Superbugs (MRSA/MRSI) in Dogs

Welshwoofs

My Mastiff was going fantastically well 8 weeks after cruciate ligament repair surgery when suddenly his leg blew up like a balloon and he stopped walking on it. A surgical drain was put in and fluid sent off to the lab for testing. The tests came back last week and he has MRSI which is a drug-resistant staph infection - the canine equivalent of MRSA.

We're worried sick - the only information out there on MRSI seems to come from the US and the very few pet owner experiences I can find talk about treatment of up to 6 months, the infection spreading over the dog's body resulting in sores and a few who've ended up putting their dog down

What is really scary is that, reading up, these superbugs seem to be becoming more common in pets who undergo surgery and are just as nasty as the human equivalent.

Has anyone had any experience of MRSI in their dog? Our veterinary practice, which is a fairly big one over 3 sites, has never dealt with a case before and have had to put in a special order for drugs. He now has to be injected daily with an anti-biotic they use to fight patients infected with MRSA in hospitals.

buddys_mum

Im so sorry to hear about your dog. I hope he gets better soon.

Welshwoofs

buddys_mum wrote: »

Im so sorry to hear about your dog. I hope he gets better soon.

Thank you

Judging by the lack of replies I'm guessing nobody has had their dog in this situation so far so I'm going to post a progress so that anyone Googling in the future will have better luck with results than I did.

This is becoming more common apparently. People carry these bugs on their skin and up their noses and whilst most human hospitals have strict infection regimes in place to prevent MRSA, veterinary hospitals do not because they've not had problems with superbugs.

The only information I found was from a lady in the UK who lost her dog to MRSA and started up a foundation to raise awareness amongst pet owners and vets: http://www.thebellamossfoundation.com/

orlao

My Rottie had a "hospital acquired infection" after a cruciate ligament repair 3 years ago. I'm not sure if it as MRSA/I as I can't remember if I asked directly!
He had over 6 weeks of antibiotics, huge big tablets, the name escapes me but began with C - sorry, but I have very hazy memories of that time as so much was going on with the big lummox:o - and had the wound/fluid in it tested at the vets every week for those 6 weeks.

His wound started leaking a clear fluid about a week after the op and was quite swollen....took advice from the RVC (where he was operated on) and they contacted my own vets and appeared quite precise and definite about how they would like treatment to proceed.

BTW, at the first consultation at the RVC I was verbally warned about MRSA and that, despite precautions it was a risk while the dog was with them as it was a hospital environment. It was also highlighted on their consent forms which is probably why I assumed that was what his infection was......
There was no lasting damage to the dog, just my pocket as each tablet was over a £ and he was on 4 (?) a day.

HTH

Sagz_2

Just came to tell you about the Bella Moss foundation ..... but I see you've found them already.

Hope your dog is comfortable and on the road to recovery soon Welshwoofs xx

simontheiceman

Bella Moss foundation FTW. The lady herself is lovely - had some lectures from her a year or so ago at a full day conference on the subject. I have only ever seen one case and that patient succumbed to septicaemia (not good).