My dog's cheek is swollen, red, and smells bad after a tick.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This actually looks like a tick though it is hard to say for sure based on a picture. You can try to pull it off to see if it comes off. If it does not then it could be something else like a focal infection in which case she should be evaluated by her veterinarian. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 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!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach 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.

Hi there. It's probably a reaction to the tick bite and may need antibiotics. You can apply triple antibiotic cream to it in the mean time-just don't allow your dog to lick or eat any of it. Probably not an emergency if your pup is otherwise fine! Hope this helps.

I'm sorry to hear that Kirou has not been feeling well. The swelling on her muzzle is certainly quite prominent. Lameness that shifts between different legs and joints is most commonly caused by tick-borne diseases (such as lyme disease), but could also be due to immune-mediated or other infectious diseases. At this point, Kirou should go back to her vet for a recheck and some diagnostic testing. Blood tests are available to determine if tick borne diseases are present. If extra fluid is palpable in any of her joints, the vet may need to draw out a sample for analysis. Biopsies may also be needed of the lesions on her muzzle. Kirou's clinical signs are a bit unusual and will require some testing to get to the bottom of the issue. I hope that she's on the mend soon!

Hello. Many bite wounds can lie quiet for a couple of days until an infection sets in. Then, things seem to get worse in a short period of time. Once your vet gets the area cleaned up & antibiotics are started, Alfie should heal very quickly. In the meantime, you can try applying warm compresses to the swollen cheek. The water should be quite warm & if you can do this for 5-10 minutes a couple of times a day until his appointment, this will be helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Yes, I would be worried because this is a sign of infection. You need to have Toast seen by a vet first thing in the morning. I hope this helps!