I found this for you...sorry it's not more positive!:rolleyes:
Q: Abbot is 10 weeks old. He is a Newfoundland. Last Saturday I took him to the vet because he had a lump on his neck. The vet thought it might be a muscle. He also had an ear infection and a temp of 103. He was put on anti-biotics. I felt like he was not getting better so I took him back today (Thursday. They don't seem to know what is wrong. They sent off bloodwork but I'm getting very worried. He has blisters in his ears, eyes, lips and on his nose. His poor little neck and lower jaw is very swollen. His lymph nodes are huge, behind his knees and his neck. He seems to eat all right and plays but this isn't looking very well. PLEASE HELP
A: It sounds like your puppy has "strangles" or juvenile cellulitis, possibly. This condition can affect puppies from about 3 weeks of age to 16 weeks of age. Sometimes demodicosis and severe infections can cause similar signs. If skin scrapings are negative for Demodex mites and there are no signs of a widespread systemic infection other than the swollen lymph nodes, it is even more likely that this is juvenile cellulitis.
It takes a great leap of faith, but the only really good way to treat juvenile cellulitis is with the use of corticosteroids in combination with antibiotics. If corticosteroids are not used early in this disease permanent scarring of the affected areas can occur and if they are never used, death is not uncommon. The swelling of the lymph nodes cuts off the puppy's ability to breath -- hence the common name of "puppy strangles".
It is really scary to use immunosuppressive medications in the face of what appears to be a really severe infection but it is essential IF the condition is in fact juvenile cellulitis. Diagnosis of this can be confirmed by skin biopsy but it is usually best to make an educated guess and hope for the best, since biopsy results usually take a while to get back.
Most puppies who are aggressively treated with appropriate corticosteroids and antibiotics will recover -- but permanent hairloss on affected areas or scarring is not uncommon.
Good luck with this.
Mike Richards, DVM
All the best, Dawn X
I wonder if anyone can give me some advice?? My 10 week old puppy developed red, swollen eyes so we first put it down to an allergy. when her head, lips & nose also started to swell up, we took her to the vet who at first also thought of an allergic reaction. as it got worse, we took her back and she was diagnosed with 'swollen puppy head' syndrome. at this stage her face had started to break out in pussy sores. she was put on antibiotics, eyedrops, cream for her nose & steroids. she is alomost recovered now, but my question is this: will the hair on her face grow back or will she stay our ugly duckling. does anyone know what the cause of this disease is so I can prevent it from happening again. thanks