Demodectic Mange + Showing + Exercise

Question
Thank you so much for your advice. I now know that the mites are borrowing
down and making him extra itchy. You are correct Oli was boarded and he
was under stress, this is when the hotspots, interdigital cysts, mange, ears
infection began. I wanted to let you know that I don't vacuum him (my email
did read that way), we vacuum the wood floors :D  Can humans get mange?

You suggested we get him neutered, we actually co-own him with his
breeder. She is planning to show him, he's a beautiful bully, but I don't want
to breed him because I would hate for other people to go through the skin
problems we are going through. So we can't neuter him until he finishes
being shown.

We take Oli on long walks because he bounces off the walls with energy. His
energy level is like no other bully we've come across. How much exercise is
enough? Do you think bullys are good for agility? I was thinking of taking a
class with him just to get some energy out and for discipline.

Margorie thank you for your advice, Cindy :D

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi Marjorie,
I need some information on demodectic mange and allergies. My beautiful 9
month old male bulldog (Oliver-"Oli") has mange. The vet put him on
Ivermectin Oral for 30 days and we are cleaning the area with Malaseb
Pledgets. We are trying to find out what Oli is allergic to, he is itchy a lot of
the time, he licks his paws (we give him benadryl almost everyday). The vet
put him on Hill Perscription Diet z/d (and 3V Caps). Oli has been on this for
2.5 weeks and he's still itchy, do you think it's because of the mange? Is
mange caused from being dirty? I clean his wrinkles everyday, I brush his
teeth 3-5 times a week, and I groom him at least 3-5 times a week (zoom
groom, baby wipes) -- if anything he's a very clean dog (is he too clean?), we
have hardwood floors that we vacuum 2x's a week (we're working hard to
clear up the allergies). The vet asked us to take all his plush toys away and
only give him rubber toys, we wash is bedding 1 sometimes 2 times a week
-- should we remove his bedding? I'm wondering if were overlooking
something. I know it could be environmental and I know he most likely will
grow out of his allergies but I would like to try to help him right now. Can
humans catch mange?
One more question, Oli loves to go for walks. We usually walk 2-3 miles a day
is this too much for a 9 month old?
Thank you for your advice, Cindy
-----Answer-----
Demodectic mange is the result of a faulty immune system. The mites live on
every dog in the universe. When does are under stress such as puberty, this is
often the time it will present itself. Stress can be as subtle as a weekend at a
boarding kennel or a change of food for some dogs. If your dog isn't
neutered, you should have that done as soon as this outbreak is over.

Usually demodex, once resolved, won't present itself again unless there is an
extreme situation such as severe injury or illness. I'm assuming your dog has
localized demodex and not generalized whereby there are lesions all over his
body. Dogs who show any type of demodex should not be used for breeding,
ever. It's not the demodex that is hereditary, it is the immune system
deficiency.

Your dog didn't catch demodex on a walk or from another dog, but yes, 2-3
miles a day is a lot for a Bulldog of any age. Diet changes and benadryl aren't
going to do anything to help this situation in my opinion. Once you rid the
dog of the demodex, if he still itches, then you can consider allergies to
something in his environment. Is this something he's had right along or just
since he came down with mange?

Clean bedding and rubber toys aren't going to make this go away. Goodwinal
ointment will work well on the bare spots you can see.  Ivomectin given at the
rate of 1/10th cc per 10 lbs. of body weight is the recommended dose for
demodex. It should be given until you stop seeing any new lesions and the
dog's skin scrapings show no live mites.

Your dog is itching because the mites are dying.  Before they die, they borrow
in even more so he is very uncomfortable right now. This should subside
soon. Demodex is miserable to treat but once it's gone, it's gone. As far as
grooming goes, I think you're over doing it a bit. I've personally never brushes
a Bulldog's teeth or vacuumed one either. I clean wrinkles once a week and
only bath if the dog gets really dirty. Brushing should be all you really need
and just a couple of times a week should do.

Answer
If you make your breeder aware of all the health issues this dog has, mange being the most severe, there is no reason she would want to show him in my opinion. He should never be used for breeding and showing him would just be a waste of time and money.

She she insist on this, I would seriously question her integrity. This predisposition for a defective immune system is coming from the parent dogs, either mother or father. It is highly unethical for her to be perpetuating this.