13. This contract is valid only for original purchaser and puppy, it is not transferable. Registration papers for all registered puppies will be sent by regular mail.

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The failure of not following the procedure outlined above will result in the cancellation of this guarantee! No cash refunds.

 

 

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THINGS TO KNOW

1- We breed Old Time Bulldogs, not Olde English Bulldogs.

 

2- Our OTBs can only be bred to other approved OTB's, no other type of alternative bulldog.

 

3- This is our hobby and not our living, so money plays no factor in who we sell our pups to.

 

4- Our dogs are registered with the OTBA only.  We do not support any other registry and will not approve our OTB's to be registered with them.  This is not to discredit any other groups efforts, but due to the fact that the OTB gene pool is different and it wouldn't help either breed if they were crossed.  5- When you contact us please include information about your family, home, your intentions for the pup and any other animal ownership experience info.
6-Please be patient with our response.

 

 

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How to Buy a Puppy

 

1- We recommend researching the OTB breed to make sure it is right for you. 

 

2- Decide on what type of bulldogge you want--- Laid back, small to large and what the use will be-training, pet, breeding etc.

 

3- Contact the breeder of your choice.   

 

4- Make sure to include info about your family and home along with the epitome of what a bulldogge would be for you.  

 

5- Please be patient with our response since this is our hobby and not our living and out daily lives take a lot of attention.

 

6- We will contact you at "our convenience" and will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.  

                                                                                  

7- We do not accept deposits until the litters hit the ground and/or make promises of availability.

8- A short list of potential homes will be kept and maintained for future puppy placement.

 

The OTBA is all about the dogs and not about selling to anyone with money.  The right home matched to the right dog is the only thing that influences our decisions.  We do not discredit the efforts of other registries or other alternative bull breeds, but merely support our group due to the standards that  all involved are measured by.   You will find no credit card logos on our websites or litters being advertised with pictures of dogs tied.  This is about the dogs and the families that are privileged enough to own one.  We are not perfect by any means and may miss out on working with a great family, but we do our best to make the right choices for the pup, ourselves, the potential family and the OTBA.  This process can be frustrating, but we believe it is well worth in the end once you have your new companion.

 

 

 

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 IVOMEC

 

 

BRAND NAMES:  IVOMEC, HEARTGARD30 & ACAREXX

AVAILABLE IN TABLETS / CHEWABLES FOR HEARTWORM PREVENTION, TOPICAL SOLUTION FOR EAR MITE TREATMENT, OR AS ORAL OR INJECTABLE SOLUTION  FOR OTHER PARASITE PROBLEMS.  

 

HOW THIS MEDICATION IS USED

In the mid-1980's, ivermectin was introduced as probably the most broad-spectrum anti-parasite medication ever. It is effective against most common intestinal worms (except tapeworms), most mites, and some lice. It is effective against larval heartworms (the "microfilariae" that circulate in the blood) The most common uses in small animal practice for ivermectin would include: Monthly prevention of heartworm infection, Treatment of ear mite situations, Clearing heartworm larvae in active heartworm infection, Treatment of sarcoptic, notoedric or demodectic mange

 

It should be noted that doses of ivermectin used for prevention and treatment of heartworm disease are approximately 50 times lower than doses used for other parasites.

 

SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects are not a concern with the extremely low doses used in commercially marketed heartworm preventives. problems may arise when higher doses, such as those used against mites, are employed. Side effects generally do not occur with any anti-mange doses of ivermectin except in Collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, and Old English sheepdogs, though some individual animals that are not members of these sensitive breeds may also be prone to side effects. Very low test doses are often recommended to identify these individuals regardless of their breed. Collies with ivermectin sensitivity have been found to have a mutant gene for what is called the "P-glycoprotein." The P-glycoprotein has been studied largely because overexpression of this protein (i.e. having more of it than normal) results poor function of chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of cancer. The P-glycoprotein appears to be involved in keeping drugs out of certain body tissues. Having excess P-glycoprotein keeps chemotherapy drugs from reaching the tumor; having a mutant/non-functional protein fails to keep medications like ivermectin out of the central nervous system. Approximately 35% of Collies appear affected by this condition. There is now a test for P-glycoprotein mutation so that ivermectin sensitive dogs can be identified. This is a DNA test using an oral swab. Test kits can be ordered directly from the Washington State University Veterinary School via www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vcpl

Heartworm preventive doses are so low that side effects are not produced even in ivermectin sensitive individuals.

Side effects of concern are: dilated pupils and drunken gait which can progress to respiratory paralysis and death if medication is not withdrawn and supportive care is withheld.

 

INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER DRUGS

Ivermectin should not be used in combination with valium or related tranquilizers (the infinitesimal doses used in Heartgard excepted). It should not be used in conjunction with Amitraz (Mitaban©) dips nor with Amitraz tick prevention collars (Preventic© collars).  These medications are all members of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor group and when they used together their effects add together creating sedation and adverse neurologic effects.

 

CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS

Ivermectin use in pregnancy and lactation is not felt to be a problem.

Ivermectin has an extremely bitter taste and is best disguised in food if it is to be used orally long term (as in the treatment of demodectic mange).

Uses of oral/injectable ivermectin in small animals for anything other than heartworm prevention is considered off-label use and is not approved by the FDA.

Again, the breeds considered at high risk for ivermectin toxicity are collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, and Old English sheepdogs. Not every individual dog from these breeds is sensitive to ivermectin. It is possible to test an individual using a low dose of ivermectin. Topical ivermectin for ears (Acarexx®) is FDA approved for cats and kittens over 4 weeks of age.

 

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Demodectic mange (Red Mange)

 

 

Demodectic mange is caused by a microscopic mite called Demodex canis.  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.  (After the pup is older it is unable to pick up demodex mites. Puppies raised by hand, do not ever get demodex mites.)  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.

• Mites are not transmitted to people or other dogs except from mother dog to pup as described. Demodectic mange (unlike Sarcoptic mange) is not contagious.
  

• Mites live inside hair follicles -- a difficult place for miticides (chemicals that kill mites) to reach.

• Mites are a normal residents of dog skin; it is only in some individual dogs that mites cause problems.

 

Demodectic mange -- also called "demodicosis"-- has three forms:

 

FORM #1: LOCALIZED

Usually a red, scaly, well-circumscribed lesion on the face or forelegs is present.  It generally goes away on its own.  Goodwinol ointment, an insecticide, may be used daily to control localized demodicosis. Hair regrowth should be evident after about a month of treatment; however, some localized cases appear "destined" to become generalized and no treatment will prevent this from occurring.

When ointment is used, rubbing the medication on the area may break off the weaker hairs at the margin of the lesion.  The lesion may thus appear to get larger at first. Antibacterial gels are also used against localized demodicosis and associated skin infections. Often it is best not to treat this condition and to simply allow it to resolve on its own. Enlarged lymph nodes are a bad sign -- often foretelling generalized mange.

 

CAN THE PUP BE BRED LATER?

Sometimes the puppy with localized demodicosis was obtained for breeding purposes. The current recommendation is not to treat these puppies so that we can determine if the condition will stay localized and resolve or if it will generalize. If it stays localized and eventually resolves without treatment, the animal is still a candidate for breeding. If the condition generalizes to cover the entire body, the animal should be sterilized. If the condition receives treatment and resolves, we will never know how the disease would have gone in its natural state and will not know whether the pup is carrying the genetic predisposition for demodectic mange. In this case, it is best to be conservative and not take the chance of passing on genetic predisposition for this disease.

Localized demodicosis is almost exclusively a "puppyhood" disease. When a puppy develops localized demodicosis the chance of the condition resolving is 90% unless there is a family history of demodicosis in related dogs. In this case, chance of spontaneous resolution drops to 50%.

Occasionally an adult dog develops localized demodicosis. We currently do not have good understanding of the prognosis or significance of this condition in an adult dog.

 

 

FORM #2: GENERALIZED

The entire dog is affected with patchy fur, skin infections, bald, scaly skin. Most generalized demodicosis starts as localized demodicosis.

 

ADULT ONSET-- Most demodicosis occurs in young dogs.  An older dog should not
get deodicosis unless it has an underlying problem with its immune system, possibly even cancer.  A veterinarian should be consulted regarding possible primary diseases.

 

JUVENILE ONSET -- 30-50% of dogs under age 1 year recover spontaneously from generalized demodicosis without any form of treatment. Usually treatment is recommended, though, to facilitate recovery.

 

 

 

FORM #3: DEMODECTIC PODODERMATITIS

This condition represents demodectic mange confined to the paws.  Bacterial infectious usually accompany this condition. Often as generalized demodicosis is treated, the foot is the last stronghold of the mite. Old English Sheepdogs and Shar-peis tend to get severe forms of this condition. The infection can be so deep that biopsy is needed to find the mites and make the diagnosis.

 

STRESS AND GENERALIZED DEMODECTIC MANGE

Physiological stress is an important factor determining the degree of severity of demodectic mange.

 

1.  Females should be spayed as soon as the disease is controlled. Coming into heat, hormone fluxes, and pregnancy are very stressful.  Also, predisposition to demodicosis is hereditary and should not be passed on.
 

 

2.  The dog should be fed a reputable brand of dog food so as to avoid any nutritionally related problems.
 

 

3.  Keep the pet parasite-free.  Worms are irritants that the pet need not deal with and fleas may exacerbate the itchiness and skin infection.
 

 

4.  Keep up the pet's vaccinations.
 

 

5.  The mites themselves cause suppression of the immune system so the pet needs every advantage to stay healthy.
 

 

6.  Skin infections are usually present in these cases and antibiotics will likely be necessary. It is very important that cortisone type medications such as prednisone NOT be used in these cases as they will tip the immune balance in favor of the mite.

 

 

PROGNOSIS

The younger the dog, the better the chance of cure.  In many cases of adult-onset demodicosis, the disease is controlled by dips and baths but cure is not always possible.  Some cases can never be controlled.

 

 

 

CURRENT TREATMENT OF CHOICE -- IVERMECTIN

Ivermectin is a broad spectrum anti-parasite medication generally used for food animals and horses.  It is licensed for use in dogs and cats as a heartworm preventive and as a topical ear mite therapy at this time thus the use of this medication to treat demodicosis is not approved by the FDA. When ivermectin was a new drug it was hoped that it could be used against demodectic mange mites. At first it was found ineffective but later it was determined that daily doses are needed (most other parasites can be controlled with wormings spaced several weeks apart.) Ivermectin is inexpensive relative to Milbemycin (see below) and involves no labor intensive bathing. It DOES, however, taste terrible if given orally (it may be necessary for the owner to learn how to give ivermectin as an injectable treatment.)

 

THIS MEDICATION IS NOT SAFE FOR USE IN COLLIES, SHETLAND SHEEPDOGS, AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS, OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS, AND SOME WOULD SAY, ANY HERDING BREED.

 

Sensitivity to ivermectin may not be predictably limited to "collie breeds" and thus it is often prudent to use a lower test dose before initiating the relatively high doses of ivermectin needed to treat demodicosis. Not all individuals of collie heritage are sensitive to ivermectin and a test is in development to determine whether an individual should be able to safely take ivermectin or not. There is a range of ivermectin doses used in the treatment of demodicosis and it seems that higher doses do clear infection faster than lower doses. This means that if a lower dose has been ineffective, a higher dose may still work. This does not mean that a pet owner should experament with ivermectin doses on their own as there is some potential for lethal toxicity if this drug is not used appropriately.

 

For more information on Ivermectin, click here .

 

 

RELAPSE?

Relapse is always a possibility with generalized demodicosis but most dogs that relapse do so within a 6-12 month period from the time they appear to have achieved cure.  When relapse occurs it is often because the dog appeared to be normal and the owner did not return for the appropriate rescrapings. The final scrape is performed one month after.

 

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