When researching this topic, I came across the actual scientific name for this disorder: “Juvenile Sterile Granulomatous Dermatitis and Lymphadenitis”.
I thought I would share this with you, dear readers of this column, not because I wanted to elicit a smile from you (which I hope I just did), but mostly because I wanted to project the truth that every profession has its own scientific word/phrase usage. For example, doctors have this reputation of writing words that are indecipherable; lawyers sometimes use Latin as part of their practice; and so on. However, in defence of technical professionals, the terminologies used have very specific descriptive meanings, with the ailment and the transmitting of a multiple of factors associated therewith.
This “Pet Care” column serves quite a different purpose. Our policy is to identify problems when caring for our pets, and offer simple solutions to ease/cure discomfort. So, let us now have a look at the frequently asked questions (FAQ) associated with Puppy Strangles.
Q: What is Puppy Strangles?
A: It is a skin disease (dermatitis) of the face, ear flaps, and lower jaw in puppies (usually occurring between three weeks and 4 months of age).
Q: What are the causes of Strangles?
A: The causes presented are questionable and unconvincing; enough so for me to answer with “unknown”. However, since the lesions have been found to be sterile when examined in the laboratory, and the ailment responds well to anti-inflammatory steroids, practitioners believe there is an initial and even more deep-seated dysfunction in the pup’s immune system.
If the lab culture does in fact reveal evidence of an infection, it is believed that the infection is secondary, and not the primary cause of Strangles.
I should mention that the caregiver, and even breeder, might confuse Strangles with other ailments, such as Demodectic Mange or a reaction to drugs and other chemicals. It is relatively easy to dispense with such suggestions, not lastly via laboratory test and questioning the caregiver about the chemical agent(s) and levels of application of same.
Q: What are the symptoms?
A: The caregiver first notices a swollen face, which often includes the eyelids and muzzle. Papules/pustules (small bumps on the facial skin, often containing pus) are clearly visible. Actually, the condition begins to resemble a blister.
When the ailment spreads to the ear flaps and the bottom jaw, these areas also become swollen and contain fluids (edema).
This is a fast-moving ailment. Within 48 hours, the areas mentioned above exhibit these bumps (vesicles), which begin to merge into one swollen mass of tissue around the eye, muzzle, lips, and ears. These lesions then begin to exude a sticky fluid (firstly clear, and later puss-like due to infection).
At this point, the skin of the face and ears becomes painful to the touch. Strangely, there is not usually much of the itch/scratch cycle at the beginning of the ailment.
I should mention that, as concomitant symptoms, 50% of the affected puppies are listless. They are emaciated; they are not eating/nursing well (or not at all); they have a fever; some of them exhibit lameness. Please note that these latter symptoms are all inconclusive findings, and not specifically reflective of the causes of Strangles. However, they do support the final diagnosis.
Q: What is the treatment?
A: Early and aggressive treatment with steroids and antibiotics seems to give the best results. Of course, this therapeutic intervention must be under supervision of the caregiver’s veterinarian.
Supportive treatment would include warm water baths to remove crust and discharge from the affected areas.
Q: Are particular breeds more vulnerable to Strangles?
A: Over the years, irrespective of the continent, I have encountered Strangles in pretty much all breeds. However, the North American literature suggests that predisposed breeds include Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Dachshunds, Lhasa Apsos; and yes, mixed breed puppies as well.
