Just an update in case someone has to deal w the MRSA in an amp also, I thought I would document:

Bud played and rolled in the grass and sunshine this weekend, I noticed Sat night that there was a red spot where he had previous skin infection. It is spreading and pussing so we went back to the vet today. He took slides and there was bacteria and white blood cells showing bacterial infection. It is probable that it is MRSA again. Bud has another two weeks of Baytril and a topical spray for the spot.

The good news was no fever, enlarged lymphnodes or other signs of infection.

His knee and the swelling in it had improved quite a bit from his previous fall. Oh and he lost another lb even with all of the ammpversary observance treats!So keep celebrating friends!!!!

Frustrating yet hopeful!!! PAWS UP!

Karen....You are so right about that perspective thing! Lovely idea on the tshirt but Im afraid we may scare some folks I saw in the local newspaper today where someone had an add saying "hug a pug its cheaper than therapy"....it made me think of the pugapaloozas!

Isabelles's mom...Thanks for the post! There is soooo little info out there. We are on our 3rd local vet and had specialist in the metro area and our vet now consults with CSU.

We did do the culture and baytril was one of the few sensitive drugs and apparently there weren't many. Today we also got a topical that had also proved sensitive.

I did also contact the MRSA foundation who also contacted a specialist for me. It sounded like we were doing things per protocal with the lab and all. He told me that since it was in the bone it would be treated as osteomilitis was and that there was very little literature even for vets. To look through the human research.

 I was concerned at the time that we were not being aggressive enough but was told that since the "source" of infection was gone, this would be the treatment.

I am going to read up on the link you sent...thanks and we are following up with vet at the end of the week.Scary stuff!

I would be interested in reading what you found...thanks!

It’s been almost four years since I began this thread on Tripawds and today I feel like it’s time for and update. Not necessarily for the eyes who may one day be searching but for me, for a way to digest what is happening. I needed to remember where we started, where we have been and where we are going. Four years ago, I was faced with the difficulty of discovery that we were 2 percenters. Out of the 98% that have full recovery from a hip replacement, we were the ones that got to endure the failure. We chose amputation after the femur didn’t heal. I cried and I was the one that considered euthanasia. I sat on the floor of the ICU with my kids so that my dog would eat and know that he wasn’t alone after his amputation, we were in this together!  I did the research online and found Tripawds. I virtually met my friend Shari whose dog Dakota, was also having his leg amputated the day before. We were in the same area. I was the one who kept calling for lab results to find out the bone infection was MRSA . I was the one this time who refused to give up when all of the drug options were failing and the bank account was dwindling. Bud got better and our lives were fuller. I made many virtual friends, some of who are my greatest  support even four years later  on days like today. We had some bumps to hop over like strained knee muscles, a smelly rear end and arthritis in the remaining leg. The saddest is when you recognize more dogs on the Tripawd banners and less on the forums. That’s when the visits to this site become less  frequent. There is a guilt when you know that your dog is the only surviving February Furball and journey is over  for the friends that you have met in this place.

 We have had a good four years and every day I have remembered to be grateful. There’s been rolling in the grass, rolling in the snow, trips to the mountains and trips to the lake. Bud has been a constant companion to myself, my husband and my children. He is the sweetest most well behave fella. He is easy going, loving and a paw holder. I don’t care what the experts say. I  know this dog understands every word  that I have to say. Each night, I sleep better knowing he is somewhere close by. When Bud turned 11 years old last October, I felt like we were on borrowed time. He is so large for his breed. He has had some vision loss, chronic bronchitis and less mobility.

Today was the day, the day you go the dogter and he says the words you absolutely don’t want to hear. “We are near the end of the journey, it’s time to think about pain managemet.” He kept using the word “end”. Bud’s rear end is giving out. He is using his leg more for balance than motoring around. He has severe pain in his back and remaining leg. So, now begins the downward spiral, the pain killer cocktail mixture and our first acupuncture appointment on Wednesday. I keep telling myself there is “no time stamp on his butt”, “he doesn’t know what the diagnosis was today” , “cry tonight and live in the moment tomorrow”, “Be More Dog ” and all of the many things I’ve learned here over the past four years.

I hope everyone that reads this is blessed with four years or more! I say prayers for those of you who are not. I also give thanks for all I’ve learned, my Bud dog and my friends. I’m a believer and I know there is NO end. There are changes of address. As my friend Charon and Tripawd angel Gayle have said many times….love never ends!