Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 12/22/2006

Question
I bought a male pup from a good kennels with papers. The pup was born on 9/6/06 and I just found out yesterday that my pup has mange. My vet gave me everything I need to cure him but my question is this I bought the male for breeding only. So him having mange should I not bred him because my vet said that he got the mange from his mother. So if its was past from his mother can he pass it to his offspring. Thank you

Answer
All dogs have mange mites ontheir skin.  We think that those pups that get it really bad have a genetic problem with the part of the immune system that controls the growth of the nmange mites.  So we do not recommend breeding any dog that has a history of demodex mange.