Hurleys Story..Cysts and MRSA

[Regina and Hurley]

Hello..today is Hurleys 1st birthday. I had it all planned. A doggie dip at his favorite yogurt bar and singing Happy Birthday to him. Today was filled with tears and confusion and I am turning to all the doodle moms and dads with much needed direction and prayers.

At 8 weeks I noticed 6 little areas on the top of his head that would not grow hair. When I brought him in for his puppy shots I showed the vet who said it was nothing, maybe some kind of birthmark. So I let it go. He has been a happy, healthy and much loved member of our family. When he was about 8 months old I noticed one of those "areas" was bleeding. I brought him right in to the vet. They said it was a ruptured cyst and he needed antibotics and a cytology. We had it done. It came back as Keratin Cysts. The vet said that with the antibotics and Vitiamin A they may go down or even away. I went for a second opinion. The vet confirmed that it was right but changed his antibotics. He put him on a very expensive antibotic, Clindamycin 75 mg. The vet said we had a 50% chance they would go away. The vet mentioned too, that this was common in Goldendoodles. (keratin cyst). They did not go away and they have doubled in size. Last Sunday the big one on the middle of his head ruptured. We went to the ER vet and was there for close to 8 hours. They shaved his head and we saw the horrible cysts up close. They did a biopsy. They put him on more antibotics, Xanax and Benadryl. (Xanax for being in a cone all day).

I got the results yesterday. He has MRSA and Keratin Cysts. I am trying to wrap my mind around this MRSA. The only way we knew was the biopsy. The cysts have to be removed ASAP. We are getting a rough estimate of 2000.00, but until the infection is gone which will be in about 2 weeks we won't know for sure. We are going through a Vet Dermotogist. He said its going to be around that much. We just don't know what to do right now. Only 3 special surgeons in our area will do this complicated surgery. The cysts between his eyes are so large that there is not enough skin to stitch up. We can not get a skin graph done. We just do not have the money for this. My husband and I are trying to figure all this out. We love our Hurley so much.

Next Thursday, we get his stitches removed from his biopsy. Then we will get a referral to the surgeon. Hurley is so special to us. He is my teddy bear. He follows me everywhere. He goes everywhere with us. He does not deserve this. I am hoping that there is someone out there who has good advice. Right now I am asking for prayers. Lots of prayers that a door will open and we can get this surgery done. That with enough prayers Hurley is going to be ok...please give your doodles big hugs right now..send lots of love our way. Thanks..Regina and my big orange moose, Hurley

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Have you talked to Hurley's breeder about this?  I am praying for Hurley and your family and hope that someone on here has some advice for you.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The fact that you are going to a veterinary dermatologist sounds like you are doing the right thing. See what happens with the infection and take one step at a time. Be careful about the MRSA, you don't want more problems with the family from that. I did give you a link under Hurley's photo on your page, about  the low cost veterinary group. I am hoping all goes well.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Regina I am so sorry your poor Hurley has to go through this. I have no advice but I will pray that everything will work out for you. Maybe there is a way you can set up a payment plan with the vet so that you don't have to pay the fee all at once. There is also a post somewhere about getting help with vet bills. I'm not sure where to find it but I'm sure someone will post a link for you. Happy Birthday Hurley, my birthday wish for you is to get better and stay well.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am so sorry about Hurley. I would call the breeder.  Do you have any kind of health guarantee or pet insurance? If not, could you talk to the vet about a payment plan or something?  I am so sorry and hope Hurley gets his surgery and can put all this behind you.

[F, Calla & Luca]

When I Googled Keratin Cysts per se there is also a condition that is autoimmune mediated that causes cysts called the same thing. Do you know for sure what kind Hurley has? I would think the treatment might differ.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry for you.  I am sure you are devastated.  When our Springer had to have CCL surgery ($4,000) we were able to get a pet wellness credit card.  We applied while at the surgeon's and the proposed cost of the surgery had to be verified by them. There were two options - one was low interest for a longer period and the other was 0% for 6 months.  I hope this can help you with the financial part.

My Springer also gets cysts.  They seem to grow in clusters - both in space and in time.  Last summer he had several that burst.  I do not know what 'kind' they are but when they burst we were advised to try to get all the goo out and to treat them with Betadyne.

[Donna K & Quincy]

This is from Regina's post on her status, I left a comment for her to reply here.

"The vet will not take "good faith" payments.they have care credit which we could not get.we wanted money taken from hubbys paycheck"
.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks Donna.  I didn't read that in this discussion.  I won't erase it because the information might help someone else.  Stupid vet!  He obviously cares more about his bottom line than he does for his patients.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Regina post here not on statuses because otherwise your responses are lost. It gets confusing and people can't follow and offer advice. You can reply to people under their comments or just post on the box under your original post if you're not responding directly to someone like I am doing now.

[Regina and Hurley]

Am I responding in the right place..trying to figure all this out!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Perfect now.

[Regina and Hurley]

I have talked to breeder, back in Nov when cyst first ruptured. She said she has been breeding for 22 years and never had these cyst happen to her pups. Her only warranty is serious life altering or ending genetic disease two years after date of birth. His results say in his biopsy anuclear squames and keratin flakes consistent with a cystic epithelial lining present.