Labkisses Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 Hi everyone, This is related to my post 'inverted eyelashes' but I thought I'd start a new one about Puppy Strangles. My pup has now been diagnosed with this horrible disease. We got him to the vet straight away after discovering a huge lump on the side of his face which actually turned out to be his lymph gland! He is now on a course of antibiotics, steroids and topical eye ointment to help him. Anyone experienced this before, and how long did it take for your pup to recover? Was there much scarring? Poor puppy is going through the wars at the moment Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsella Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 My first wolfhound had Strangles and it was frightening. Following the vet's advice and antibiotics etc, it cleared up in about a month. He had lost all the hair on his face and ears and looked a mess but he healed with no scarring at all. As bad as it seems now, labkisses, in 3 months you'll never know your puppy was affected. Sending healing thoughts and all that stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted2gold Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 Yes, I have also had a puppy with it, his gland came up 2 days after his 6 week vacc & had swelling around the eyes & mouth. He was put on antibiotics & steroids straight away. He was fully healed and off all medication at 13weeks when he went to his new home. No scarring and has grown into a very handsome boy. Boston is now 5years old. Hugs to your little man & I hope he makes a speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatchat Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 My very first golden litter had a bitch puppy with this horrible disease. She looked like she had mumps...got it at about 6.5 weeks. She went to the vet daily for a month...antibiotics, cortisone and topical cream for scabs. She looked dreadful with a bald face but as she grew so did her face hair and eventually there was only one tiny scarred spot. She lived to 14 and was a much loved family pet. Hope your puppy pulls through ok!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Labkisses Posted June 19, 2010 Author Share Posted June 19, 2010 Thank you everyone for your thoughts and info. I think we have gotten his case of the strangles quite early, he hasn't lost any hair and the swelling is only around his eyes and a little on his lips at the moment (besides his huge lymph gland). I really hope it doesn't get any worse than this so hopefully the antibiotics and steroids kick in and start working straight away. He is fine in all other aspects, unbelievably he is probably one of the most active of all his brothers and sisters and the swelling etc doesn't bother him whatsoever. The vet was quite surprised that he was handling it well and not scratching or rubbing his face. We had to tell the new owners of this little guy that he wont be fit to travel next week, we're hoping he has a speedy recovery. Stuff like this really challenges you when you're breeding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 In my last litter had 2 puppies come down with strangles. The first one got it at only 6 weeks of age and sadly had to be put to sleep at 12 weeks, the cortisone severley weakened her already weak immune system and allowed another disease to take over Then Henrietta, after her 12 week vaccianation, also developed puppy strangles. It was a tough battle for Henri, thought she would die. The cortisone did stunt her growth, I think she took it for around 2.5 months and she had a big growth spurt as soon as she was weaned off it but is still very small(at 2 years old she is just 22kgs!).......she now has multiple joint problems. If I was you I would be keeping the puppy until he has been free from medication for a few weeks. With Henrietta she would be looking fine and then suddenly have another breakout of boils as soon as the medication stopped. Henrietta does have some scarring but as she is black it is not really noticable unless you know what you are looking for. I will hunt around for some photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Labkisses Posted June 20, 2010 Author Share Posted June 20, 2010 Thanks KJ, any photos you have would be great The little guy is doing better today, his lymph gland is still enlarged but nowhere near as big as yesterday thank goodness. It doesn't look like the strangles is spreading more around his eyes and lips which is also great. He is definitely one tough little puppy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisart Dobes Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Have never had a pup with this - sounds bit scarey, poor baby - hope he recovers well. I do have a few questions though for learnings sake How do you pick it ? What are the telling signs ? How do they get it ? Can you prevent it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 For my pup, Rudie, the first sign of strangles was a bump on her eye lid, then her ears becames weepy and massive swollen lymph glands appeared overnight. YOu can see the bump on her eye in this photo........ This was taken about a 2 weeks later........ After 3 weeks on cortisone, she was tiny compared to her litter sister but her skin was much better! Photo taken when the pups were 9 weeks. Henrietta had a much worse case....... and now aged 2......... Bisart.....it is due to a weakened immune system. Signs are swollen lymph nodes, bumps on eyes, boils/pustules on face and in ears. The specialist I saw believed that there was a connection between the distemper component of the vaccination Henrietta received at 12 weeks and her developing strangles. To my limited knowledge it is not preventable. Puppy Strangles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisart Dobes Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Thank you - very interesting. From the link it seems to run in certain breeds (though they only have 3 listed, it obviously affects more) - does anyone know if these breeds have auto-immune problems overall ? Also within those breeds does it seem to have an inheritance factor - run in certain lines ? If it does - do those breeders practice immune system development and support for bitches in whelp and / or their pups from birth ? There are numerous natural ways to improve immune function in breeding stock and ofcourse you would select against this, if at all possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Labkisses Posted June 20, 2010 Author Share Posted June 20, 2010 Thank you for the photos KJ, the photo of the pup 2 weeks later - was that after the pup was on medication? Our little guy's eyes are much worse as its affected both his upper and lower rims of his eyes and parts of his lips. His ears have tiny bumps but they shouldn't get enlarged now with his medication - fingers crossed. Do pups get worse after their 12 wk vaccination? Although I know its required, I am hesitant in letting this little guy have his at 12 weeks in case he gets worse or relapses Is this possible if strangles is associated with the vaccine? Yes - first sign we saw was a lump form on his upper eye, it seemed to spread very quickly within a day or two. Ensure you vet gives you the right medication etc if you do ever come across this. Our little fella was diagnosed wrongly twice before anyone knew what was going on...they say its a rare disease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stolzseinrotts Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 (edited) Thank you for posting the pics KJ and sharing the information. I haven't dealt with strangles in puppies before (know of it in horses), thank you for the pics as well as what happened and the timing. Edited June 20, 2010 by Stolzseinrotts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Labkisses........the pup had been on medication for about a week in the second photo. I would hold off on the vaccination until you pup has fully recovered, with Rudie (the pup in the first pics)I was told to wait about a month after she had fully recovered. This did not ever happen as she was pts at 12 weeks after developing neosoprosis. Henrietta(the second pup with strangles)was perfectally healthy before her 12 week vaccination, within 24 hours of being vaccinated she had symptoms of strangles. How old is your pup? Bisart.........as far as I know it does not run in lines but my knowledge is limited. Strangles is not that common, I think my vet said he sees only 1 or 2 cases a year. I know I would not breed from an adult that had strangles as a pup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Labkisses Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 KJ - our pup was just over 6 weeks old when i noticed the bump and it was pretty much striaght after his vaccination. We thought it had to do with the entropion but it wasnt He is now 7.5 weeks old and after being on the meds for the last 3 days he has really improved. The swelling around his eyes has gone down heaps and is almost all gone, he just has the white scarring now which hopefully will disappear. Do you know how long it took for your pups scarring to fade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 I think it took around 3 weeks for my pups(Rudi the one how got it at 6 weeks) face to clear up. Henrietta who got strangles at 12 weeks took around 2 months to clear up. How is you baby now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Labkisses Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 KJ - our pup is going really well. We took him to the vet on Saturday and they are amazed how quickly he has improved. He no longer has welling around his eyes, he just has a few white spots on his lips, muzzle and a couple around his eyes. We have reduced his steroid intake to half the amount he was on last week and his course of antibioitics for the inflammation will continue for the next 5 days. He is such a strong little guy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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