and it is limited to only what i have seen as a vet tech is....they have to drain the lymph nodes...and then on a antibotic i have never heard of putting a 1 1/2 day old on pred....and i wouldnt either....
once they have been drained and their on a antibotic they dont come back. also the whole litter will start to show signs...
hopefully some one who has delt with this will respond...

I will pass this onto her. This is a female that she has had for quite awhile. She is from European bloodlines and not from a litter that she has.
Thanks again..
Kim


not just my bulldogs, but my heart & soul!!

I am just posting this for a bully friend, who for some reason couldn't post a question on here..


not just my bulldogs, but my heart & soul!!

The pup is how old? This is the second time the pup has had puppy strangles or the owner has had a litter with puppy strangles? Usually a pup will get it only once. It is not contagious. Just because one puppy has it does not mean the others will get it. Exact cause is unknown. It is considered one of those autoimmune problems--like asthma in a person or puppy mange (in fact would not be surprised if puppy mange does not end up being a problem in this litter.) However since it is an autoimmune problem and puppies share the same genetics another puppy could also display it. It is called puppy strangles because usually only a young pup gets it--from 1 wk-several months. and strangles because the swelling in the neck area looks like it could cause the pup to have difficulty swallowing or breathing--not usually a problem if treated. Swelling is usually around an ear , the side of the face and neck. It is very painful and can cause high fever. Pups will be lethargic at this stage and not want to eat. May cry. May make scratching motions at area with hind leg. It is actually a swelling of the lymph nodes in that area. Treatment is high dose prednisone to prevent the autoimmune response. If a secondary infection does not set in (abscess) it will usually subside without drainage. Therefore an antibiotic liie clavamox or keflex is prescribed. The antibiotic only prevents the swollen lymph node from abscessing or if abscessed, cure the infection. The antibiotic will not cure the initial swelling--it is not actually an infection. It will not go away without prednisone unless it gets a secondary infection. The initial swelling is "sterile" in other words it is not caused by a bacteria or virus--it is caused by an autoimmune response which is why pred has to be used even in such a young pup. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DOSE OF PRED REQUIRED (AS MUCH AS 3MG/KG/DAY FOR UP TO 2 WKS) IT IS NECESSARY TO TAPER OFF THE PRED AFTER THE SWELLING HAS BEEN RESOLVED/ DO NOT STOP COLD TURKEY!!! Once treatment is started with pred pup recovers to normal activity quickly. A couple of extra FYI: if pup develops symptoms of puppy strangles before you can get to a vet to get pred--such as high fever--you can give him asprin to reduce fever and pain--BUT ONLY ASPRIN. TYLENOL AND IBUPROFIN ARE POISON TO DOGS. You should not give asprin when on pred (and shouldn't need it. Also Abx can cause diarrhea. Last--water intake should be increased when on steroids--a dog on steroids will have a marked increase in water intake. I feed a baby an extra ounce of water between feeds (I am proficient in tube feeding so I do that--it protects their kidneys.) This is probably more info then you wanted.

Miriam Olesen
http://www.omegabulldogs.shutterfly.com/