Staph Infection?

[mimz]

My Great Pyrenees had to have surgery & since had an irritation on her belly. Spoke to vet about it numerous times - they just shrugged it off. Switched vets, she took one look at it and diagnosed it as a staph infection. We have administered 3 rounds of antibiotics. Each time it goes away completely ... then about 3 weeks later.... here we go again. I have taken her off of canned food and she seemed better (without any outbreaks) for 3 months. Now she has a small rash ... nothing like it was...don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

[k9Karen]

Were any cultures done to confirm that this is indeed caused by Staph? Unless cultures were taken each time, you can't be certain that this is the correct diagnosis. More antibiotics are not necessarily what's needed. I personally would want a culture done if the vet suggested more antibiotics. Yeast, Pseudomonas, etc. infections can mimic staph, and the more antibiotics that are given, the more likely it is that one of these more resistant organisms will come into play. And if one of these organisms is involved, the common antibiotics used to treat staph may not be affective. It is also possible an allergy is involved (contact or food). Do you know if the vet used absorbable sutures? If the area affected in just at the area of the absorbable sutures, sometimes they can create a problem due to allergy. Or, could it be due to her having to be shaved for the surgery? If that's the case, the problem should go away as soon as her hair regrows.

Staph is an organism that normally lives on skin and mucous membranes (human and dog). You can not remove it from your life or your dog's, you just have to respect it an try not to give it any opportunities to go from being a 'hanger-on' that causes no problems to a really bad guy causing infection. If this is a staph infection - Staph can be a nasty bug when it gets where it shouldn't be. Hygiene is the key to preventing infection in both animals and humans. Make sure the area on her body is kept dry and clean. If the dog is crated, clean the crate and bleach it - be sure to rinse very thoroughly to remove all the bleach. If she has her own bed - wash it or replace it if it can't be washed. Bathe the dog with a good antimicrobial shampoo and keep her clean. Watch her carefully to see if she is doing anything to aggrevate the situation - licking it, lying in the dirt, grass, or porch outside, etc.

Hope this helps.

[davet]

K9 is 100 percent right and she is in the business to know...culture and sensitivity and a longer term of antibiotics might abe in order but a diagnosis has to be finalized.....good luck

[mamaof4soon]

I agree with K9 also 100%. I just wanted to say this as well. I had an exploratory Hysteroscopy in 1996. They thought I had endometreosis(long story) and went in through my belly button and also went in right around where my hairline is( there is a reason i am telling you this and embarressing myself). Well they put a bandaid over my belly button and put 3 little stiches where the insision was by the hairline. I remember being in so much pain and itchy there for so long. My dh(then my boyfriend) said he wanted to look so he did and it was healed over BUT it was healed over and red and very very tender. He siad why didnt i say anything. I said i did but dr. blew it off! Said i was just being a baby and if i kept scratching it that was what was gong to happen. Wellllllllll dh had had it, one night it kept me and hte next day he said he was going to squeeze it . And he did and you know what???? That damn suture came out and i was told that they were dissolvable!!!!! I was so mad I took that thing and brought it to the dr. and shoved it in her face, i was so angry.

I do hope it heals so pup doesnt have anymore problems with it. I hope they tested for staph or atleast to find out what grows. Did they check for ringworm? Or Mange? Hot spots maybe? Either way, Fungal or Bacterial i do hope they find out what it is.

Good luck and let us know.

[k9Karen]

Mimz - we haven't heard from you. Has the problem cleared up? Hope all is well!

[mamaof4soon]

How is the dog doing? please let us know