Puppy Strangles Before and After: Understanding This Rare Condition

Puppy strangles, also known as juvenile cellulitis, is a rare and serious condition that affects puppies.

It's characterized by painful swelling of the face and neck, often accompanied by a high fever and lethargy.

Puppy strangles typically affects puppies between 6 and 12 weeks old, with the majority of cases occurring in those under 9 weeks.

Symptoms can appear suddenly, often within 24 hours, and can be mistaken for other conditions, such as a viral infection or allergies.

If left untreated, puppy strangles can lead to severe complications, including respiratory distress and sepsis.

Puppies with puppy strangles often require immediate veterinary attention to prevent long-term damage.

For more insights, see: Puppy Strangles Long Term Effects

Puppy strangles is a rare but serious skin condition that typically affects young puppies under 6 months of age. It's also known as juvenile cellulitis or sterile granulomatous dermatitis or lymphadenitis.

The exact cause of puppy strangles is unknown, which is why veterinary medicine professionals categorize it as idiopathic. This means that the condition is not fully understood, but symptoms suggest it's related to a malfunction within the dog's immune system.

Puppy strangles can be life-threatening if left untreated, but the prognosis is generally good when diagnosed early.

Symptoms of puppy strangles can be mistaken for other viral infections like mumps, which causes swelling of the jaw and neck.

The most common signs of puppy strangles include swelling on the face, especially on the lips, eyelids, and muzzle, as well as ears, with hair loss and oozing pimples and enlarged lymph nodes under the jaw.

Pustules, similar to pimples but containing yellow fluid called pus, also appear on your puppy's skin when they have this condition.

Less commonly, bleeding, crusty lesions can spread from the head and neck to other parts of the body, and can be painful when they rupture.

If your puppy is experiencing these symptoms, it's essential to call your veterinarian immediately.

A veterinarian will typically do a consultation and physical examination to determine if your puppy has puppy strangles, and may also do further diagnostics such as skin cytology, skin scrapings, skin culture, and/or skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

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Symptoms of puppy strangles can be mistaken for other conditions, like mumps, in the early stages.

Swelling on the face, especially around the lips, eyelids, and muzzle, is a common symptom of puppy strangles.

Ears can also be affected, with swelling, hair loss, and oozing pimples.

Pustules, similar to pimples but with a yellow fluid called pus, can appear on your puppy's skin.

Bleeding, crusty lesions can spread from the head and neck to other parts of the body in severe cases.

These lesions can be painful as they rupture.

The pimples, especially in and around the ears, can lead to secondary infection.

Lack of appetite, joint pain and swelling, fever, and lethargy are other symptoms that can occur.

Permanent hair loss and scarring may occur in severe cases.

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Diagnosing puppy strangles requires a prompt visit to the vet, as the symptoms can be similar to other serious diseases.

Your vet will likely do a consultation and physical examination to determine if your dog is suffering from puppy strangles.

Further diagnostics, such as skin cytology, skin scrapings, skin culture, and/or skin biopsy, may be used to support the clinical diagnosis and rule out other causes.

Skin scrapings can rule out demodectic mange, a parasitic skin infection that can sometimes be mistaken for puppy strangles.

Examining the contents of the pustules under a microscope can also rule out bacterial causes, unless there is a secondary infection in addition.

A skin biopsy under sedation may be recommended if there is doubt about the diagnosis.

Your veterinarian may also suggest blood work or a chemistry panel if your pet has severe secondary symptoms, such as a high fever.

Puppy strangles typically affects one puppy from an otherwise healthy litter, and it's not contagious, so other dogs in the litter won't be affected.

Some breeds are more predisposed to puppy strangles, including Golden Retrievers, Miniature Dachshunds, and Labrador Retrievers.

While any breed can be affected, responsible breeders will choose not to breed from adult dogs that had the disease as puppies.

If your puppy is diagnosed with puppy strangles, your vet will likely prescribe high doses of a steroid medication, such as prednisone, to suppress the incorrect reaction of the immune system.

Treatment typically lasts a few weeks, and your puppy will usually return to their bouncy self with no risk of recurrence, but delays in treatment can result in permanent bald patches and scarring.

Puppy strangles is a mysterious condition, and the underlying cause is still unknown.

It's not contagious between dogs, so it's unlikely a viral illness.

Some research suggests that ear infection is a common diagnosis when a puppy has juvenile cellulitis, which may be directly related to the condition or a secondary infection.

Symptoms tend to improve with the use of steroidal medications, leading researchers to conclude that it's an immune-linked disease.

Puppy strangles tends to affect certain breeds more often, including Golden Retrievers, Gordon Setters, and Dachshunds.

It's possible that if one puppy in a litter develops juvenile cellulitis, the others may be at risk too, suggesting that it could be a genetic condition.

Typically, just one puppy from an otherwise healthy litter will develop the disease, if at all. Even if one puppy has puppy strangles, it will not be passed on to other dogs in the litter.

Symptoms normally appear when they are between three weeks and four months of age. Veterinarians sometimes see it in older puppies, but it’s exceptionally rare for the disease to occur in adult dogs.

While a puppy of any breed could be affected, some breeds may be predisposed to puppy strangles. Breeds such as the Golden Retriever, Miniature Dachshund, Gordon Setter, Labrador Retriever, Siberian Husky, Lhasa Apso, Beagle, Pointer, Rottweiler, Cairn Terrier, Weimaraner, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Miniature Poodle, English Springer Spaniel, and Chesapeake Bay Retriever may be more at risk.

Buying from a reputable breeder decreases the likelihood of dealing with the condition.

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Fortunately, most cases of puppy strangles will respond well to medications within a few weeks of treatment.

High doses of steroid medication, such as prednisone, are typically prescribed to suppress the incorrect reaction of the immune system.

Antibiotics may also be needed to treat secondary infections that affect the dog in addition to puppy strangles.

Your puppy will usually return to their bouncy self within a couple of weeks, with no risk of recurrence.

Topical treatments like medicated shampoos, hot packs, or creams can help ease your dog's discomfort, but only apply them under advisement from your vet.

Completing the full treatment dose per your vet's instructions is vital for success.

Sudden stopping of steroids without talking to your veterinarian isn't recommended, as it can lead to side effects.