Skin Conditions Of Newborn Puppies

It's common to see a newborn puppy with a skin infection. During the first six months of life, their skin and hair go through big changes, which may cause hereditary skin conditions to present themselves. An undeveloped immune system also makes puppies more susceptible to viral, bacterial, and fungal skin infections. Always talk to your vet before attempting to treat your puppy's skin condition. There are many conditions that have similar symptoms, and what works for one infection might make another one worse.

You might be surprised to learn that the condition known as ringworm isn't really a worm. It's a fungal infection that causes an itchy, circular mark on the skin. It can only be picked up through broken skin, and it spreads through contact. Animals without any visible marks can spread the infection through fungal spores in their hair or the last remaining spores after the visible irritation has disappeared.

Since infected animals shed spores everywhere they go, isolate them until they test negative for ringworm and disinfect all other areas of the home. Get other pets tested as well to make sure it hasn't spread. Your vet may treat ringworm with oral medication to prevent the fungus from reproducing and spreading as well as topical medication, which kills the existing spores.

Mange is a skin condition caused by mites. There are two types of mites that cause two different types of mange: demodectic mange and sacrcoptic mange.

Demodectic mange, also known as demodex or red mange, is caused by a mite called Demodex canis. These mites are passed from mother to puppy and normally live within hair follicles. Since a puppy's immune system is underdeveloped, it might be unable to keep the number of mites within a normal range. They can become overpopulated and cause redness, hair loss, scaling, infection, swelling, and crusty patches. Demodex can be localized in patches or generalized, occurring all over the body.

Sarcoptic mange, also known as scabies, is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites don't normally live on the skin, and the condition is highly contagious for dogs and humans. These mites burrow under the skin and lay eggs. When they hatch, they eat the skin around them. Scabies causes redness, hair loss, extreme itchiness, thickened skin, and inflammation of the lymph nodes. In extreme cases, it can cause dogs to waste away.

Treatment for both types of mange may include clipping your puppy's hair; giving weekly baths with medicated shampoo; repeated topical treatments using a dip, shampoo, or ointment to kill the mites; and possibly oral medication.

If you see scabs on newborn puppies, it might be a case of juvenile cellulitis. Juvenile cellulitis, also known as puppy strangles, is one of the less common newborn puppy skin diseases, and it's triggered by an immune response. It's most often seen in puppies between 3 and 16 weeks of age. Golden retrievers, dachshunds, beagles, and Gordon setters are predisposed to the condition, which suggests it may be inherited.

Puppy strangles presents as a series of symptoms. First, the face and muzzle suddenly swell. Pustules form over the lips, muzzle, and inside ear canals, which eventually burst and scab over. If the condition isn't treated, it can spread from the face to the body.

Other symptoms include swollen lymph nodes in the neck, fever, loss of appetite, and low energy. In some cases, puppies also experience joint pain, which may cause limping. Since juvenile cellulitis is an autoimmune disease, treatment may include an oral steroid, such as prednisone, to suppress the immune system as well as antibiotics to treat infection and inflammation in open wounds.