Hi Angela,
If it is just the eyelid that is swollen, and the white part of the eye is not red, then we may be dealing with an allergic reaction. Usually the muzzle is also a bit swollen and they tend to be itchy and scratching at the face.
You can try giving benadryl to see if the swelling goes down. I usually start with 1 mg/lb every 6-8 hours.
Let me know if that helps and if you have any other questions.
Dr. Gary,
She keeps rubbing the affected eye with her paw. Is that consistent with the possible allergic reaction she may have had to something?
She keeps rubbing the affected eye with her paw. Is that consistent with the possible allergic reaction she may have had to something? Also, do you recommend children's Benadryl or regular Benadryl for adults.
yes rubbing the eye is common with an allergic reaction.
Make sure you take a look at the eye- if the whites of the eye are really red or blood shot, or the eye is cloudy, then we may be dealing with a corneal ulcer instead of allergic reaction. Something like that will need topical eye drops that require a vet visit.
Adult benadryl is fine- they are 25 mg capsules. Just give 1 mg/lb. If she's less than 25 lb then you'll need the children's liquid- I'm not sure off hand what the mg/mL is in that... but I think it's 2.5 mg/mL.
Dog Veterinarian
DVM, Emergency Veterinarian; BS (Physiology) Michigan State Univ