My friend's dog very suddenly has a swollen lump on one side of his muzzle.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

He had a play date with my dog yesterday and seemed fine-- ate enthusiastically. Then when it was time to go home we noticed the lump. It's below the right eye and over the rear of his upper jaw. It was touchy to him but he otherwise stayed in good spirits.
Could it be a tooth abscess? Do they come on that quickly? Could tugging a rope toy have hurt him?
I'm told it's still swollen this morning.

[intheflow]

1. Is the dog not eating now?

Has your friend looked at his dog's gums? It seems to me that if this arose after a play date it's most likely a play injury rather than a dental problem, but if it continues to be swollen and/or the dog refuses to eat for 24 hours, your friend should take their dog to the vet.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. He apparently didn't feel like eating this morning but ...

but having taken care of him for extended periods in the past I know he's sometimes weird about his feeding schedule. If it were my own dog skipping a meal I'd assume he was really sick. Mine would drop everything to inhale a bowl of food if his tail were on fire.

[Myrina]

2. Were they outdoors?

Bug bite reaction?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. Bug bite would be a good guess-- it's that kind of look. But it's Chicago in January so probably not

[KC]

9. It sounds

like a spider bite. it's cold here too in NC and I thought the same thing but I just now saw a fairly large spider inside.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Get thee to a vet, please

Years ago I lost a beloved dog to an extremely fast-growing tumor inside her mouth. By the time we noticed the first symptoms - that she was sneezing a lot and her eye seemed inflamed -it was too late- for her.

I hope your dog is fine, but the vet needs to see it to rule out anything bad.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. They're headed to the vet this afternoon. Crossing my fingers.

I can't imagine a tumor growing that big in a few short hours, though. My money's on abscess or injury. If it weren't Chicago in January my first bet would be allergic reaction to a bug bite.

[Silver Gaia]

8. I agree with this. See a vet NOW.

One of my most beloved dogs had a mast cell tumor. They come up very quickly, and are deadly if not dealt with swiftly. My sweet boy survived, but it was because we got him to the vet ASAP and had it surgically removed.

Don't hesitate. Get that dog to the vet.

[roguevalley]

7. sounds like an abcess which can come on that fast. Keep us posted honey

[X_Digger]

10. Abcesses do come on *very* quickly.

We have a doxie that is too old and had too many health problems to have tooth cleaning surgery. Even with all the denta-* tooth cleaning toys and every other day tooth brushing, she gets an abscess about once a year. Poor thing looks like she's hiding a walnut in her mouth. Big dose of antibiotics takes care of it.

Definitely vet-time.

[TorchTheWitch]

11. well, that doesn't sound good

Glad they're taking the dog to the vet to find out what this is. I'm thinking maybe an insect bite. I would think a tooth absess would be accompanied by a lot of pain. It sounds scary though.

[sad-cafe]

12. did it get bit by something?

could be a tooth.

I would take it to the Vet

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. Update: No final diagnosis but the vet's got him on antibiotics for a while.

He mentioned the tumor possibility but it's likely an abscess tooth.
Don't know much else yet other than my friend says the dog minds her touching the swollen spot a lot less today than Monday evening when we spotted it.
I'm still amazed at how fast that lump popped up.