Leema Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 (edited) **EDIT* Post 28: Conclusion to this ordeal after consultation with a skin specialist.** I have a litter of three puppies. My bitch, Clover, had one puppy, and the other two are foster Chihuahua X? Mini Foxie X? babies. I am having issues with one foster puppy going bald. Background: The mother of these puppies came into care emaciated, and gave birth to 7 puppies. The mother, in one way or another, killed 4 puppies, and 3 came to me. They were 9 days when they came into my care, and I lost one puppy within a few hours. The puppies were emaciated, dehydrated, and listless when they arrived. However, they doubled their weight within 5 days and they were looking good. But, both puppies developed an eye infection. Off to the vet, got given Conoptal. Eyes resolved in a week. Current problem: The boy puppy, who we have been calling 'Napoleon', went bald around the eyes. At the time, I thought his eyes were irritated by the drops or by the infection. However, Wednesday, this baldness started developing on his temples, and then on his front legs. The baldness does not seem irritated - it is not red, it's not flakey, he is not itching, it's just there. The baldness on his legs is a bit scabby. Vet visit: I took the puppies to the vet today to try to assess the baldness problem. Napoleon didn't glow under light, so that suggests he doesn't have ringworm (apparently, only 85% of ring worm glows under lights, so that still may be the case). I'm also quite susceptible to ring worm, and I don't have any ring worm leisions on myself. They did a skin scraping, and there were no mites seen under the microscope. The vet didn't know what to do. She gave me three options: 1) Doing a fungal screen, that would take 10 days to come back. (That would identify if he has ringworm.) 2) Using a malaseb bath. 3) Applying Advocate to retard any mite population growth (it won't kill all mites, but may help him over come the mites if that's the problem). Plan so far: So, I bought the Advocate but haven't applied it yet. I might do it tomorrow, when they are less stressed after their vet visit. I don't really know what to do. DOL BRAINTRUST! Do you have any ideas what this might be? Pictures: This is the 7th of November: This is today, 4 days later: Edited November 16, 2011 by Leema Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Is he on Ab's ? if he has had an infection /fever , then he may have something else happening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belljari Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 This is probably not going to help but I was thinking something to do with his immune system which results in mites but if the scping are clear. Then I also googled as I like to frighten myself. Its interesting reading http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1593&aid=421 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 That looks like classic demodex to me. If you think he can handle it I'd use the advocate and see if it retards the spread and if so maybe a second skin scraping in a week or so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Puppy Strangles? They go bald around the eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leema Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 Is he on Ab's ? if he has had an infection /fever , then he may have something else happening? He is not on antibiotics. His temperature was taken last week and it was not elevated. He does not seem to be unhappy at all. This is probably not going to help but I was thinking something to do with his immune system which results in mites but if the scping are clear. Then I also googled as I like to frighten myself. Its interesting reading http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1593&aid=421 Yes, frightening. That looks like classic demodex to me. If you think he can handle it I'd use the advocate and see if it retards the spread and if so maybe a second skin scraping in a week or so? Thanks, I think so too. I'll dose with Advocate tomorrow. Puppy Strangles? They go bald around the eyes. Sway, this is really interesting and seems like it has a lot of correlations. I will get in touch with my vet tomorrow and suggest this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trisven13 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 That looks like classic demodex to me. If you think he can handle it I'd use the advocate and see if it retards the spread and if so maybe a second skin scraping in a week or so? I know nothing about puppy strangles but it looks like classic demodex to me and, IME, is more common in pups who have been under stress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Are the glands around his nexk swollen? This is why they call it puppy strangles because its like the mumps. No matter what it is - the issue is about his immune system so work on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leema Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 I can not find enlarged lymph nodes on this puppy, but I've never had to find them before! I put Advocate on him last night, to see what happens. I left a message at the vet re: puppy strangles, to see if she thinks it is a conceivable. She's back in tomorrow. In the mean time, he has got worse with more pimple-like lesions appearing on his muzzle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leema Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 I am very concerned about this puppy. He is now lethargic. Picture below: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowenhart Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I can not find enlarged lymph nodes on this puppy, but I've never had to find them before! I put Advocate on him last night, to see what happens. I left a message at the vet re: puppy strangles, to see if she thinks it is a conceivable. She's back in tomorrow. In the mean time, he has got worse with more pimple-like lesions appearing on his muzzle. The pimples make it sound more and more like puppy strangles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordogs Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Quite possibly Puppy Strangles, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Poor little puppy - I named him Dayne lol The new Pimples are making it look more and more like puppy strangles, if it is it's easy to treat. I hope he is better soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilaryo Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Oh the poor darling! Hope he is going to be OK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leema Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 I took him to a different vet (at the same clinic) today. They still think is demadex and gave me antibacterial wipes and oral antibiotics for secondary infections. The vet I had consulted with the other vet there at the time, who said demadex or juvenile pyoderma (which is puppy strangles). However, they don't want to prescribe perdnisone (treatment for puppy strangles) to a puppy so young. I'm at a loss. I really don't think his little lumps are bacterial infections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fit for a King Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 is there another vet clinic you can consult - perhaps ring and ask if any of the vets at the next surgery have actually treated strangles so know what they are looking for..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 is there another vet clinic you can consult - perhaps ring and ask if any of the vets at the next surgery have actually treated strangles so know what they are looking for..... yes.!!!!! It's a shame , IMO that it was not picked up earlier, and treated - it can be a very nasty disease- esp. in such a tiny, compromised baby fingers crossed he pulls through OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leema Posted November 14, 2011 Author Share Posted November 14, 2011 (edited) The clinic I use has quite a few vets. With this puppy, I have had consults with vet X and vet Y, but vet Y took puppy to vet Z today for a second opinion. Vet Z --HAS-- treated a pup for strangles before - so yes, this clinic has seen it. Vet Z said it's either demodex or juvenile pyoderma (puppy strangles). Vet Y, who I had today, did not obviously check this puppy's lymph nodes. She looked at the lesions on his face, check his temperature, listened with stethoscope. I couldn't help but think that temperature, pulse, and breathing are not influenced by strangles (except in late stages). There are a few vets in my area, but they're all very 'pet' dog and cat vets. I don't really trust them with young puppy care. I can certainly try a couple of different vets, but I have even less faith that they'll know puppy strangles. I am more than happy for it to be NOT puppy strangles, but I'd like a diagnosis rather than just maybes and fluff. EDIT: Just rang a different vet and the vet said (through the vet nurse) the puppy would need a course of antibiotics because it's bacterial. Um, perhaps I won't take puppy there. Edited November 14, 2011 by Leema Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 I've only seen a couple of puppy strangles cases... and by the rapid development , appearance `and general ill health of this poor wee thing ..it seems that way to me.Happy to be corrected tho- ! I thought that ,first up some days ago when you posted the pics. I think in the last pic, one lump can be seen near `an eye? Mine you pup could also have demodex AND pyoderma .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Hi Leema, I have been reading and following with interest. Poor litle pup. Such a poor start to life and now this. I hope you get to the bottom of it and soon. Are either possible conditions contagious? I believe the mange isn't IF the dog is in good health and balance. Wondering if the others are at risk of developing same? I hope your vets will be able to do a definative diagnosis and begin correct treatment soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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