10 Signs Of A Canine Space Infection

Many patients come into my office to be evaluated for varying reasons, but some of the most dramatic and life-threatening cases are infections.  Overtime I have assessed that one of the most serious facial infections is the canine space infection.  This infection is typically associated with a severely decayed maxillary canine and deisplays the following signs/symptoms:

1.  Periorbital cellulitis(Swelling)
2.  Periorbital Erythema(redness)
3.  Blurry vision-due to closure of the upper/lower palpebral space and associated edema
4.  Exquisite pain to palpation-due to the presence of the infraorbital nerve which is approximately
     one inch below the infraorbital rim
5.  Cheek and upper lip swelling-cellulitis is the tissue spread of the infection which results
     in inflammation, swelling and puffy tissue.
6.  Focal abcess-this is a centralized and indurated area walled off with epithelium.  This can
     be fluctuant or hard and can enlarge as the infection progresses.
7.  Limited opening due to perceived pain
8.  Parathesia of the accessory sensory nerves due to swelling
9.  Headaches, earaches and affected side generalized facial pain
10.  Risk of cavernous sinus thrombosis

Methods of how to resolve this condition will be discussed on my next entry

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