Sons dog has Mange

[HerbieRidesAgain]

My son got a puppy about this time last year think she was about 10-12weeks and is a ChowChow cross with Bulldog, not the cutest dog in the world but his 'baby' and he has showered her with love and care and has really looked after her.
However few months ago she developed sores on her back, and couple on back legs. He took her to the vets - not sure what vet said or what treatment was given but son says he felt the vet wasn't getting to bottom of it and was taking money for nothing so after several weeks he changed vets. New vets almost immediately diagnosed Mange, did a few tests and it was confirmed, and have given treatment.
I don't see Trix often but to me everytime I see her she looks worse. She is a year old but has the 'look' of an old dog near the end of life, she has no fur on her face, nor her front legs, her back legs have a little and she is covered in bald patches. She has scabs and open sores - a lot of which are on her face.
She lost loads of weight, was very off her food (not sure if she has appetite back now but doesn't appear to be losing more weight), he changed her food to dried food on advice from vet.
He was told (not sure who by) that there could be a genetic reason, he says he is FB friends with a couple of the other pups owners and they don't appear to have any problems. He said when he collected Trix, and on the several times he visited prior he had no concerns about the mother and the breeder.
Obviously my son is worried about her but doesn't know what else to do with her other than the treatment from the vets - I just wonder if anyone else has tips or advice. I don't know anyone else who has had a dog with Mange so have no idea if this length of time is normal or if there actually may be more to it.
She has a sad face anyway but just looks so sorry for herself and even I - a VERY NONE dog person feels my heart strings being tugged

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

I have no advice, I'm sorry, but that's awful. He clearly needs to get that dog back to a vet immediately. If the cost is a problem could you help him out? Is the dog insured?

[ItsJustaUsername]

If it's sarcoptic mange it usually takes 3 weeks of treatment due to the life cycle of the mite. Antihistamines are sometimes prescribed also as the mites can cause severe itching. The skin can takes several months to fully heal especially in severe infestations. It's also a zoonotic disease that can affect humans so hygiene is very important. The dog should be kept away from other dogs as its highly contagious. Prevention treatments are available from your vet for the future.

[knobblyknee]

The two most common types of mange are sarcoptic and demodex. Sarcoptic is caught from other dogs, and demodex is inherited from the mother. Sarcoptic mange is contagious, bur demodex isnt.
If Trixie isnt responding well to treatment there may be an underlying problem with her immune system and further tests are needed.
Best of luck to Trixie.

[TrionicLettuce]

Given she's a chow cross and what you've said about the sores being concentrated on her face made me wonder about pemphigus. It's an autoimmune disease which affects the skin and chows are one of the breeds it's more commonly seen in.

Has she had a referral to a specialist yet?

[HerbieRidesAgain]

Thank you for the replies.

DS has said that Trix has an infection, she is being treated with Advocate - the vet won't give a medicated shampoo at the minute due to the infection but I do know she is at the vets regularly.

She is insured - although I do know his first 'claim' the insurance company refused to pay out on due to a technicality on her breed, but he is fighting it, and subsequent claims are I believe being upheld.

TrionicLettuce I am worried that there is an underlying condition, and from what little I have read I do wonder if she may have a suppressed immune system, this scares me enough to not want to mention it to DS mainly because I don't understand what it means for Trixie. I will google Pemphigus and check it out - thank you. As yet there is no referral.

I think I thought Mange had a relative short life, or was 'curable' quickly but I know now it isn't