Demodectic mange is a common affliction affecting bulldog pups most often between the ages of three and 12 months but has also been know to affect older dogs as well. This serious skin condition is caused by a mite that lives in the hair follicle and is passed from a mother dog to her pup during nursing. When the puppy's immune system is suppressed, the mites are able to produce at alarming rates, causing skin irritations, hair loss, and bacterial infections. Fortunately there are several ways to relieve your pet of demodectic mange.
Things You'll Need
- Premium dog food
- Vitamin E
- Aludex solution
- Injectable Ivermectin
- Goodwinol topical ointment
Instructions
Have your veterinarian perform a skin scraping on your bulldog. Diagnosing demodectic mange in the early stages will increase the effectiveness of the treatment. Your veterinarian will scrape a small skin sample from your pet and examine it under a microscope to search for mites. If a positive result is acquired, the vet will prescribe appropriate treatment.
Use Aludex or a similar dog shampoo to effectively treat demodectic mange in bulldogs. Thoroughly scrub your pet's skin over his entire body with Aludex shampoo. Closely follow the directions to dilute the solution. Aludex contains the insecticide Amitraz, which has been found to cause side effects such as drowsiness in dogs and humans when not used properly.
Veterinarians recommend that female bulldogs who are treated for demodectic mange be spayed once the disease is controlled. A dog's physiological stress levels are an important factor when trying to determine the degree of severity of the mange. Being in heat, hormone fluxes, and canine pregnancy are very stressful to dogs and can contribute to worsening the condition.
Administer Ivermectin to your pet. Ivermectin is an anti-parasite medication commonly used for livestock and horses but is also licensed for use as a heartworm medication and topical ear mite therapy for dogs and cats. Daily doses of Ivermectin are required to treat demodectic mange in bulldogs. The treatment is inexpensive and does not involve intensive bathing; however, veterinarians recommend administering Ivermectin as an injectable treatment due to its unpleasant taste.
Treat your bulldog with Goodwinol ointment. Goodwinol is a topical ointment that can be used daily for the treatment of demodectic and follicular mange in dogs. It contains rotenone, benzocaine, and lanolin which help to relieve surface inflammation, itching, and discomfort caused by mange.