Mister's back in hospital ~updated

[dalesponyrider]

I am so sorry for you and Mister. Life just isn't fair sometimes. I will keep Mister in my thoughts and prayers.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using ProBoards

[valerie n scout]

Oh Debbie it's so unfair poor lad

[Debbie]

MANY thanks for the continued good vibes for Mister

Yesterday was depressing for me as I found a new lesion on his 'good' side. Eldon and I discussed returning him to the vet, but we don't want to. At this point, we decided to keep Mister at home and continue the antibiotics and see if it can systemically kill the staph infection from the inside out.

If we took Mister back, they'd go through all the hell of reflushing the wounds, and frankly its so extensive at this point that I can't put him through that.

On the positive side, Mister's been much more active, walking over to us when we come in the door, and walking over to the door. I know he can hear the birds and he's already wanting back outside and last night I got scratched whilst pilling him

I know, seems backwards, doesn't it? But it means he's willing to put up a fight with me over the pills, so he's that much stronger in himself. I consider it a very good sign.

I also might be able to hide the pills in his canned food tonight. His sneezes are abating a little bit and he seemed more keen on his canned food yesterday. If I can hide it in his canned food, he'll easily inhale the pill and never know.

thank you one and all for your continued well wishes for Mister!!! It means a lot to us

[merlinalison]

Oh Debbie! You and Mister are really going through it. Huge hugs from us and lots and lot of vibes for Mister. (Currently going through the pilling thing with Tig too so nknow what you mean about it being good when they're strong enough to fight yoabout it)

[Miz.Dales]

It always happens to the people who look after their animals. Sending positive vibes and crossing everything

[mickey]

Poor mister. Can you spray it with dilute chlorhexidine each day? Sounds similar to MRSA that we have over here and chlorhexidine is effective. That said when it takes hold its a nightmare

[Debbie]

They used dilute chlorhexidine to flush the wound when he was at the vets. I'm not sure about using it? Do I wash it off afterwards, or spray it on and leave it? I think it might be helpful because some of the wounds look weepy to me.

Last night's putting the pill in his supper didn't work he managed half a tablet, then had a sneezing fit and tried to nibble more food, but I think at that point it had sat too long, and the meds were probably making the food taste off. He'd definitely gone off his eating.

So I fished out the remaining half and popped that down his throat. By that point he was mad at me and refused to eat anything more. I went back later and gave him a bit more from a fresh can of food.

Poor guy's sneezing up a storm. We've always chided him about catching colds at 'Granny's the home he snuck off to to smooze with other cats. He'd come back coughing hacking sneezing, and 9 times out of 10 he'd give it to me.

Does anyone know how long the symptoms for rhino lasts? I'm thinking it was roughly 2 weeks?

[Miz.Dales]

Poor little man really hope he gets better soon sending lots and lots of vibes x

[mickey]

I would dilute and spray on. It's not the best stuff for healing wounds but better than infection? Poor mister.

[cutemangurdi1]

Just sending a few more hugs for you both Debbie. What a nightmare time. We're all rooting for Mister's recovery.

[jay]

Poor Mister I'm glad he's starting to put up a fight with his pills though...he must be feeling a bit better in himself.

These links might not be any use, but thought I'd let you know about our 'magic' disinfectant and ointment that we use for the birds, dogs and horses. Its completely safe to be left in contact with the skin (they use it for allsorts of procedures including lavage, fogging etc).

www.f10biocare.co.uk/as.html

www.f10biocare.co.uk/ointment.html

We always use the antiseptic to clean the wound, followed by the ointment to act as a barrier. One of our Harris Hawks is a tinker for chasing squirrels and getting bitten, and using F10 on her wounds has always worked so far.

I don't know how effective it would be on an established staph infection, but just thought I'd mention it in case it might help.

[Debbie]

imagining your hawk diving after the squirrels! Logistically that has to be a nightmare though

Last night Mister's vet phoned (hurrahhh for coming back from vacations! ) and he wanted the update, and it was my turn to sit there with a long silence trying to make it sound perkier than I thought.

I told him I thought the inner leg wound looked puffier to me. Last night I squished Mister's leg and it seemed dry, but this morning I turned on a powerful lamp and spotlighted his leg. Overall the wounds are looking the best they have since we started, however there are 2 spots that are looking weepy/puffed and I've got him schedualed to go in this afternoon for a flushing.

I'll take along his meds with me so I can dose him on the fly. He's currently getting his pill one time a day, and I don't want to be behind because of the proceedure.

I don't think I'm going to do anything with his wounds. I relooked over the match ups from the cultures that were done and the stuff is so highly resistant that I don't think unless I have those 5 specific things externally, that it would work against this infection. And I also don't want to monkey around and allow it to sorta look like its healing when it isn't.

It really does look like the med is working, but I want to keep the vet in the loop and I want both of us to stay right on top of this infection and change the meds if needed. I'm also bringing him back home tonight. At the moment he's so run down that I feel he'll do his best mending back at home.

[valerie n scout]

oh I really hope he is on the mend Debbie xxxx

[Debbie]

I have some fantastic news, while still remaining cautious... Mister is back home after his checkup yesterday.

The vet didn't need to flush anything Three of us restrained him and looked at him under really strong light. The vet thought the scabs I saw on Mister's good side were probably just that, some scabs from all the hydration, antibiotics and vitamin B shots they had to give him during his hospital time.

Within 5 days of the Baytril, Mister's wounds are the best looking they have ever been The vet explained the weeping I saw on the chest and that inner arm are from the wound attempting to contract and heal around Mister's elbow. He warned that will take the longest to fill in as the elbow movement will naturally keep the whole thing open longer

He also took a syringe to check the fluids in the puffy part of Mister's leg and thankfully it was not a pocket of the staph. He said at this point we keep pilling Mister once a day with the Baytril and it will systemically kill off the staph infection, but we need to stay vigilant about any pockets that may form and be absolutely sure to get them opened if we find any.

For his part, Mister came home and inhaled his whole can of food in victory celebration he hasn't been eating that much since we recently brought him home. Then after I pilled him only an hour later, he inhaled another can of food I guess he can't believe his luck, so he wants to make the most of it!

And this morning he discovered he could claw at the door to the room he's in and sometimes it opens he's already insisting he wants to go outside. I told him to forget about it until his wounds are fully healed. I'm not listening

So, all in all, being very cautious still, but it looks like the Baytril will FINALLY get this staph infection cleared

[valerie n scout]

yey am delighted to read this Debbie way to go Mister XXX