Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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On Sept 21, our Sheltie boy, Sketch, underwent rear leg amp due to Fibrosarcoma in his femur. On October 23, Sketch's previously healed incision cite became infected. Initially, until the lab culture results came in he was put on Smz-Tmp, an antibiotic which has no effect on MRSA and he was taken off this antibiotic as soon as lab results id'd MRSA . Strangely, our vet then put Sketch on Cephalexin which was recommended by the culture test, even though all literature on MRSA lists the Cephalosorins as ineffective against MRSA even if it appears to be effective in vitro. Sketch's infection was rapidly getting worse and had spread out to 6-8" past the incision area itself.
Doxy or Amikacin were the only two other recommendations from the culture test...with Amikacin being the most hard hitting but generally considered a "last resort" treatment due to the potential for negative side effects. Amikacin is typically administered via injection and reading up on Amikacin injections was sobering...potential kidney damage, eye sight loss, hearing loss and loss of balance. After reading well over 30 articles on Staph aureus and MRSA treatment with Amikacin, I came across a one sentence mention from a compounding pharmacy in NJ that Amikacin can be made into a topical spray which is effective against skin, eye and ear infections of MRSA ...and administered as a topical it carries almost no potential negative risks. I printed out this article and took it into our vet who did further research and found the "recipe" for topical Amikacin from a vet specialist in TX...Trizedta Aqueous Flush 4 oz mixed with Amikacin Inj 250mg/mi (perCc).
Eight days ago, Sketch was started on a combination of Doxy and sprayed on topical Amikacin applied 2x daily, as well as daily 10 minute "leave on" shampooing with Clorhexidine (we had previously been doing this shampoo 2-3x weekly). Progress has been nothing short of miraculous. Almost all visible infection is cleared up with only a couple of tiny spots still evident. Treatment will need to continue for a minimum of 2-3 weeks post any visible sign of infection to make sure no hidden infection still lingers...because a return of infection is often resistant to the treatment that got it under control the first time.
The exciting news is that topical Amikacin can be very effective and doesn't pose the same potential risks of the injections. Why there isn't more mention of this in the available literature on MRSA treatment I don't know. Hopefully this info may help someone else who might have a pet with a staph aureus or a MRSA infection and is concerned about the potential for serious side effects from Amikacin administered via injection.
Trini and my Sketchie Boy
Trini - great news that Sketch is responding to treatment! He has a great advocate in you- I'm so impressed that you found that one line in the research regarding the possibility of using Amikacin topically and that your vet figured out how to make it happen. I wonder if you or your vet can share what you've learned with researchers working on treating MRSA in pets. This sounds a much safer option for treating infections which aren't responding to less heavy-duty drugs.
Wow Trini kudos to all the research you did! What a champion Sketchie has in you! Glad your beautiful boy is doing so well! I've wondered about him lately so thanks for the great update! You da MAN Sketchie!
Linda & Max
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you so much for doing research and following up. Thank you to your vet to be open to doing this type of treatment. I want to read that article that Rene wants to do and I hope you allow her to put photos with it. It would be good to keep around you never know when you might need it
xoxxo
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Thanks everyone...we are beyond delighted and SO relieved with Sketch's improvement! 🙂
Jerry, I don't have any pics to share of Sketch's incision infection...I was so worried as it got worse and worse that taking pics was the last thing on my mind. Sorry 🙁 The only pic I have of Sketch's incision area was taken the day after his amp surgery and I have come close to deleting it several times because it hurts to look at it...silly I know...Sketch has made this journey far less emotionally than I have...I need to learn from him!
The article that included the mention of using Amikacin as a topical was from the Wedgewood Pharmacy in NJ. And the info on making up the topical I believe our vet got from Dr. Valerie Fadok who is the dermatology specialist at The North Houston Veterinary Specialists (a member of the Blue Pearl vet facilities). Dr. Fadok has an excellent article on treating serious skin issues where she mentions cures being achieved with aggressive topical treatments only, but in this article she only discusses Amikacin as being given by injection. Fall 2013 COMPANION | Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus | BluePearl NY Why there is little to no mention of this alternate form of Amikacin treatment in online articles is confusing...although there may be more info in articles accessible by vets but not by the general public. However, we have an excellent 10 vet hospital and none of the vets had heard of the topical use of Amikacin...although none are dermatology specialists.
Unfortunately, we will never know for sure which of the changes made in Sketch's treatment was most effective in starting his rapid improvement since 3 changes were made at the same time: Doxy, topical Amikacin and daily medicated baths. I had been doing the medicated baths 2-3x a week per our vet's recommendation...but several of the articles emphasized that daily medicated baths in Clorhexidine with a 10 minute leave on period were far more effective than a couple of times weekly.
This has been a real learning experience from knowing zero about MRSA to at least having some very limited knowledge about this "super bug" and what is needed to combat it.
Trini and my Sketchie Boy
So glad to hear that Sketch is doing better! Great job in your research!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
OOOOMMM.DDDD!! YAAAAAAAAAY FOR SKETCH AND MOM!!! GREAT NEWS!!! SPECTACULAR NEWS!!
And the information you shared is absolutely invaluable!! Boy ih boy, you never know the many different ways our tripawds will inspire and touch lives once they start this journey.
I knlw you meant to include some more pictures of adorable Sketchi, right? Jist an oversight, right? Okay, we'll be waiting!
Love and joy!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Trini, This is an amazing discovery!! We did the injections of Amikacin and in addition to the rsik side effects and twice weekly urine and blood tests, the cost was staggering. Ty's infection had spread so far that he needed a surgery to debride the dead skin and 3 days on a machine to draw out the poison. Then he came home with a drain and 2 weeks of Amikacin. This happened because no one would listen when I spoke about MRSA . 2 thumbs up to your vet, both for culturing early and being open to suggestion. So many are not. So happy to hear Sketch is doing so much better!! Lori, Ty and the Gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Lori, I am so sorry you had to go through all that with your Ty to get his MRSA dx'd and treated...that sucks! I know how incredibly lucky we are to have the vet we have...he is always willing to listen and to research anything I ask him about...truly a blessing. And the cost to go the topical route is really low...a full week's supply of topical for Sketch is only $49.00...plus there is no need for either urine or blood checks...so much less stressful for the doggie to not have to get hauled back to the the vet's repeatedly. But the most important benefit is the lack of serious negative side effects.
Trini and Sketch
benny55 said
I knlw you meant to include some more pictures of adorable Sketchi, right? Jist an oversight, right? Okay, we'll be waiting!
Love and joy!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
LOL Sally, I will try not to keep you waiting too long for some pics. With 9 doggies, 8 of whom are rescues and 6 who are special needs...sometimes taking pictures gets pushed to the very bottom of my priority list.
Sketch is honored that you think he is adorable and he would shower you with Sheltie thank-you kisses, after he insisted you play fetch with him, if you were here.
Trini and Sketch
OK...some pics: 🙂
Trini and my Sketchie boy
These are great! Thank you for sharing.
I edited so the pics would automatically appear cause we just can't get enough of this boy. When embedding images from photobucket, just select the "Direct Image URL" that appears to the right of every photo, then return here, open the picture icon in your forum post editing toolbar and paste the image url in your forum post, it should appear. Hope that makes since.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What a group of beautiful furfaces! They're all just stunning! Powerful pack you've got there. Thanks for sharing!
Linda & Max
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