Stranglers disease in puppies - Page 1

Has anyone had any experience with this disorder?
If so what were the symptoms, treatment, prognosis , and outcome.
Please share.

 A recent article from December 2009:

Canine strangles
----------------
_Streptococcus zooepidemicus_ is a bacterial (not viral as originally
transcribed from the lay report) pathogen associated with a number of
opportunistic infections of horses including respiratory disease,
keratitis, and abortion. It is however, as its name suggests, a
potentially zoonotic pathogen capable of infecting many mammalian
species, including dogs and humans. There have been a number of
documented cases of it being the aetiological agent of acute fatal
haemorrhagic pneumonia in dogs (1-3) and serious disease in humans
such as nephritis, septicemia, and meningitis (4-6). Garnett et al.
demonstrated that _S. zooepidemicus_ isolated from an infected dog
was capable of causing acute fatal haemorrhagic pneumonia in healthy
dogs, thereby fulfilling Koch's postulates (2). Furthermore,
particular _S. zooepidemicus_ strain types appear to be more capable
of causing acute fatal haemorrhagic pneumonia in dogs (7). Recently a
veterinary nurse developed severe systemic disease after being
coughed on by a dog with _S. zooepidemicus_ associated respiratory
disease (8) highlighting a not inconsequential risk to staff.
_Streptococcus equi_ (in fact an equine adapted subtype of _S.
zooepidemicus_) and the cause of equine strangles has also been
reported as the cause of upper respiratory tract disease in one dog (9).

From: http://www.promedmail.org

With many references following the main article posted here.

I think puppy strangles is different that equine strangles  Puppy strangles is more of an autoimmune thing, they can usually recover with steroids and antbiotics I had one a few years back the head swelled up I thought she had been bitten by a bug she recovered without any side effects some dogs get scarring from the break outs I think getting them on streroids as quick as possible helps the severity

The issue is I am having a hard time with the different symptoms and treatment.
With Canine strangles I hear there are blisters , outbreaks, and swelling with pus around the eyes, ears, and nose with or without hair lose.
The treatment is steroids which can supress the immune system and likely cause hip and joint problems due to the high doses.
I beleive steroids are used in this instance because of an auto immune issue.
However, what if a dog does not have any blisters, outbreaks , or pus.....only the swollen lymph nodes in the neck and a very small clear nasal discharge.
This sounds more to me like equin strangles which is a bacterial infection.
I read an article online that stated the first case of a dog diagnosed with this type was a Golden retriver in 2006.
If my puppy truly had the equin version of this infection wouldnt the steroids supress their immune systems putting them at further risk, not to mention hip and joint problems.

It is also called juvenile cellulitis (pyoderma). Very painful stuff  but treatable.
Always,
Cee

I had some puppies with this, once, and the abcess just came to the surface (outside the neck) and burst. Big ragged looking wound, but closed nicely. The pups were put on Combiotic and responded well. Now, you cannot get Combiotic (or any other penicillin -streptomycin "cocktail") anymore, so you have to go with something else.. whatever the vet prescribes. I don't think that injectable penicillin alone will get it. Combiotic was also wonderful for clearing up chronic mastitis, where Ampicillin failed, but I guess that's what we have USDA for, to take away everything useful (so the vets can make money). I have since discovered something very helpful for abcesses (especially staph, drug resistant), but I am not a veterinarian, so I don't want to give medical advice.

Hum 2006 first case? I don't think so, I had a pupy come down with this disease in 1999, big swollen limph nodes throat areathe size of a golfball, the puppy was a german shepherd aprox 5 weeks old,  I took her to the vet,, he lanced the infected area and ran a ribbon through it, so that it could drain. The puppy recovered just fine, they did give us some cream  to make sure it did not get infected, not a big deal if you catch it early.

so you did not use steroids? correct?
just an antibiotic , in this case cream.
And the only symptom was the lymph nodes being swollen with pus?

That is what my pup has but the vet has prescribed steroids with the antibiotics.

This is the usual treatment I beleive for a different condition which affects the ears eyes and mouth being affected with blisters , swelling , and pus.
It is believed to be an immune system disorder which is why they use the steriods to treat it to supress the immune system.
I am concerned because in the case with a strep infection which only affects the lymph nodes I dont beleive suppression of the immune system is the correct approach.

 

HI GSD4EVER,
I have had this a few times......the first time it happened it was a different vet, who mentioned strangles, but gave it the benefit
of the doubt, and the pup got amoxicillin.....worked like a charm.....broke open and drained within a couple of days.

My regular vet was there for my second one, amoxiicillin again, and again...gone in a short time never to return again.

When in doubt, it's a good idea to check with another vet........
Hope that helps and good luck.

Michele

I have gone to 2 different vets, and got 2 different diagnosis and meds.
They are so different the wrong approach concerns me.
The 1st vet said abscess, drained it, flushed it and started amox which was working fine.

Then we went to my reg vet who said, oh no this is strangles and will kill the pup if you dont start immediate high doses of steroids in addition to the antibiotics.

My concern is that I dont see any symptoms which resemble the juvenille cellutis I see on the internet which indicates an immune disorder.
Those pups have infected eyes, pus in the ears and hair loss.

The only symptoms I am seeing is the lymph nodes swollen like golf balls and filled with pus.

I dont want to medicate with steroids and surpress the immune system, but if it is the other kind it could kill them I am told.

Very confused, and looking for any and all info.

the wrong choice could cost them their lives, but there is so litlle known.
I also fear joint and hip problems later on as I am told can occur if high steroids are administered in a young pup.