What are Puppy Strangles?
While puppy strangles is almost never found in adult dogs, it is also rare in puppies, for which it is most likely to occur between three weeks and four months of age. It resembles bacterial infection; however, puppy strangles appears to be is an immune-mediated disease. There is an effective treatment for puppy strangles; however, if it continues untreated, it can lead to permanent scarring and even death. Several breeds of dogs develop puppy strangles at a higher rate: Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter, Miniature Dachshund and Siberian Husky.
Puppy strangles is the common term for juvenile cellulitis, a skin disorder that is found in puppies but very rarely in adult dogs. Also known as juvenile pyoderma or puppy head gland disease, it causes facial pustules and affects a puppy’s lymph nodes.Puppy Strangles Average Cost
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Average Cost
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Symptoms of Puppy Strangles in Dogs
- Facial swelling
- Pustules on face and around the ears; may rupture and form crusts
- Pustular ear infection
- Papules (solid, raised masses) on face and around the areas
- Enlarged lymph nodes behind the jaw; may rupture and drain
- Fever
- Skin tender to touch
- Poor appetite
- Lethargy
- Malaise
- Joint pain
- (Rarely) pustules over abdomen, reproductive organs and anus.
Causes of Puppy Strangles in Dogs
While puppy strangles is idiopathic, meaning no cause has been clearly identified, evidence points to the disease as immune-mediated. It appears to be caused by immune dysfunction. Because it occurs more often in certain breeds, it is suspected that puppy strangles or a predisposition to puppy strangles has a genetic correlation.
Diagnosis of Puppy Strangles in Dogs
Diagnosis of puppy strangles can be difficult, as it resembles staphylococcal pyoderma, a common bacterial skin infection. Since puppy strangles is much more rare, there is a chance of false diagnosis of staph infection. An accurate diagnosis depends upon skin cytology, or microscopic examination of biopsies from the affected area and lesions, as well as cytological analysis of joint fluid in order to detect sterile suppurative arthritis, an advanced symptom that manifests itself as joint pain. The veterinarian will also examine deep skin scrapings in order to look for mites, and examine a fungal culture in order to look for ringworm. It is important to determine if any bacterial or fungal infection has formed as a result of the puppy’s compromised immune system and treat those as symptoms of the underlying disease.
Treatment of Puppy Strangles in Dogs
Treatment for puppy strangles will primarily be aggressive immunosuppression through corticosteroids, typically with prednisone, accompanied by broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as cephalexin, cefadroxil, or amoxicillin clavulanate, in order to prevent or treat secondary bacterial or fungal infections. In addition to your puppy having a compromised immune system, the exposed tissue from lesions and pustules puts your dog at an increased risk for developing secondary infections. Depending on your puppy’s condition, your veterinarian may also prescribe a topical ointment to soothe pain and itching during recovery.
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Recovery of Puppy Strangles in Dogs
Along with the veterinarian, monitor the progress of your dog’s recovery. Treating a young puppy with an immunosuppressants is not something to be taken lightly, as puppies already have an immature immune system. For this reason, it’s important that the dose of corticosteroids be tapered off during recovery.
If the veterinarian prescribes an ointment for pain, apply it strictly according to the instructions. The most important thing during treatment will be for you to keep the affected areas dry and clean with a solution of astringent and diluted hydrogen peroxide several times a day in order to encourage proper healing. Known as Burow’s solution, you can purchase under the named Domeboro, Star-Octic and Borofair through your veterinarian’s office or at a drugstore.
Puppy strangles is not likely to recur. Unfortunately, permanent scarring is possible, depending upon how quickly treatment is sought after symptoms develop.
Cost of Puppy Strangles in Dogs
If the puppy has gone untreated too long, the prognosis can be very poor. Prednisone ($40 per 100ct.) is one of the medications your veterinarian may choose and is commonly used to treat inflammatory diseases. They typically will combine prednisone with an antibiotic (Cephalexin, Cefadroxil, or Amoxicillin Clavulanate). Cephalexin 500mg ($30 per 100ct.) is used to treat infections that are caused by bacteria. The combined cost of prednisone and cephalexin is around $70 on average. Cefadroxil ($30 for 50ml. or $60 for 100ml.) is usually in liquid form and is also an antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections. The combined cost of prednisone and cefadroxil ranges between $70 and $100. Finally, amoxicillin clavulanate 500mg ($20 per 100ct.) is an antibiotic also used to treat bacterial infections. The combined cost of prednisone and amoxicillin clavulanate is around $60 on average. Combining prednisone and an antibiotic will give your puppy the best chance at a good prognosis.
Puppy Strangles Average Cost
From 231 quotes ranging from $3,500 - $500
Average Cost
$850
Top
Puppy Strangles Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Golden Retreiver
Portia
9 Weeks
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Puppy Strangles
Hi, I have a pup with diagnosed strangles, she is doing fine and healing well. I wondered what the potential long term issues could be for a pup with strangles? Shortened life span? Other/ongoing immunity issues? Skin disorders? Behavioural? Impact of all the drugs in such a young dog?
July 26, 2017
2 Recommendations
Generally with puppy strangles, the long term effects are usually from scarring due to secondary trauma from a pup scratching themselves; normally pups respond well to treatment and doses of steroids can be tapered off after significant improvement is seen. I do not know of any long term effects (apart from scarring) that a dog may suffer. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
The drooling, not eating and the odor of yellowish discharge is infection! My little Mu has Strangles! I recognized the odor as a staff inf. I was in medical for 25yrs. The postules can be in the mouth and pop. My vet said if I had forced food and it popped into throat/stomach could've killed him. So he's home with IV, antibiotics & nausea meds.
Sept. 13, 2017
Wendy C.
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australian shepherd mix
Chance
16 wks
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None. Diagnosed During Regular Check
Bumps On Ear; Under Skin.
Non Protruding Bumps Under Ears
Bumps Under Ears
This is regarding Chance , 16 wks, diagnosis strangles, I have more info.. I wrote to you a few days ago. I hope you can retrieve the message. He remains symptom free, except for non protruding bumps on ears. Behavior and appetite are excellent, Prednisone has not been started.
Three weeks before diagnosis of strangles, Vet saw puppy for shots; noticed bumps on ears, did not know what they were, had other vets on duty look, they didn't know. Three weeks later, diagnosis was given. You stated that this condition is visually obvious, which I believe. Also, that it is not common, rare. I realize that you cannot examine him, but do you have any suggestions/ ideas about these bumps? Bacterial infections are out; no symptoms. Thank you for your time.
July 26, 2017
1 Recommendations
I remember the question about chance; if the bumps are only on the ear it is a little confusing as allergies etc… would generally affect the whole body. It may be a case of wait and see, if the bumps grow in size a small biopsy may be taken to have examined by a Pathologist to see what cells are present. Without an examination I am unable to offer any additional value I’m afraid. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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hound mix
Koko
9 Weeks
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Swollen Eyes
Irritated Mouth
My puppy has had puppy strangle and I'm still trying to get her well going on 4 weeks or so now antibiotics , eye cream and now around her mouth is irritated what can I put on it? How much longer do you think until she gets healed it seems never ending?
July 26, 2017
1 Recommendations
Puppy strangles is a relatively uncommon condition which is caused by overactivity of the immune system; treatment usually consists of corticosteroids (to suppress the immune system) and antibiotics (antibiotics are to treat any secondary skin infection caused by scratching); if Koko isn’t on corticosteroids, visit your Veterinarian to discuss them, treatment can take a few weeks when treated appropriately. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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australian shepherd mix
Chance
16 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bumps On Ear; Under Skin.
Bumps Under Skin On Ear
To begin Prednisone or wait? I want to wait. Vet wants him to start Prednisone. He is a robust, active puppy. great appetite. Was 8lbs on 4/5; is now 23lbs. Has no other symptoms at all. Has no pain anywhere. I can press and poke him anywhere and he never whines. He runs and plays until I need a break! And then he drops the toy
at my feet and stares at me! I know how fast Strangles can spread. Chance is with observant adults 24/7. I want to see ONE other symptom before I agree to the diagnosis and Prednisone, which has ugly potential side effects. Vet did examine contents of bumps under microscope; no pus. I know about biopsy, done under sedation. I say no; I want more symptoms to show up in this puppy! Vet said she was okay with cutting Prednisone amount in half, if that would make me more comfortable. No thanks; I want more symptoms to show up. Diagnosis was made on 5/12. The bumps are growing, but most are still very small. Both ears have them. Thank you for your time.
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
If your Veterinarian starts the treatment early and it is strangles it would be the best for Chance as a more developed case can become complicated leading to secondary infection and permanent scarring. It is your decision whether to start treatment or not; I cannot say for 100% yes or no without examining Chance. Treatment with steroids is the treatment of choice to suppress the immune system and then the steroids are tapered off. Puppy strangles is usually quite distinctive visually so a presumptive diagnosis can be made on a Veterinarian’s experience, but biopsy is diagnostic method of choice. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
If possible, I would like to add information to my initial message. Chance has not started Prednisone and continues in appearance and behavior as described above. Previous to the diagnosis on 5/12, he was seen 3 weeks earlier for puppy shots. The vet noticed the bumps on ears and said she had never seen bumps like this; she took Chance out of the exam room to show other vets in the practice. They all said the same thing. "I will monitor this." On May 12th, diagnosis was given. Based on the reading I have done, if this is strangles, a lot of time has elapsed with absolutely no other symptoms other than the bumps. I have read the other messages on this board and am filled with sadness for the dogs and owners. "Puppy strangles is usually quite distinctive visually..." You wrote this and based on all I have read, I believe it. You also have written that this condition is rare, not common. Perhaps this explains my situation. I respect that you have not examined Chance. That being said, do you have any suggestions as to what is causing these bumps? Have you ever heard of strangles taking this length of time to manifest into far worse symptoms? I do understand that biopsy is definitive. Yet, the procedure carries risks. And as of today, more risks than I'm willing to put on Chance, considering that the likelihood of strangles grows dimmer each day. Thank you for your time.
July 26, 2017
Chance's Owner
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Puppy Strangles Average Cost
From 231 quotes ranging from $3,500 - $500
Average Cost
$850
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
