Demodectic Mange in English Bulldogs

Demodectic mange is a problem common among English bulldogs of all ages. If left untreated, this issue can take a serious toll on your bulldog. A thorough understanding of demodectic mange, also called red mange, can help you keep your English bulldog healthy and happy.

  1. Causes

    • Demodectic mange is caused by the demodex parasite. This parasite lives in small populations on healthy animals, and English bulldog pups will often pick up this normally harmless parasite from their mothers when they nurse. When a dog's immune system is lowered, or, in the case of puppies, not yet fully developed, the dog may not be able to resist the effects of this parasite.

    Genetics and Stress

    • English bulldogs are genetically prone to have a low resistance to demodex parasites. Before you purchase your dog, speak with the breeder about the parents of your dog and whether they have ever suffered from issues with demodectic mange. Dogs that are stressed or who have compromised immune systems due to illness can also be prone to developing demodectic mange.

    Symptoms

    • Demodectic mange causes hair loss on the face, neck, shoulders and head of the English bulldog. The hair loss might extend to the front of the forelegs and the belly. To make sure that the demodex parasite is to blame for the hair loss, a veterinarian scrapes the affected skin and then views the scraping under a microscope.

    Types

    • Two types of demodectic mange affect bulldogs. Type I is localized, and it will only attack one area of the dog, whether that is the dog's face, its neck or its stomach. Type II is generalized; the outbreak will take place all over the dog's body.

    Treatment

    • You can treat demodectic mange on English bulldogs in several ways. Bathing using an antibacterial shampoo can help loosen dried skin and reduce the chances of infection. Combined with prescription medication from the veterinarian, bathing can often reduce or eliminate Type I demodectic mange. Type II demodectic mange needs to be treated through a combination of different medications, routine bathing, hair clipping and antibiotics.