Sick and bloated...
His little eyes tell how sick he is!About a week after we brought Darcy home, he developed a little bit of a sagging mucky eye. We thought it was perhaps a grass seed or similiar that was causing a problem. Soon after, little pustules began breaking out all over his nose, and mouth area. It was so worrying!
We took him to the vet, and they didn't seem to immediately know the cause. We purchased creams and bathing lotions, as the vet suggested. Boy, these items can be expensive! Unfortunately, his symptoms only worsened. We were so worried about him. Next thing, he started to have large lesions break out on his back and neck area... one by one. Now we were horrified! Back to the vet we go, and his diagnosis was discouraging. He even offered to put Darcy down! No way! We decided to keep working with whatever medication was offered.
These lesions resembled boils, or even tumours. He would scratch them, and they would explode. Not a pretty sight, but he seemed relieved when this happened. The vet, and later ourselves, had to shave these areas to enable faster healing. We actually thought Darcy had cancer. At the onset, Darcy was given steriods. I can't remember the exact reason, but may have had something to do with aiding his immune system. Whatever the reason, we were warned that he would put on weight with these. And boy did he what! Darcy became like a little tank and couldn't eat his food fast enough. He already had a healthy enough appetite (what lab doesn't) but it tripled!
I researched the internet and found another dog, a sheltie, who suffered the same things. The lesions and symptoms, right down to the eye, were identical. It started as an irritated eye, the same as it did for Darcy. The owner posted the full details of this sheltie's journey. And, I discovered the name of the illness. It was 'Puppy Strangles'. Apparently horses suffer from 'strangles', but it is not the same strain as happens to dogs.
We went back to the vet with my 'findings', and he said he already knew what it was. Yeah, right! If he knew, why did he suggest all sorts of blood tests etc, which is hugely expensive for dogs and no guarantee of any solutions, if he knew it all along?! Puppy Strangles is an illness that passes with time and the medication we were already using. It is not fatal, however horrible it appears.
Darcy went through a very sick period, and we did at times think he wouldn't make it. It is an illness that attacks the immune system (hence the steriods), and once a dog has contracted P.S., they should reproduce. It can be passed along.
The breeders said they have never had any other puppy of their contract this. They had never even heard of it. I guess we were just the lucky ones, lol. And yes, we were/are. Despite a traumatic start, we wouldn't trade Darcy for the world. He is the best dog ~ and he has the scars to prove it...
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