This is BHRR’s Murray. He and I are at Kanata Animal Hospital right now. He weighs 8.3 kgs(18.26 pounds) at almost 6.5 weeks of age.

I rushed him into Kanata AH for when I got home with BHRR’s Everly, we were getting ready to feed and the pups had been moved to their stimulation area – Sean and Kids were home ahead of me and had most things ready – and BHRR’s Murray LOVES his food!

When he did not rush in BHRR’s Murray’s style to get dinner, I knew something was immediately wrong.

I took a look at him and his eyes – left more than right was swollen – and he had hives plus he was quite ‘flat’.

I immediately called KAH as I suspected a possible allergic reaction – to what I had no idea as they have limited exposure to things. We did open up a new pack of Pee pads today and they were now getting a different puppy canned food transitioning as of yesterday for they stopped liking the PVD Essential Care Canned. Nothing else has changed for The Bakers Dozen.

By the time I got to KAH – his ears and tummy and even penis had lesions and his lips and muzzle were swollen.

We are now at KAH and as I am here, there will be a delay of the 7 of The Bakers Dozen that were going to go up tonight for adoption.

He has had an initial assessment and two Vets have diagnosed juvenile cellulitis. He also now has swollen lymph nodes. Per his Vets, onset is very sudden and often mistaken by many as being an allergic reaction.

We also did skin scrapings.

Juvenile cellulitis is also sometimes called puppy strangles or juvenile pyoderma. This is an IDIOPATHIC skin disease occurring in 3-16 week old puppies. No etiologic agent has been identified per the Pediatric Emergencies II research paper found on VIN – Veterinary Information Network – that his one Vet printed out for me.

Further to this paper published by Douglass K. Macintire, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVECC, this disease is characterised by facial swelling, lymphadenopathy, deep pyoderma of the head and face, fever, depression etc.

Juvenile cellulitis appears to have an auto-immune mediated cause. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal.

Treatment involves topical therapy with antibacterial shampoos, antibiotics and prednisolone. This treatment will be continued for several weeks. He has been prescribed clavaseptin and prednisolone and I gave him his first doses and we now await for the Vet to come back.

BHRR’s Murray has had his recent share of stress for sure with being under the care for his hind end with both Dr. Liston and Dr. Parker(Ortho).

This Bakers Dozen has had so many odds stacked against them being born to an emaciated Puppymill Mama…. We pretty much have lived at the Vets at least once a week with them fighting so hard for them….

The bills continue to rise for The Bakers Dozen and if anyone may consider a donation you can donate direct to Kanata Animal Hospital 613-836-2848 – we are here now!

OR via email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org

OR via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org

We remain so grateful for any and all consideration…..