k9kreationz
Forums Celebrity
Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you and Emma today. I just read the thread and jeez, my heart goes out to you. I'd be a total mess. Hang in there and definitely keep us posted.
Freaking out here...
- Thread starter Emma
- Start date
This is what has me a bit freaked out. I would have NO idea where she would have picked that up. But CA MRSA is so dang common, it is everywhere! Door handles, seats anywhere, table tops, magazines at offices (or anywhere), it lives on everyone's skin and everywhere!
In fact I just read a study 2 weeks ago the top 3 places to NOT touch on an airplane; tested 3 major airlines and all 3 tested 60% positive for MRSA and e-coli. Never touch or read the magazines, never put your hand in that pocket on back of the seats and do not use the table tray 9this is what it said). Also not to drink the water (coffee or tea). They are making the airlines do something (can't remember) different with their water supply and it is not being enforced until this October. I DO know Emma hasn't flown anywhere recently.
Oh, also meant to answer Sumac3890: Emma seems to be feeling good today. Not running all over the back yard but eating fine (she has lost 1 pound, but needs to...so it may be the efforts of me changing her diet/food) and continues to be under foot as normal. Barking as normal etc... Thank you for asking! We go back to vet tomorrow afternoon and every day for a week.
Kate: Ya know!!! I actually wondered the same thing as I went down my list of what if's. It does look like that too, but I wondered if it would be possible for a complete side shot. My thought (if it were that) is that it went in the smaller hole that is healing much better and exited from the larger wound that is not healing (possibly lodged in there)???? I will mentioned that tomorrow to my vet.
That would be a terrible thought though and if that were the case I would be a maniac detective with the neighbors! One of the family that lives/lived behind me I would say YES to, but I am almost positive they moved. It was their dog that killed one of my Chihuahua's when it knocked down the slat in their wooden fence and snatched her up. That lady would stand outside and scream at anything, including the air.
But since then, I had a 6 foot privacy fence put up and can not see their backyard; but they have a tall balcony. Who knows? But I hope I never find out if that is the case cuz it would not be pretty! My backyard is 380 feet down one side behind my house and backs up to about 6 houses. Hummmmmmm
dawns2shelties
Forums Sage
Update: Just got home, had Emma there by 8 this morning. Doc is still baffled and decided to just open the wounds while I was there and express more; he said it had to be done on a daily basis by him; so I will be taking her daily for a week. He said at this point with so much fluid/infection still in the areas that it would be a huge incision with lots of stitches and he would prefer to get the areas down more before doing that.
I asked him lots of questions and and the possibility of it being MRSA? He said it was possible and has now taken a sample to send off for results. Now what??? I hate for it to be anything!! But would prefer it be a spider bite than MRSA! What about the other dogs in my house? Me? Has anyone had experience with this?
I may be jumping ahead of myself by worrying about this but thinking about it and how Emma is of course laying around the entire house with this open wound worries me. Doc wants it left open to heal. He gave me another medication (Baxtrim) to add with Cipro just in case.
I can not even think of any time around the house or yard that she has hurt herself (cut, nicked) ... the only thing I can think of (which the doc asked me) is she was groomed a little over a week ago at a different place than I usually take them. I was very unhappy with the results from this grooming place (a chain) because it didn't even look like they had even groomed Emma or Noelle as far as much trimming, poop trail, pads, coat on belly (no trimming) etc...I even took Noelle back over to them to show them they forgot to trim any part of her pads and talked to Emma's trainer there about how unhappy I was and would not bring them there again for grooming. Is it possible what I am thinking????
MRSA??? Ohhhhh boy!!
I would look to the groomers now...dirty instruments and did they cause these wounds. I would be furious.
Last summer Gypsy had Methycillin Resistant Staph but it looked nothing like that. I washed all her bedding daily in hot water. You may even place puppy pads under her for an easier alternative. I read it can be spread through the mucas in their nose so stay away from petting their face and try and keep your other pets from nose to nose contact with her,it also can be spread through the open wound if you or the other pets have any cuts or scrapes. I never realized how much I pet her there until than. Wash hands each time you touch her. I found it easy to keep bottles of antibacterial gel in all areas of the home,sprayed tub and shower with bleach after bathing her each time,wear gloves when bathing her also. If I can think of anything else I will add it later.
I have added some pics of what Gypsy's outbreak looked like.
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Emmasmom
Forums Sage
I can't remember if you said, but by chance do you feed raw? There was a study done here in Canada on just 100 samples of chicken. Over 80% had multi-antibiotic resistant staph, even the organic chicken, just because the eggs were treated with antibiotics. The implication was that this is probably true for other meats - beef, farm-raised salmon, etc. Some of the chicken tested show resistance to at least five antibiotics. The concern is for the superbugs to contine to become more resistant and harder to treat. If this is true for us, it is also true for our pets.
rosegardener
Forums Regular
Oh, I have not read here for a while, and am so sorry to hear about Emma! The second set of pics looks so much better, Cindy, I am glad you got her in quick to the vet You are doing everything right and will figure this out. Poor Emma, hope she is better today.
Interesting: They do look a bit different. I am so sorry Gypsy had to go through this (and YOU too). I am praying it is not MRSA; but if it is, we will deal with it. I know this sounds weird, but I never wash anything in hot water (and can't). LOL I have lived in my house for 23 yrs and when they built this house (7 yrs before I bought it from one owner); the builder did not bring up the line to hot water for the washer (I hope I am saying it right); from my understanding, it was left in the ground and cemented over for the concrete slab!! My dad and even plumbers have said it can not be retrieved. LOL
I also do not feed raw; I feed dry food, Nutro and Blue Buffalo (small amount mixed in for variety).
How long did it take for Gypsy to heal from her MRSA? When can I bathe her? And yes, I have already talked to trainer where the grooming took place, but if I find out it is MRSA, I will definitely go to the groomers. It was at Pet Smart and my first time using them.
dawns2shelties
Forums Sage
Gypsy's staph was MRSI which is not as bad as MRSA. Once on the right antibiotic (avelox) it took a good 4-5 weeks. We assume she picked it up outside through the open sores from her allergies. She was having outbreaks off and on for about 6 mos. though and as I said not healing from many different antibiotics we had her on. Some of them were Ditrim,Clavamox,Baytril,Clindamycin and probably a few others I am not remembering right now.
So happy to hear she is feeling better and will keep you in my prayers.