Last Week: HOW TO Treat Your Dog’s Smegma
Juvenile cellulitis, or puppy strangles, is a skin disorder that mostly affects puppies between the ages of 3 weeks and 4 months. It is also known as juvenile pyoderma and lymphadenitis.
According to petmd.com, “The face, pinnae (outer part of the ear) and salivary lymph nodes are the most common sites to be affected. The cause of this condition is unknown.”
Petplace.com also reports, “The disorder is a pustular and crusting dermatitis or skin inflammation that occurs in puppies less than 3 to 4 months of age. Pustules are usually present on the muzzle, inside the ear and on the lip margins.”
It rarely ever affects any adult dogs and Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds and Gordon Setters are predisposed to it.
What Can Cause Juvenile Cellulitis?
According to petmd.com, “the cause of juvenile cellulitis is unknown, but an inherited immune dysfunction is suspected.”
What are the Symptoms of Juvenile Cellulitis?
According to petplace.com, “It is important to rule out other diseases that may appear similar to puppy strangles so the puppy receives proper treatment. The main disease to rule out is demodicosis. This type of mange can occur in young animals, causing lesions on their faces and high doses of steroids would be highly contraindicated.”
If your dog begins to show several of these symptoms, petmd.com recommends that you take him to the vet immediately:
Acutely (sudden and severe) swollen face – especially the eyelids, lips and muzzle
Salivary gland lymphadenopathy, a disease that can affect one or multiple lymph nodes
Marked pustular and oozing skin disease, which frequently fistulates (develops into a hollow passage); develops within 24–48 hours
Scarring and hair loss
Pustular ear infection
Lesions often become crusted
Affected skin is usually tender
Lethargy in 50 percent of cases
Loss of appetite, fever and presence of sterile suppurative arthritis in 25 percent of cases (acute inflammation of membranes, with leaking into a joint, due to bacterial infection)
Sterile pustular nodes (rare) over the trunk, reproductive organs or on the area around the anus; lesions may appear as fluctuating nodules under the skin with fistulation
How is Juvenile Cellulitis Diagnosed?
According to petmd.com, “Your veterinarian will conduct a skin biopsy (tissue sample) to determine what is causing the lesions.”
Tests to be considered include the following:
Complete blood count (CBC) – this test may reveal a high white blood cell count and anemia.
Deep skin scrapings
Cytology (a test to look for abnormal cells) of the aspirate of pustules or abscesses
Cytology of the aspirates of joints
Multiple biopsies from fresh, intact lesions
Skin samples are used for both histopathology and cultures
Tissue samples are submitted for cultures to confirm the sterile nature of the disease and ensure that an infection isn’t missed.
Petmd.com states, “Skin biopsies are necessary to establish a final diagnosis. Samples are used for histopathology to detect specific changes in the tissues and for cultures to ensure that infections are not missed. Failure to do so may have severe consequences.
Skin biopsies are generally taken under sedation to minimize the discomfort and stitches are placed to ensure proper healing.”
How is Juvenile Cellulitis Treated?
According to Petmd.com, “Your veterinarian may prescribe a topical (external) ointment to soothe and ease the pain, and as an adjunct to corticosteroid medication. In rare resistant cases, chemotherapy may be required. Adult dogs with panniculitis (inflammation under the skin) may require longer therapy. Antibiotics may be also prescribed if there is evidence of a secondary bacterial infection.”
“The most severe adverse effect of high doses of steroids is the development of gastrointestinal ulcers. It is important that you monitor the appetite of your pet, the development of vomiting and the appearance of the stools. If diarrhea develops or if the color of the stool changes to dark brown or black, your veterinarian needs to be informed as it may be a sign of an ulcer,” suggests petplace.com.
PHOTOS: Ltshears, Jeanne, Sheepofthefarm
Find A Vet HOW TO articles are intended for informational purposes only. You should always consult with your veterinarian about any health issues affecting your dog.
Category : HOW TO
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