Hereditary Dog Mange

Question
I have a 7 month old pit bull. I got her to breed with my other dog. I meet her parents and her grandparents when i got her. The owner said nothing about Her past dogs having mange. I paid a lot of money for her. She is a pretty dog. I took her to the vet and Monday we are going to start her treatments. I really want to breed her, but not if ther is a chance that her puppies will have the same thing. I was wondering what % is it that her puppies will have it too? What should I do? I love her to death. I only have room for two big dogs and I want to breed them. But I really dont want to have to sale her. Pleas email me back with the answer to my questions and please help me with understanding this condition. Thanks A lot.  

Answer
Hi Deedee,

Since you love your dog, you should know that the age for breeding (any breed) of dog is at least 2 years in order to make sure that your dog is not a puppy itself. You should never breed before the 2nd heat cycle and do not wait past 4 years old--this insures the health of the mother dog.

I hope you will consider this before breeding your dog. She, and her puppies will be healthier if you wait. The puppies will be taken care of better because their mother will be more mature.

Three and a half million unwanted dogs are put to death in this country every year, with millions more dying through starvation, disease, accidents, and abuse. Nearly a quarter of these victims are purebred dogs. It is important to learn the facts and possible consequences if you are considering breeding your dog.
Being at least part Pit Bull may be a factor in not finding homes for the puppies once they're born. Many people see the breed as a liability. I hope you will consider having to find homes for all the puppies, as part of your responsibility as a dog owner.

You should also consider the cost of breeding your dog. A pregnant or nursing female will increase her food requirements two- or three-fold and require regular veterinary attention. The pups will also require special foods, as well as inoculations and worming. An unexpected cesarean, emergency intensive care for a sick pup, or other complications can make a litter quite expensive.

Please consider having your dog spayed. As unspayed female dogs age, the incidence of breast cancer and uterine infections increases. Spaying before the first onset of heat practically eliminates the chance of either. This can be done anytime after she is five months old. There are many low cost spaying services to be found.

There are also health advantages for male dogs that are neutered.

If you decide that you want to breed the dog, you should make sure that she is in perfect health, free from Mange and up to date on all her vaccinations.  Coming into heat, hormone fluxes, and pregnancy are very stressful and your dog needs to be fit.

Having Mange can cause suppression of the immune system so your dog needs every advantage to stay healthy. Feed your dog a reputable brand of dog food so as to avoid any nutritionally related problems. Once the Mange is cleared up, have your vet check her before breeding her.

As far as Mange goes, there are three varieties: Demodectic, Cheyletiella and Sarcoptic. It is caused by different species of mites, tiny eight-legged critters related to spiders.

Demodectic Mange is caused by Demodex Canis, a tiny mite that cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. This mange strikes puppies from three to 12 months old. All dogs raised normally by their mothers possess this mite as mites are transferred from mother to pup via cuddling during the first few days of life. For some reason, conditions change in certain dogs to allow demodex mites to "gain the upper hand;" the mites proliferate and can cause serious skin disease.

If your dog's Mange generalizes (located all over her body) the animal shouldn't be bred. It may mean that your dog has a genetic predisposition for Demodectic Mange that should not be passed on to her puppies.

Cheyletiella Mange is also known as "walking dandruff". It affects puppies and is caused by a large reddish mite that can be seen under a magnifying glass. This mange is identified by the dandruff dusting that occurs over the dog's head, neck, and back.
"Walking dandruff" is highly contagious but short-lived. It causes mild itching. The mite that causes the mange dies a short time after leaving the host.

Sarcoptic Mange, is also known as scabies. Is caused by a microscopic mite. The female mite causes the characteristic intense itching as they burrow under the skin to lay their eggs. The eggs hatch in a few days, develop into adults, and begin laying their own eggs in less than three weeks.
Sarcoptic Mange is contagious to dogs and humans! If the dogs share sleeping places or if the infected dog sleeps on beds or furniture, everyone will begin scratching. It is not unheard of for the family dog to infest the kids, the kids to infest their playmates, and the playmates to infest their pets and parents with scabies.



I hope I've been a help.
Good luck.

Patti