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Keywords: Dachshund puppy, Juvenile cellulitis, Puppy strangles.
Ind J of Vet Sci and Biotech (2020): 10.21887/ijvsbt.15.4.20
Juvenile Cellulitis in a Dachshund Puppy – A Case Report
MR Krishna Nath
1
, N Madhavan Unny
2
*, Usha Narayana Pillai
3
J
uvenile cellulitis is an uncommon, idiopathic granulomatous
and pustular disorder of the face, pinnae and submandibular
lymph nodes (Miller et al., 2013). The condition is also called
juvenile sterile granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis,
juvenile pyoderma, and puppy strangles. Puppies less than
4-month-old are the most susceptible group with a greater
breed predisposition for Labrador Retrievers, Dachshunds,
Golden Retrievers, Siberian Huskies and Lhasa Apsos. Acute
occurrence is commonly seen. Without proper diagnosis and
therapeutic intervention, rapid progression, and worsening
of the condition occur.
C ASE H ISTORY AND C LINICAL O BSERVATIONS
A Dachshund pup of 58 days age (male, unvaccinated) was
brought to University Veterinary Hospital with the complaint
of swelling in the neck region since one week. The puppy
had a reduced appetite after the onset of swelling and of
the whole litter, only this puppy was found to be afected.
Urination and defaecation was normal. On examination, the
puppy appeared dull and lethargic with a rectal temperature
of 102.3°F. Physical examination revealed focal alopecia,
folliculitis around the muzzle, and bilateral blepharitis along
with purulent ocular discharge (Fig. 1). Prescapular and
submandibular lymph nodes were enlarged (Fig. 2). The
condition was diagnosed as juvenile cellulitis on the basis of
age, clinical signs, distribution of lesions, and the history of
unafected littermates.
T REATMENT AND D ISCUSSION
The therapy was aimed at immuno-suppression and
reduction of secondary bacterial infection. The puppy was
treated with prednisolone (susp. Kidpred) @ 2 mg/kg PO,
OD, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (susp. Augmentin) @
22 mg/kg PO, BID for one week. Antibacterial was stopped
after one week. After the initial therapy, the puppy showed
marked improvement. It became more active and the
lymphadenopathy resolved (Fig. 3). Prednisolone was tapered
gradually as no new lesions were formed. Treatment with
prednisolone was continued for a period of 5 weeks.
The case study emphasizes the need for accurate
diagnosis and immediate immunosuppressive therapy for
the better prognosis of the disease. It is often mistaken
CASE REPORT
1-3
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and
Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Corresponding Author: N Madhavan Unny, Department of Veteri-
nary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, College of Veteri-
nary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India, e-mail:
madhavanunny@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Nath, M.R.K., Unny, N.M., and Pillai, U.N.
(2020). Juvenile Cellulitis in a Dachshund Puppy–A Case Report.
Ind J Vet Sci and Biotech, 15(4): 88-89.
Source of support: Nil
Confict of interest: None.
Submitted: 14/05/2020 Accepted: 17/05/2020 Published: 25/05/2020
for Staphylococcal pyoderma and demodicosis. As steroid
therapy is contraindicated in the former cases, treatment
should be initiated only after ruling out both the conditions.
Diferential diagnoses include angioedema, furunculosis,
infectious and non-infectious panniculitides, and adverse
Fig. 1: Bilateral blepheritis, alopecia, and folliculitis of muzzle area