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

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Regina, My heart goes out to you from here.  I just looked at gorgeous Hurley and those horrible cysts.  You have got some great advice already which I can't add to but I do have a couple of questions.  Where could Hurley have contracted MRSA?  Is this not a hospital/clinical setting born bug?  Surely he can't have got it in your home.  The second one I have is regarding your breeder and the definition of the Health Warranty.  It says it covers 'serious life altering or ending genetic conditions' Has your vet told you that these cysts are not genetic ?  It would seem to me that the 'serious life altering' bit IS covered.  What is the definition of genetic (perhaps F would chime in here) as this has often puzzled me.

I am hoping so hard and sending you every good wish possible that Hurley will have these things removed successfully and that you will find a way of managing the financial burden.  The fact that you love him so much means that you are truly one of the DK family and we will be there to support in whatever way we can even if it is just with words from far away.

[F, Calla & Luca]

MRSA can be acquired outside of hospitals.It is even possible I suppose that given courses of antibiotics you could develop it yourself since all it is is a methicillin (antibiotic) resistant staph and we all have staph around.

As to genetic, that is tricky. Many conditions are not inherited per se but predispositions to them may be. Maybe the sebaceous glands have small ducts or thick secretions etc. I think one might find it hard to prove this was genetic unless it is rampant in a breeder's lines.

[Regina and Hurley]

Hurley has been on numerous antibotics since November. He has not had any surgery of any kind. He has been in and out of vet offices for his cysts. The only things he has had is a cytology in Nov. and last Sunday he had a biopsy. I am wondering if he picked up MRSA from all the infections and antibotics or the numerous vet visits. He has been on Clavamox 250 mg 3 times, put on Clindamycin 75 mg, Cephalexin 250 mg, Cephalexin 500 mg, and now he is on Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim 800/160 mg

I am wondering if I should get back in contact with the breeder again. I emailed her in November. She was concerned, but I have had no email from her since then checking on him. I felt as if she did her part, she can do nothing else. I don't want her thinking I want a new puppy or return him. I love him very much. She may think I am trying to go after her and I don't want that at all.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Lots of antibiotics indeed. As to the breeder, I think you should let her know if only so that she may be aware of this as a potential in her pups. Tell her what you are thinking and that you love him.

[Regina and Hurley]

Yes..he has been on a lot of meds. I will send her an email explaining what is going on. Thank you :)

[Chelsea and Bailey]

I dont have anything to add, except to say that I am sorry for what you and your family are going through. Hurley is absolutely adorable and it is awful for him to experience this. Sending positive prayers/thoughts your way!

[Regina and Hurley]

Thank you for the kind words :) this site had been wonderful..everyone is sending so much love to Hurley....

[Sharon & Monty]

wishing you and Hurley better days ahead, so sorry to hear of this.  take care. 

[Regina and Hurley]

Thank you...:)

[Regina and Hurley]

Thank you for the reply. The Dermotogist put Hurley on Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim 800/160 mg

I am wondering if this will help to kill off the infection. He has been on so many antibotics. He is acting great..he has no reactions to these antibotics. He got started on them on the 30th of April. I think he has had the MRSA for a long time. These cysts first ruptured in Nov.
Thank you so much for the kind words...I am hoping this will turn out ok.
I don't know if a surgeon will operate on these cysts until the infection is gone. I will find out on Thursday when we meet with his Dermotogist.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sorry, but to the best of my knowledge we don't all carry MRSA. Staples would be an unlikely source of MRSA. We do carry regular staphylococci often. So some of this information is misleading. And the right antibiotic will not make Hurley all better. He has large pustulent, eroded areas all over his head. They need intervention, probably surgical to avoid further recurrences and complications.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Here is a reference:

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-mrs...