smaller than a golf ball) under his ear flap around the area of the back of his jawbone on the same side. The only reason that i noticed it was because i was changing collars on him and i barely noticed as he does have a lot of loose skin on his face. Are these 2 things related? Did that little lump turn into half his head being swollen? I couldn't get ahold of a local vet to get him checked last night and i don't think i am going to have much luck today as it is the 4th of july. I guessed that it could be a spider bite and gave him childrens benadryl to try and help him until i can get him seen by a vet. Is there anything else i can do to help until i can take him to the vet tomorrow. any guesses as to what he has or what i can do to help would be welcomed. Should i continue with the benadryl?

[outlaw13]

You have received an Answer!
From Dr. LorettaMonday, July 04, 2011 10:19 AM EST
Good Morning and welcome to Just answer. I am Dr. Loretta, a licensed veterinarian and I am happy to answer your question.


Most likely this swelling and the smaller lump as well is caused by an allergic reaction to an insect bite or bee sting. the best thing to do for now is to give Red Benadryl at 1 mg per pound every 12 hrs. Apply cold compresses to this area for a few minutes every 4 hrs during the day which will decrease this swelling...chance are.,this will resolve by morning....


Good Luck!


Sincerely, Dr. Loretta



I paid $28 dollars for this responce over the internet. Do you think this is acurate.

[JakeG]

I had a reel similar problem. My dog ran a stick down his throat. 3 months later his neck got a little lump. Much like a bite. It was kind of firm. Ended up swelling up the whole side of his head . I brought him in vet 3 times . They gave me anti biotics and put a drain tube in. He ( the dog) left tube in for a week before tearing it out. So I started giving penicillin shots and squeezing the pus out. It took a couple weeks but finally went away.

[pegleg]

sounds right. hounds are tuff so it tends to surprise us when something happens. i had a female get bit last week she was swollen for three or four days those spiders can really cause a reaction

[outlaw13]

Well as an update since it was the 4th of July yesterday I had to play veterinarian. I lanced the area where i first noticed the small lump. ( I used an exacto knife) I bet i could have filled up a yogurt cup with puss. I then used a mixture of water and peroxide 50/50 and cleaned out the area with a syringe (for baby medicine). The swelling went down a lot (obviously because of all the puss that drained) and my dog seemed a lot happier. I am going to continue with the peroxide and water to clean it out 2 times a day and start him on penacillin also.