Update and help with my question list for vets.. :)

[Regina and Hurley]

I am going to go to one more vet. This vet has been mentioned to me as very good in this area. I am going to set up an appt bring in Hurley and all his records. I need another opinion. This vet is a primary vet too. Tomorrow at 3 pm I will see Hurleys Dermotogist and the surgeon will come in to see Hurley. He will look at him and then write up a quote. Hurley is getting his stitches removed too.

Then at 5 pm we have an appt with Hurleys primary vet. To go over what the Dermotogist told us. So there is going to be a lot of talking..

I so feel like I keep asking you all for help, but I am lost when it comes to all this information. If you have time, only if you do, can you write down questions that you would ask and post?I have saved a couple of the replies that some of you have told me to ask. Tonight I will put all of your questions down and bring them with me. I feel that you all are bringing things up that I have not thought of, maybe because I have been trying to keep my house together, kids on track, husband happy and Hurley taken care of, along with spending time on websites and making phone calls, and spending time at vet offices! I feel a little overwhelmed..

Thank you a million times over for all of the heartfelt replies. You have gotten me through some tough nights..but I am doing better..! I didn't realize that coming on this site and giving Hurleys story would make me stronger and feel like its going to be ok..either way this goes..

Doodle kisses.......

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Hi, Regina!

Here are just a few things that come immediately to mind. I know others will be able to contribute great questions, too.

• What is Hurley's prognosis if the surgery isn't done? What are the non-surgical options and how effective do you think they would be?
• What is the prognosis if the surgery is done?
• How deep do the cysts go? Is there a way to tell before doing the surgery?
• How likely is it that the cysts will come back after the surgery is done?
• What will the recovery time after the surgery be like?
• How will Hurley's appearance and overall health be affected?
• Is there anything that we can do to prevent the cysts from coming back?
• What will we need to do in the long-term for Hurley to manage this condition?

You already have the answers to some of these questions from your primary care vet and your dermatologist, but I include them here to help you organize the info you already have and to help make sure you get the same info from vet #3.

Hope this helps!

[Regina and Hurley]

Yes! It helps out a lot..you took a lot of time with this..I printed out and will keep printing all my responses I get. And get them organized tonight. I will let you know what the vets says on the questions..they are some thinkers. The thing is like I said in another post, this is so rare.Its a guessing game I feel.

[Julie, Izzie & Max]

I don't have any additional questions to add.  But I hope you get the answers you need to make the right decisions regarding Hurley's health.  I can tell he is loved very much and I know you will do everything you can to get him the help he needs.  I wish you and Hurley all the best.  If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. 

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Regina, I can't think of any additional questions to add to Elizabeth's list.  That is a good list of questions already!  If I think of anything else, I'll put it on here. You might want to make some kind of a spreadsheet so you can have a place for each question for each of the vets.  That way you can compare their answers.   Otherwise, please don't feel like you have to apologize.  We are all here because we WANT to know about Hurley and we WANT to help in any way we can.  I probably speak for everybody that I am actually relieved whenever you post something because I know what's going on & that we have more opportunities to provide support.  For those of us who have healthy doodles (at least right now), we feel a responsibility to help others.  One thing you could ask is the cost of each option.  That way, you can give us a figure so we know how to help also.  Good luck!  Totally off topic - but if I were you, I'd make sure to get video of Hurley doing things he loves to do, if for no other reason than to comfort your kids later if needed.  I would think they (since they're young) may be frightened by his appearance, particularly if it gets worse.  You want to make & keep good happy healthy memories.

[Regina and Hurley]

Thank you..last night when I took Hurley and my son to run around (I do this at night so he won't come in contact with other dogs or people) my son wanted to know what we were going to do. He is 11 and seems to understand a lot of what is going on. He told me that he loves Hurley very much but doesn't want me to do something that may hurt him even more, I asked what he meant and he said the surgery may be too hard on him and then the cysts might come back. I told him that we are trying to find the best solution..one that will be the best for Hurley and won't cause him any pain. I felt like he was making me feel better in any decision we chose. I am amazed of how children can make us parents feel a sense relief...does that make sense?

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

So, you have an 11 year-old and a 6 year-old...so do I!  I'm sure my 11 year-old would have the same type of discussion with me if this were happening in my family.  I do think at that age they are more understanding than we give them credit for sometimes.  That is really sweet of your son to be so thoughtful of Hurley.  It seems there are many DK members who have lost their dogs or doodles & then got another one to replace the lost one.  Just a thought.  I don't want to give up hope quite yet, though, until your meetings Thursday.  You never know.  But...at least everyone will understand and support you either way it goes.

[Regina and Hurley]

Thank you :)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Makes sense, at least he knows that the results can go either way. Thinking of your family, good luck

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I would want to know how the MRSA enters into the equation.  Is it curable?  Has it made the cysts worse? 

[Regina and Hurley]

I read in the letter from the Dermotogist that the MRSA infection could potentially seed a deeper and more difficult to clear infection with partial surgical excision. Then it states that the locations of some of the cysts appear to be in areas that would permanently deform face and head if we got them removed.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I know someone with chronic MRSA in the site of an old abdominal incision, an area where she had multiple surgeries. She has recurrent bouts with MRSA draining from a sinus tract despite having hada catheter inserted centrally for antibiotic infusion and an attempt to resect the entire area. This is difficult to treat. The deformities might result due to the amount of tissue they would need to remove in a difficult area.

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

Hi Regina,

When reading the biopsy report, it seems there is a bit of doubt about the diagnosis.  I would ask if another, more extensive, biopsy could be done to know exactly what you are dealing with.

Do these doctors have first hand experience with this condition?

Please keep us up to date...my heart goes out to your beautiful family, and, of course, Hurley.