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
$850
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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
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Puppy Strangles Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
SHIHTZU X
DAISY
6 Months
0 found this helpful
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
my 5 and a half month old female Shihtzu, came down with puppy strangles immediately she was desexed, as it was Easter I had to take her to several different vets, my own vet said he suspected puppy strangles and gave her a shot of antibiotics with instructioms to take her to the immergency vet clinic over easter if I was concerned, by easter saruday, one of the glands under her ear burst and I immediately took her to the clinic, the put her on 3/4 cortisone tablet for 5 days to be followed by a reduced dose after that, it didn't make any difference and a week later another gland burst under her chin and the other one was very swollen, back to the emergency clinic I went and he increased her meds to 1 tablet twice a day for 5 days, her wounds are healing and it has been 5 days and she is down to 1 tablet for 5 days, to be followed by 1 tablet every two days, the other lump has gone, but my concern is when she has finished the course is it likely to flare up again, she has had a second shot of antibiotics. she has grown fat as she is always hungry but fussy with what she will eat. I would like to take her for little walks b ut am worried she may pick a secondary illness du to her reduced immune system.
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Puppy strangles is an uncommon to rare condition, it is treated with steroids to suppress the immune system as well as antibiotics to cover for any secondary infection. Generally when the treatment is successful and the dose of steroids is reduced, there is a low chance of recurrence and the condition is practically unknown in adults. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Golden Retriever
goldie
6 Weeks
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0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Swelling
Discharge
We found a golden retriever we want but it has strangles. Do you think it is worth still buying? How long does it take the strangles to go away while treating it? What could happen in the future? Did I read correctly meds cost about 100 a month? How long do they have to be on meds?
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Puppy strangles can be a scary condition for an owner and can look horrific, but with prompt aggressive treatment the condition can be treated and chances of recurrence are rare. Puppy strangles is caused by a dysfunction of the immune system leading to the symptoms and possible secondary bacterial infection. Treatment consists of aggressive steroids and antibiotics (to prevent or treat secondary infection); response to treatment varies between cases (usually measured in weeks), but treatment can be long-term as the steroids need to be tapered off gradually over time. The price of medication will vary depending on your location and generics used. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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miniature rotty
thor
8 Weeks
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0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Eyes Leaking Yellow/Green
my puppy is 8 weeks old and i just found out he has strangles, his eyes lips and glands or swollen, is antibiotics and steroids good for him and how long is this gonna take to clear up?
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Puppy Strangles is suspected to be caused by a dysfunction of the immune system, the condition responds to immunosuppression using steroids and the antibiotics are to cover in case of secondary bacterial infection. The condition is treated aggressively and then with improvement the steroids are tapered off over time; treatment time is dependent on response to treatment, but is long. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Poodle
Doug
3 Weeks
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0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Skin Lesion
Our breeder contacted us to say that 2 of the 6 puppies in the litter have juvenile cellulitis. They are 3 weeks old now. It appears to have been caught early by the vet (one week ago) and they have been on a treatment of antibiotics and prednisone and are apparently responding very well. The other puppies are not showing any signs at this point. As we get pick of litter, we will not be selecting one of the puppies that has had the infection. However, would you be concerned about selecting one of the other puppies? I have read that juvenile cellulitis can occur up to as late as 6 months. If the other puppies were to contract this infection, do you think it would manifest itself before we select our puppy in another 5 weeks? Is it common to have just a few pups in the litter have juvenile cellulitis and the others remain healthy? We're just not sure if we should walk away and find another breeder. Thanks!!
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Juvenile cellulitis (or puppy strangles) is suspected to have a genetic component as some breeds are more susceptible to it than others. The condition isn’t an infection (although secondary infection may occur), it is believed to be caused a a dysfunction of the immune system which is why it responds to immunosuppressive therapy (prednisone); the use of antibiotics is to prevent or treat any possible secondary infection that may occur. There is no guarantee that Doug won’t get juvenile cellulitis but there is no certainty that he will either. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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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.
