Our 7 day old pups have become a bit scabby. The vet has been out and described it to be like rain scald seen in horses, basically they are unsure of the cause or reason for it? She has prescribed antibiotics for the little ones for 10 days and also taken a skin scraping to send off for testing.

Any ideas? The bitch is fine and has nothing on her. 

Pups are on vet bed in the house and are being treated exactly the same as our previous litter who were fine?

My friend's puppy had this when she first got him home and it lasted a few months. The vet (or breeder, can't remember which) likened it to cradle cap in babies. Harmless, just unsightly.

Yeah I know that they can get that when a bit older but these are still only a week old? Can they get this at such a young age? 

I know young rabbits in the nest can get something like this, caused by a bacterial infection (staph? not sure). No idea if puppies do, but sounds like consulting the vet was the right way to go, the ABs and skin scraping should sort it out.

Define "a bit scabby"? Young pups at that age sometimes get a bit of dandruff and dry skin, it goes away with age. I've seen it in most species including kittens, rabbits, hamsters etc.

No it is definately proper scabs rather than dandruff. They are a reasonable size compared to the size of the pup.

Sometimes if pups are born late they can get a mild reaction as the fluid surrounding them starts to break down. Could it be this causing it? Were they born on or after the due date?
Aileen

Does it look like cradle cap? I have had this in a litter (3 out of 4 had it), when they were one week old. My vet put the bitch on AB's and gave me a shampoo to wash the affected bits twice a week. It cleared in two weeks, and they are all fine and healthy up to now. If you PM me I can send you some photos of mine.

No they were all born early - on day 60 and 61.
We were not sure about shampooing as they are so young, we were not sure if it would be safe?

I have sent you a PM Chillington...