Hi everyone i hope you can help in some areas of concern to us. We have a year old small breed dog (largish) who has MMM masticory muscle myositis which is an immune related disorder. She has now developed dermodex mange and has open weeping sores. We started on advocate 3 weeks ago but problem worsened. We are now taking her to the vet to be dipped on Monday. I know that a few dips is normally enough until the dogs immune system kicks in and deals with the problem itself. Our poor girl has no immune system so we are seriouslly worried. In fact spent most of Friday sobbing untill i realised that wasnt going to do her any good. I am now going to research as much as i possibly can so please everyone anything at all that may help her please let me know. We have been told her immune system wont get any better but i would like to try with any products at all that may help it. Will start with the cider vinegar today and was thinking of possibly some fish oils but not sure how much to give. I know thee is also a drug of choice but vet said her platelet count was too low. Really sad :-(

So sorry to hear you are so upset, as far as the mites are concerned the dips will kill them and a course of ABs should clear up the secondary infection. The concern with the poor immune system is that the mites will almost certainly return but the process can be repeated and now you know the signs you should be able to catch it before there is a chance of secondary infection. All the best with her treatment.

I was told that Zinc will help the immune system, dose is half an adult person dose.

Would be careful adding any supplement to the diet as excess in most cases will cause problems for example too much zinc will cause diarrhoea. Fish oils and liver are ok in small amounts but the feeding of vitamins and minerals should be avoided unless prescribed by a vet.

The dogs normal diet should contain all the elements needed for healthy life and will have the correct balance of the dogs requirements of good health, you would of course feed the best you can afford. Speak to your vet who should be supplying you with and medication or supplements your dog requires they will want to do the best for your dog and I would not change the diet without talking to your vet first.

I know someone who used this http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Immune-Strengthener/999032.
and recommends it.Might be worth a try.

I understand exactly how you are feeling. I had a GSD with no immune system also with Demodex. This was 10 years ago so medicine will probably have advanced in those years.
She had all the baths twice a week, had cream to put in her eyes to protect them from the fumes. They shaved her all over to enable them to get the aludex directly on to her skin, but it still did not clear up.
She lived on antibiotics virtually non stop for 6 years but still she had weeping sores that without the ABs could cover her body in 2 days. The Vet. Hospital at Bristol Uni told me that the mites were so deep in her body the baths could not reach them, so they took scrapings from her sores and created a vaccine to inject back into her to try to treat her this way, but again no joy.
She became allergic to dust mite, wet grass and mud and I couldn't even hug her because of the sores. I even tried an animal healer and acupuncture to see if it would help.
At 6 years we decided she had suffered enough and put her to sleep, the Demodex had won the fight. She was the happiest and most loving dog and did not deserve this.

I feel sure there are more advanced cures available today and wish you all the very best of luck, you may have a battle on your hands, but I'm sure in this day and age they will have many more ideas. Please please, if you do not have a vast improvement quite quickly with the baths, don't leave it until the mites burrow deep into your dog, ask to be referred to a skin specialist asap.

Thanks Sue i certainly will push as much as i can to get the right treatment for her. There is now a drug of choice although pretty toxic as well but after a lot of reading i think im wasting time having her dipped. I am so sorry that you have had to go through this and thank you for sharing with me. Wish i could put  a pic up of her she is so lovely :-(

Hi Helen thank you for the suggestion. will certainly look into it. Anything at all that might help