How to Cure Mange in Dogs - Preventing Recurrence

1. Treat other animals your pet has come in contact with. If your dog was infected with either sarcoptic or cheyletiella mange, you will need to treat any dogs or other animals that your pet is in frequent contact with -- otherwise he could be re-infected. Talk to your vet about how to treat your other pets to avoid a recurrence of mange in your dog.

2. Keep your dog away from other dogs who may be infected. If you suspect that a dog (or cat) in your neighborhood may have mange, you should keep your dog as far away from the animal as possible.[10] Talk to the animal’s owner to let them know that you think their pet has mange or call animal control if the animal is a stray.

3. Take your dog to the vet for regular check-ups. Following treatment, you should bring your dog back to the vet for periodic check-ups. The veterinarian can analyze skin scrapings to confirm that the mites have not returned. Do not attempt to treat a recurrence of mange without consulting your veterinarian first because some treatments can be toxic if used more than once in too short of a time period.[3]

How to Cure Mange in Dogs - Treating Mange

1. Isolate your dog to prevent the mange from spreading to other pets. If your dog has mange, you should keep him away from any other pets you have to prevent them from becoming infected as well. Make sure that your dog is safe and warm. Do not isolate your dog by tying him outside or keeping him in an unheated space in the winter. Select a room in your house to keep him while you are treating him for mange.[5]
- Provide food, water, bedding, and toys for your dog while he is in isolation. Make sure that you spend time with him, take him for walks, and play with him so that he is not frightened by the isolation.
- In rare cases, humans may become infected with the mites that cause mange in dogs. Protect yourself by wearing gloves when you administer treatments to your dog.[6]

2. Administer medications and other treatments as instructed by your veterinarian. Your dog’s treatment will depend on the type of mange he has and this can only be determined with certainty by a licensed veterinarian. Some dogs will need special baths, prescription medications, or even injections to treat their mange. Make sure that you follow the veterinarian’s instructions for treating your dog and contact your vet if you have any questions or concerns. Do not attempt to diagnose and treat your dog without the help of a veterinarian.[7]

3. Wash or replace bedding and other items that come in close contact with your dog. In order to prevent mites from hiding out on your dog’s bedding or collar, you should remove these items and replace them.[8]Change and wash your dog’s bedding daily to keep it free from mites. Use hot water, soap, and bleach to thoroughly cleanse your dog’s bedding.

4. Help your dog to manage psychological stress during mange treatment. Mange can cause dogs to become stressed because of the itching, isolation, vet visits, medications, and other treatments that they receive to treat their mange. As your dog goes through his treatment, make sure to do things that will help to keep him calm.[9]
- For example, you can provide him with a treat after he has had a bath, make sure that you visit him often while he is in isolation, and do things that you normally do together like going for walks and playing in the backyard.

How to Cure Mange in Dogs - Identifying Mange

Mange is a skin disease caused by mites that affects many animals. In dogs, it is caused by one of three microscopic mites: Cheyletiella, Demodex, or Sarcoptes. Each one causes a different type of mange, with each presenting with similar yet varying degrees of symptoms. Because mange treatments vary by type and severity, it is essential to take your dog to a veterinarian if you suspect that he has mange. Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam, take samples of the mange, prescribe medications, and administer treatments. Keep reading to learn more about how to cure mange.

1. Bring your dog to the vet. If you suspect that your dog has mange, the first thing you should do is take him to the veterinarian. Treatments vary for the different types of mange and some medications can be toxic, so it is best to obtain an accurate diagnosis from a veterinarian who can advise you on the right course of treatment.[1]
- The process for diagnosing mange will vary from case to case. In some instances, the vet will be able to take a skin scraping from the affected area and analyze it under the microscope to look for mites or eggs.
- In situations where the mites are buried within the dog's skin -- such as in demodectic pododermatitis -- the vet may have to perform a deep biopsy to confirm the presence of mange.
- The vet will also perform a physical exam and take your pet's general health and history into account when making a diagnosis.

2. Look for symptoms of demodectic mange. Demodectic mange is characterized by thinning patches of hair that can scab over. They can be localized in one area or spread throughout the body. Demodectic mange is not contagious and cannot be transferred to humans.
- Demodectic mange -- also known as demodex or "red mange" -- is caused by mites that are transferred from mother to puppy during the first few days of life. These mites are present in all dogs and usually won't cause any problems.
- Mange occurs when mite populations proliferate in dogs with underdeveloped immune systems -- like puppies under the age of 18 months, older dogs and dogs with compromised immune systems.
- When the mites are concentrated in one or two isolated patches on the skin, this is known as localized demodectic mange, which presents as bald scaly patches, usually on the dog's face. Localized demodectic mange is most common in puppies and will usually clear up on its own with no need for treatment.
- When the mange is present in large patches or all over the dog's body, this is known as generalized demodectic mange. This type of mange produces bald, scaly patches of skin, which can be very itchy. When the dog scratches, sores can form which are susceptible to unpleasant-smelling bacterial infections. Generalized demodectic mange is most common in dogs with compromised immune systems and will require treatment.
- The most resistant form of demodectic mange is known as demodectic pododermatitis, which occurs only in the feet and is accompanied by bacterial infection. This type of mange is difficult to diagnose and treat.[2]

3. Look for symptoms of sarcoptic mange. Sarcoptic mange symptoms are similar to those of a flea infestation, and involve excessive biting and scratching at the skin, thinning of the hair and hair loss and open sores.
- Sarcoptic mange -- also known as canine scabies -- is caused by microscopic mites that are easily transferred from host to host, including humans (where it causes a red bumpy rash, similar to mosquito bites).
- In dogs, symptoms of sarcoptic mange usually develop about one week following exposure. The dog may become restless and start scratching frantically, before scaly, bald patches start appearing on its face, elbows, ears and legs.
- If the mange is not treated immediately, it may spread all over the dog's body and become more resistant to treatment.[3]

4. Look for symptoms of cheyletiella mange. Cheyletiella mange is caused by large, white mites which live on the surface of the skin and is characterized by a red bumpy rash and scaly, flaky skin in the hair along the dog's neck and spine.
- This type of mange is also known as "walking dandruff." The mites themselves that look like flakes of dandruff, so the "walking dandruff" is the mites moving around.
- Cheyletiella mange is highly contagious to other dogs (especially puppies) and can cause intense itching (although sometimes itching is completely absent). It is usually passed from puppy to puppy as a result of mite infestations in straw and animal bedding in pet shops and kennels.
- Cheyletiella mange can also be passed on to humans, causing an itchy, bumpy red rash on the arms, trunk and buttocks. However, the symptoms should disappear once the puppy has been treated, as the mites can't survive without a host for more than 10 days.
- However, as the use of straw in animal bedding is becoming less common and the use of flea-control preparations had risen, instances of cheyletiella mange are becoming less and less frequent.[4]

How to Breed Dogs - Taking Care of the Puppies

1. Monitor the puppies. Watch the puppies carefully the first few weeks, making sure they stay clean and warm. Also make sure they are getting enough milk. Weigh the puppies on a gram scale daily to ensure that they are gaining weight. Healthy puppies should be absolutely clean, active, and have full bellies. Puppies should gain about 10% of their body weight per day for the first 2 weeks of life.
- At about 4 weeks, they will begin to get very active. The whelping box will no longer be large enough. Give them a larger, safe enclosure to explore. The dam will likely leave them alone for longer periods of time. You can start weaning the puppies on to soaked puppy kibble at this time.[12]

2. Take them to the vet. Take the puppies to the vet when they are 7 to 8 weeks old. The veterinarian will give them their first vaccinations. These include Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, and Para influenza or DHPP. They are also treated for worms. Flea and heartworm prevention should be discussed.
- Have your veterinarian check for other health or hereditary problems as well. A responsible breeder will provide this information to the new owners of the puppies so that the new family can properly complete the puppy’s vaccination series during the recommended time frame.

3. Screen new puppy owners. This process needs to be done carefully. You want to make sure that you are sending the puppy to a great home. The new family should be responsible and prepared to devote time, energy, and resources to the new dog.
- Consider a home inspection. Be prepared to turn down a family if they are not a good fit for one of your puppies. [13]

4. Create a contract. When you find the right puppy owners, you should draw up a contract with them. Make sure to include any health guarantees that you are providing and what the limitations of those may be. Include that the family must return the puppy to you should they be unable to keep it for any time during the pet’s life.
- You should also Indicate whether the puppy was sold as a pet or a breeding prospect and if there are any requirements for spaying/neutering by a specific age.[14][15]

How to Breed Dogs - Dealing With the Delivery

1. Prepare a whelping box. A whelping box is what will be used to deliver the puppies. This box should be about 6 inches (15.2 cm) longer than the female when she is lying prone, and a foot or so wider. It should have a rail to prevent her from laying on the pups after they are born.
- Place alternating layers of plastic sheeting and newspapers in the bottom of the box. This helps keep it cleaner when the bottom becomes soiled. You can just slide out a layer of paper and a sheet of plastic, leaving a clean one in its place. Include clean towels or other bedding that can be easily laundered.

2. Be alert. You need to be aware of when the time for delivery is near. Educate yourself on the stages of labor. Once she starts delivering puppies, monitor her for strong contractions longer than 30-45 minutes that do not produce a puppy. This may signal complications during the delivery.
- Having x-rays done at 45 days of gestation will allow your veterinarian to count how many fetal skeletons are present. This also shows if there are any abnormally large puppies inside that may cause problems delivering. This information will prepare you and your veterinarian for the possibility of a c-section and give you an idea of how many puppies to expect.

3. Keep the pups warm. When the puppies are born, you need to keep them warm. You also need to make sure they are all able to nurse. Examine them for birth defects like a cleft palate. The roof of a puppy’s mouth should be complete, with no evidence of a separation of the oral tissue. The dam will clean the pups and help the puppies get into position to nurse.
- If there is a cleft palate, milk will go from the mouth into the nasal passages. If it is a severe enough situation, the puppy should be euthanized because they will not survive.

4. Record the birth. Write down the birth date, total number of pups, and the number of each sex. If you are planning on registering the litter with organizations such as the AKC, you can do so online. You will need the registration numbers of the dam and sire when filling out the form.

How to Breed Dogs - Starting the Breeding Process

1. Wait for the dam to go into heat. Your dam needs to be in heat before she can be bred. The timing is not set in stone, so watch you dam to know when this happens. The dam's genital area will begin to swell and there may be a bloody discharge. If you have the stud in a nearby pen, he will get more excited and interested in the female.
- The dam will not accept the stud until she is ready to breed. She may even snap at him to keep him away until she is ready. Do not let your dogs get injured. Monitor them closely when they are together.
- Typically, the female will be receptive about 9-11 days into the heat cycle and allow the sire to mount and mate her.
- If you have difficulty getting your dam bred, your veterinarian can do Progesterone testing. This helps find out when she is in estrus and her body is ready to accept semen. Progesterone levels will rise 1-2 days before ovulation. Some dams will have silent heat cycles which make estrus difficult to detect and Progesterone testing will help pin down ovulation timing.[10]

2. Consider artificial insemination. Artificial insemination can help you breed your dog if you don't have a stud. Frozen dog semen can be shipped around the world stored in liquid nitrogen. Specific steps are taken to thaw it and inseminate the female dog. You may need to consider this if the pair you chose cannot seem to breed naturally.
- This can be problematic because It raises questions about the potential problems for the next generation’s breeding soundness.
- In really special cases, semen can be surgically implanted into the uterus by a veterinarian with the dam under anesthesia. Of course, these extra procedures increase the cost of each pregnancy and each puppy in the litter.[11]

3. Keep your dam healthy. When you are sure the dam has been bred, you can separate her from the stud. You need to feed her a balanced diet. You can also give her supplemental vitamins, such as calcium. These are typically recommended by your vet.
- This needs to happen over the course of the pregnancy. The gestation period for dogs is 58-68 days.
- Keep the dam's kennel free of infestations such as fleas. Clean it regularly and provide lots of fresh water and clean bedding.

4. Notice changes to your dam. The nipples and mammary glands undergo changes during pregnancy. Toward the end of pregnancy, the mammary glands will start to fill with milk. During the last three weeks of her pregnancy, she will require extra nutrition. Discuss proper nutrition with your veterinarian.
- Typically, the pregnant female is fed puppy food during the last three weeks of pregnancy. This provides her with adequate calories and nutrition for the growing fetuses and helps prepare her for lactation.

How to Breed Dogs - Examining Your Dogs

1. Take your dogs to the vet. Before you breed your dog, you need to have the dog checked by your veterinarian. Make sure that your dog is up to date on vaccinations. Her antibodies will be passed on to the puppies through her milk. These antibodies protect the puppies from getting sick.

2. Know your dog's medical history. If your dog has unknown medical problems, it can change your breeding plans. Small breed dogs can have genetic conditions that you want to understand before breeding. The puppies are likely to have the same problems, or worse. Issues can include dental problems such as malocclusions, a condition where the upper and lower jaws do not meet together properly. They can be prone to dislocation in their knee caps, hip or elbow dysplasia, and spine problems such as disc rupture. They may also have allergies leading to skin and ear infections, heart conditions, eye problems, or behavior problems.[7]
- Make sure that your dog is on a deworming program. Roundworms, Hookworms and Heart worms can be passed from the mom dog to the puppies.[8]

3. Have a breeding soundness exam. You need to have your animals checked to make sure they are able to breed. This may include a semen analysis for your male dog. For example, these tests can find genetic problems as well as contagious diseases like Brucellosis. Before breeding a sire or dam, Brucellosis testing is recommended to make sure neither dog is a carrier and could pass it on to the other.[9]