My pregnant Pitbull has mange. What are safe treatment options?

This is a difficult to answer question. So we have a mother with mange, and this means the puppies will likely be infected with mange also. Therefore the risk of the puppies dying or getting severely ill from mange vs adverse events from medication is higher, and therefore I would treat the mother;s mange. You will however have to find out what kind of mange mites are present. Your vet should be able to tell you after an exam and then should prescribe a medication for mother and possibly puppies. There are several medications that will kill mites such as avermectins, (Revolution spot on, ivermectin or doramectin injections, Bravecto, Nexgard, etc.) Please take Diamond and her puppies to your vet for an exam and prescription.

First of all it is necessary that you have a definitive diagnosis that your dog is indeed suffering from ringworm, so you do not give her medications on suspicion of ringworm. There are quite a few diseases that can look like ringworm, especially bacterial infections. So if your dog is indeed suffering from ringworm your vet will prescribe either a topical treatment (depends on the extent of the ringworm infection) such as an antifungal ointment, or a antifungal bath, and/or also oral medications. Both Itraconazole and Ketoconazole tablets have pregnancy risks, so possibly would not be a good choice to treat ringworm during pregnancy whereas a topical shampoo containing a fungicide may be a suitable choice. I suggest you see your veterinarian with your dog for a proper diagnosis and his recommendation for treatment as he will know best after examining your dog.

Pregnancy can affect the normal immunity levels and also the natural balance of the skin and demodex mange can be more common during pregnancy and nursing. I would recommend assessment by a dermatologist in order to investigate if this is present and to advise on the most appropriate management options both the relieve her discomfort and reduce the risk of the pups being severely affected at a young age. There are many medications which can be used with appropriate caution in pregnant and nursing mothers although many others must be avoided

Yes it is ok, but she should be treated for mange so the puppies will not get mange. All the puppies may need to be treated as well. Check with your veterinarian re what he recommends for your dog. THis will depend on the kind of mange she has and the age and condition of the puppies.

Especially since Roxy is nursing puppies, I would not advise giving her any medication without having her examined by the vet first. It is important to know for sure what you are dealng with to avoid giving the wrong thing. Though it may look like mites, it could be another skin condition, or even something internal that is showing up in the skin patches.

No - unfortunately, antihistamines are not safe to be used during pregnancy. You can try bathing her in an aloe and oatmeal dog shampoo to see if this helps a bit, as this shouldn't harm her or the puppies. If this doesn't help, I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam - he/she can discuss prescription medication options that can be used to help with itching or other skin problems while she is pregnant.

The puppies can get the Demodex mites as they are born. If their immune system becomes compromised, the mites can grow out of control and start causing the symptoms that we see. The best you can do is try to keep the puppies clean and healthy and hope that they don't get it this time.