Pit Diagnosed with AIHA

[Patrice]

Alyssa,
I am very sorry to read this. I suspect, though you didn’t mention, that this is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius). This type of bacteria has become significantly resistant to antibiotics, not only in dogs, but also in humans. There is an additional strain that dogs are also contracting.

It is difficult to treat these and it is important to make sure that the proper treatment is started as soon as possible.

I found a 2011 article discussing a UTI in a dog, mentioning that doxycycline was effective for this dog.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3022454/
And it makes sense that your vet may be using this drug. There is currently a shortage of doxycycline because it is also used to treat tick diseases in both dogs and humans. The cost to pet owners has gone way up. As you mention you are paying a lot per pill.

However, no matter what your vet is doing, I would recommend you ask you vet to contact Cornell University. They have done extensive research on treating MRSA in dogs and will have the latest information about what your vet should do.

Here is the AVMA Faqs.
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/MRSA-FAQs.aspx

Please get back to me what the report says.
my best
patrice

[Vally]

Alyssa, I’d also ask the vet about cranberry powder/tablets/juice. I know it helps to prevent UTIs, but I’m not too sure it’s of much use dealing with an infection. Also I think they only affect the PH of the urine so that makes it help with certain types of infections only. But I though it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

Cost of some of the drugs is horrendous. I remember taking a cyclosporine out of its blister over the sink, and it fell down the sink and into the drain. I thought that was $6 just down the drain. I’ve never opened anything near the sink again.

Here (Australia) I’ve learned that if I get a prescription from the vet, I can get the drugs through the local chemist at a much more reasonable price. It might be worth checking to see if the drugs are available through your local pharmacy and check they’ll take a veterinary prescription.

Regards,
Vally & Bingo

[Alyssa]

fiance just got home with her new pills.

14 zeniquin 100mg; 1 a day. $121
56 doxycycline 100mg, 2 a day, $54.68

Oh my god. That zeniquin :(

I will pay whatever i need to to keep sassy with us s long as she has quality of life. So, i feel bad becoming upset over the price of treatment , but my gosh. I need to talk a little about it. its another part of this that is emotionally draining. We just started saving for our wedding & a house fund. I am deep into that saving now, already blew through the “emergency pet fun”.

We just started looking at homes about 2 weeks before sassy got sick. While looking, i was constantly looking at the yards; my heart firmly believing sassy would be with us another 10 years. I haven’t even looked at a listing since this got started, everything is now on hold.

Like i said, im not saying i will give up. Never. It feels like i am saying that when i try to talk about this, and that feels horrible. but that is not what i am saying, i just needed to let it off my chest a little.

[Alyssa]

Also, she never mentioned mrsa. Just that it was highly resistant. I can call tomorrow and ask if it is mrsa.

[Brigitte]

Alyssa,
this is what we are here for, to let off steam! I know the cost of this disease can be really hard on a budget. A year after our dog got ill our vet built a new clinic and we kept saying that we payed for the back wall. Of course that is not true, our vet was very fair, giving us discounts when ever possible.
I very much hope that there will be a solution to kill this nasty bug.
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[admin]

Hi Alyssa

Blimey! That’s very expensive – I also used to go to the pharmacy to check the prices against the vets – good idea, Vally.

I think Brigitte’s idea of adding something to alter the pH of the urine is good too – most bacteria do not like a change in their “ideal” conditions, so that can only help.

If it is resistant MRSA, I would urge you to follow Patrice’s advice & contact Cornell Uni – they are at the forefront of much research & I’m sure they could help your vet.

Keep your chin up, Alyssa. This disease throws all sorts of things at us along the way & you have dealt with everything really well. You CAN get through this, even though it will be hard work, stressful & sometimes bloomin’ expensive.

Please let us know how things progress – & keep having a moan on here – we all understand how frustrating this is.

Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[Alyssa]

Quiet the past few days!! Thats good though, I suppose!
I haven’t gotten a reply to the bacteria question yet. I think Im going to just bring it up when we go for CBC Saturday.

Sassy is doing so well. Having lots of little happy moments. The day before yesterday, she was trotting all around the yard and after us outside. Doesn’t want to come right in anymore; pulls me to go lay in the sun. Also starting whining just go go out and lay in the sun (she did this all the time before getting ill)
Last night, she walked by her toy box and bit her rope. Just, literally, bit it and kept walking. I teared up!! LOL! It was so silly. She was like I remember this – but nope.
Today I went and bought her a new toy. A giant stuffed animal. When she saw me come home with it she was so excited – jumped to get it and chewed on it for a few minutes. Later, about an hour ago, she actually played for a good several minutes – the longest yet – pulling like crazy and chasing it. I was SO happy to see it.

[Alyssa]

I uploaded some more photos. Hope they show up soon! :)