I have recently had a litter of Springer pups and one developed Puppy Head Gland. Can anyone please let me know if this is hereditary and if I arrange a repeat mating are any of these pups likely to have the disease.
Thanks

As I understand it, it comes from the bitch and once the puppy is infected it stays in the puppy and that then becomes a carrier too. So neither bitch or puppy's should be bred from. Sorry. It's a nasty thing but with luck the puppy should make a full recovery. The puppy my friend bred which had it has since won a Field Trial!!!

Regards, John

hi,

This condition has several names. There is some good info on the internet about it. It's also known as jeuvenile pyoderma, puppy strangles, jeuvenile cellulitis and head glands disease.

Hope this is helpful

Everything I've read about Puppy Head Gland, says it's hereditary I'm afraid :-( so unless you know where it came from ie. mum or dad, the chances are it will be carried into the next litter too if you use the same parents.

Thanks for the reply. If the parents have not had this condition as puppies how would the disease be carried down the line ? Can it skip a generation ? If the bitch puppy that had the disease is used for breeding will some of her pups be infected ?
Sorry for all the questions but I would like to use this bitch when she is old enough to breed but don't want to risk having Puppy Head Gland.