Pyogranulomatous dermatitis and juvenile sterile lymphadenitis (juvenile cellulitis) is a skin disease of the dog that is characterised by rapid onset. The skin and lymph nodes of puppies between 3 weeks and 3 months of age are affected. Several puppies in a litter may have the same lesions. More exceptionally, this skin disease can affect adult dogs.
The aetiopathogeny (= factors inducing the disease) is not well known but a defect in immunity is suspected.
The clinical signs combine general and cutaneous symptoms:
- Fever
- Facial oedema (swollen face)
- Rapid onset of purulent secretions and crusts
- Bilateral suppurative otitis
- Significant swelling of draining lymph nodes
Diagnosis:
- Essentially clinical: age, appearance and location of lesions
- Cytological examination (examination of the cells collected by applying a glass slide to the skin and staining it) is carried out during the visit to the veterinary dermatologist. The lesions are sterile!
- Skin biopsies (examination of a fragment of skin taken from a tranquillised animal) show granulomatous to pyogranulomatous inflammation
Treatment:
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment are very important to avoid skin scarring
- Use of oral corticosteroids allows rapid improvement (3-4 days) and healing in +/- 3-4 weeks
- Local care: disinfectants, antiseptic shampoos, anti-inflammatories can accelerate the speed of healing and soothe the pain
- Antibiotics can be useful to avoid superinfection
© Dr. L. Beco