Juvenile Pyoderma
(Puppy Strangles)
Juvenile Pyoderma / Cellulitis (often
misleadingly termed "Puppy Strangles") is a fairly common, but alarming
disorder that can be seen in many breeds including Afghan puppies from 3 weeks to 4 months of age. It appears
initially as acute swelling of the face, primarily of the lips, eyelids, chin,
and muzzle. It may easily be confused, early on, with a sudden allergic reaction
typical of a bee sting or a vaccine reaction. However, untreated it can progress
rapidly into bumps and pustules which drain and scab. The lymph nodes under the
neck may enlarge dramatically, which is what precipitated the term "puppy
strangles." Half of the cases are lethargic. Up to one quarter of the cases may
show fever, appetite loss, and joint pain. The cause of Juvenile Pyoderma is
unknown, although an immune basis is postulated, because of the rapid response
to immune-suppressive doses of steroids. Early, aggressive steroid treatment is
needed to avoid excessive scar formation. If evidence of concurrent bacterial
infection is present, then antibiotics are indicated. It
takes a great leap of faith, but the only really good way to treat juvenile
Pyoderma is with the use of corticosteroids in combination with antibiotics. If
corticosteroids are not used early in this disease permanent scarring of the
affected areas can occur and if they are never used death is not uncommon. The
swelling of the lymph nodes cuts off the puppy's ability to breath, hence the
common name of "puppy strangles". In it's mildest
form and before it became more understood some people used to think of it as
'milk spots'. It could be only a single pup from a litter or a whole litter that are
affected.
It is really scary to use immunosuppressive medications in the face of what
appears to be a really severe infection but it is essential IF the condition is
in fact juvenile Pyoderma. Diagnosis of this can be confirmed by skin biopsy but
it is usually best for your vet to make an educated guess and start treatment
while waiting for biopsy reports and hope for the best if the symptoms are
severe, since biopsy
results usually take a while to get back.
Many vets want to try Synulux at the first
signs of the problem, this usually has proved to be a waste of valuable time on
it's own and puppy
should be put onto a course of Prednisolone 5mg half tablet daily and
Cephalexin 250mg half tablet twice daily. If the problem does not rapidly
respond to treatment or is a severe case then Antirobe 75mg one tablet twice
daily and Cephalexin 250mg half tablet twice daily. If the problem is
severe around the eyes Fulcithalmic cream can help soothe the eyes.
It is essential that hygiene and very good feeding are practised as poor management could escalate the problem
The good news is that once successfully treated a relapse is extremely unlikely and most (not all) dog's immune system's appears to be extremely good for the rest of the their life. Although not thought to be hereditary (unproven either way ) it is very unwise to breed from a dog who has been affected
Thumbnails please click for full viewing
 affecting just the eyes but it can be as little as one small 'pimple'
|
 a very severe case |
 Showing the ears also swollen |
CASE HISTORIES
Please send us any additional histories if you have them of Afghan pups who have had Juvenile Pyoderma and photographs would be very helpful as we would like to add to this section and thank you to the people who are helping so far
Puppy 1 case history
Very healthy puppy, birth weight 1lb 2 1/2 oz who did very well up until 7
weeks. Developed two small spots on eye lid and was taken to vet for check up.
Put on Synulux for one week but condition was worsening rapidly and spreading to
lips. At 8 weeks was put onto Prednisolone 5mg 1/2 tablet once daily and
cephalexin 250mg 1/2 tablet twice daily, condition not improving quickly and
pup's lips and eyes very swollen and sore and glands swelling but pup seemed
happy throughout. Medication changed to Antirobe 75mg 1 tablet twice daily and
continued with the Cephalexin as before.
1 week later although glands still very swollen the spots were lessening and pup
was put back onto Prednisolone along with the Antirobe and Cephalexin, Puppy
began to make rapid progress and left for new home aged 10 weeks and 5 days
fully recovered armed with a full progress chart for the new owners vet. There
was no scarring. Innoculation
was delayed until puppy was totally cleared, this pup was never bred from.
Showing bottom lips badly affected, sorry but not very
clear
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Puppy 2 case history
Healthy puppy birth weight 15oz at 6 weeks a single small pimple type spot
appeared on eye (puppy milk spot?) vet suspected early Pyoderma and
a skin biopsy taken confirmed his suspicion, pup had a short course of
Prednisolone, puppy never appeared ill and there were no further developments
and dog has had no other health problems to date. Inoculation was delayed until
12 weeks to be on the safe side. This pup later did a lot of winning but was
never bred from, a sibling produced a single Pyoderma pup.
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Puppy 3 case history
Healthy puppy birth weight 1lb 5oz did extremely well up until 6 weeks when
a small spot appeared on eyelid, was thought to have been a scratch from a puppy
nail and vet was treating as such. Eyes worsened rapidly and pup was on Synulux
and eye cream, by eight weeks puppy was covered on it's face with open sores and
antibiotics were changed, owner very worried, pups head was becoming very
swollen and the stud dogs owner was dropping in almost daily to see progress but
saying nothing.. Puppy was still being treated for infection and swelling was so
bad in glands that the puppy was very close to death at this point as pup was
having severe breathing difficulties, stud dogs owner told the breeder to ask
the vet if it could be puppy strangles! treatment was immediately changed to
Prednisolone and Antirobe and puppies health started to improve dramatically.
Puppy left home at 3 months continued a further weeks treatment from new owners
vet fully armed with all the relevant information and had no further problems. Inoculation was delayed until the condition was totally
cleared. There was no scarring and this pup later became a multiple BIS
winner but was advised not to be used at stud.
(I feel this puppy would have been saved a lot of suffering had the stud
owners made their suggestion a lot earlier as the breeder had never seen a
pyoderma before and had no idea of what was happening and could find no one
prepared to discuss it with them!)
More case histories to follow