It certainly is a bummer when our dogs need dental cleanings more often than once a year. However sometimes this is the case. There are some dogs who have weak enzymes in their mouths and they just fight dental decay.
However, because your dog is older, there is the possibility of a couple of other reasons for him to have swelling underneath his eye. Unfortunately, a tumor, cancer, is a definite possibility. In some cases, the mouth needs to be examined under anesthesia to fully see what’s going on in the roof of the mouth. If this is the case, I highly recommend having a sample taken of the mass and sent to the lab to know what you are dealing with. There are some pretty nasty mouth tumors out there, and if that’s what your dog has then you need to know sooner rather than later.
Another possibility is actually something with the eye , or the eye socket. Unfortunately, once again, in an older dog it tends to be something pretty scary.
The bottom line is your dog needs to be seen pretty quickly so you can figure out what’s the cause of the swelling and get it treated right away. Sometimes it’s as easy as a dental cleaning and antibiotics, and sometimes it’s more serious. And if it ends up being one of the more scary reasons, remember there are always options available. These options range from conventional western chemotherapy protocols to herbal medication and alternative care. Seek whatever works best for your lifestyle. And remember the most important thing is your precious dog’s quality-of-life. As long as he still doing his favorite things, then life is good!