Caira's skin infection - UGH!

9841 Views 70 Replies 49 Participants Last post by Maidto2Maltese, Aug 11, 2010

bellaratamaltese

Discussion Starter · Jul 1, 2010

3

I don't think i mentioned on SM that I have been dealing with Caira and a skin infection for months. It's so frustrating and I feel soo badly for her. She has had to wear a hard cone for going on 4 months now, 24/7. I can't take it off of her because she will try to dig her eyes out the second the cone comes off (and that is no exaggeration).

Her course of treatment has been
3 weeks of Lincomycin with 2 weeks of Predisone
(no change)

3 weeks of an anti-fungal
(no change)

2 weeks of Clavamox
(no change and getting worse with new lesions on the Clavamox)

Medicated shampoos (no oatmeal)

Finally went to the dermatologist who said it seemed to be an antibiotic resistant strain of Staph and he did a culture and sensitivity. It showed sensitivity to Simplicef

so... we have just completed our first week of Simplicef and it's not getting better! It's getting worse! :smilie_tischkante::smilie_tischkante:

her diet was also changed to a hypo-allergenic diet (Royal Canin vet food for allergies, which is crap I know, but at this point, I'm desperate) She has been on the new food for 2 weeks with only sweet potato treats allowed (which she is very happy with)

Has anybody had any experiences with this? I feel soo badly for her. She's Miss Mopey and has been for months, definitely not my crazy Caira that I love so much. She was being fed Prairie before. Is there anything I can do? I've been spraying her with Peace and Kindness (CC) and the initial lesions have pretty much healed but new ones keep cropping up. It's very itchy for her. The soft cone does not keep her from getting to herself, otherwise I'd have that one her

it's not contagious (both my vet and the dermatologist both said this) Here is my poor Caira conehead (I have an old blanket over my comforter for the dogs, ya know, in case they poop :thumbsup

These are the newest lesions that cropped up while she was on antibiotics

And this one is one of the original ones that has not healed and the one that is potentially the most dangerous because if she ever gets the cone off of her, I dont' know how much damage she will do to herself.

She is also sprayed once a day with a medicated spray the dermatologist gave me.

is there anything else I can do??? I have an appt for a recheck in 5 weeks with the dermatologist but I think i'm going to try to get her checked sooner. I feel like I've wasted so much time already :crying: She is not spayed - my next question for the dermatologist is if this could be a hormonal issue.

See less See more

1 - 20 of 71 Posts

iheartbisou

· #2 · Jul 1, 2010

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this...I know it has to be really a discomfort for her and worrying for you. When I boarded Bisou in April for 11 days or so, I returned to find that she had a skin infection. It wasn't as progressed as these photos though.

The Vet gave her an antibiotic for 2 weeks and then I applied a mixture of (pure) essential oils on her scabs. I used a little mix of lavender oil, tea tree oil, bergamot and eucalyptus oil and would apply once a day with a Q-tip. All of these oils are good for the skin (and for skin infections) and can be applied on the skin in very small amounts. I don't know if that would work in this case as the scabs are larger, but that is what I did. Good luck!!

Maglily

· #3 · Jul 1, 2010

poor thing. I don't have any advice but I hope she's feeling better soon.

mary-anderson

· #4 · Jul 1, 2010

I wish I had some advise for you. Poor little beautiful Caira she must be
uncomfortable. I hope you find a solution soon.

Johita

· #5 · Jul 1, 2010

Oh, poor Caira. It breaks my heart to see her like this so I can only imagine how you are feeling. I hope everything turns out okay for her. Keeping you guys in my prayers.

bellaratamaltese

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 1, 2010

Thank you everybody! I miss my silly Caira. She hasn't pawed Lucy in the face to get her to snarl, then run around the bed to keep the annoyance going in months. I miss that. I really miss it.

Matilda's mommy

· #7 · Jul 1, 2010

oh Stacy, it breaks my heart to see little Caira having this problem, I'm hoping Jaimie might check in tonight just maybe she has some good advice. I will remember precious Caira in my prayers, and you to, it's got to be so frustrating for you

Miss_Annie

· #8 · Jul 1, 2010

This breaks my heart too! I have no advice to give but I hope that you find how to fix poor Caira's skin soon!! That poor doll doesn't deserve that!!

MalteseJane

· #9 · Jul 1, 2010

Alex had recurrent staph infections, but they were localized around his penis area. He responded well to clavamox. When there was only 2 or 3 pimples I did not use the antibiotic. I opened the pimples to get rid of the pus inside and cleaned them with alcohol. I also used essential oils :
10 drops lavender - 15 drops chamomille - 10 drops eucalyptus - 10 drops tea tree - 10 drops thyme - add about 55 ml of carrier oil (almond or jojoba). You can also add Neem oil. Neem is good for the skin. I did not know about Neem at the time.
Do you use any kind of heartworm prevention ? I am asking this because I suspected this was the cause with Alex. We even changed to another brand but it did not make a difference. I am asking because Alex has not had a staph infection since we moved to Arizona. But he also has not had any heartworm prevention since we moved here. So maybe I was right to begin with.
I just sent you an article about Staph to your yahoo e-mail. The website it comes from does not exist anymore.

See less See more

Nikki's Mom

· #10 · Jul 1, 2010

If it were me, I would find a meat that she wasn't allergic to and feed her only that with a little white rice for two weeks. Nothing else, no vitamins, no treats, nothing but the meat and rice.

For the external lesions, I'd try coconut oil.

JMO

lynda

· #11 · Jul 1, 2010

Gosh Stacy, I am so sorry to hear this about your beautiful Caira. She looks so uncomfortable and I am sure you are feeling just as badly for her. I think you may have hit on something there with the hormonal issue though I am just guessing. In any case, I hope the Vet finds out as soon as possible the reason for this poor darlings skin problem. Give her hugs and kisses from me please. Oh, and I am sending you a hug too.:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

k/c mom

· #12 · Jul 1, 2010

OMG! I am so very, very sorry to hear this. I can imagine how difficult this is for both of you.

dr.jaimie

· #13 · Jul 1, 2010

Have they biopsied any of the lesions? Tried any antihistamines or anything for inhalant allergies? I assume the dermatologist did a skin scraping... I would give them a call and let them know it's getting worse. I've seen forms of pemphigus look like this but that needs a biopsy.

harrysmom

· #14 · Jul 1, 2010

Stacy,

I'm so sorry to hear about Caira's skin problems. Harry
had a staph skin infection a few months ago and Marj
told me to use Clearasil on Harry's lesions.... and it
worked. The vet had also given me antibiotics and
chlorhexadine shampoo. The combination of all 3 things
worked for him, but I think the Clearasil did the trick. I
asked the vet about it and he said that using Clearasil
made sense.

I don't know how to put in links to previous threads, but
if you search SM for "Clearasil", the threads that I started
about Harry's infection come up.

I feel so bad for your little girl. Good luck.

Debbie

See less See more

njdrake

· #15 · Jul 1, 2010

Oh Stacy that has to be miserable for her. It made me want to cry just looking at her. Bless her heart and yours. I hope you get this figured out soon and have Caira back to her happy beautiful self.
:grouphug:

Luna'sMom

· #16 · Jul 1, 2010

I'm sorry that poor Caira is so uncomfortable and unwell - I really hope that something improves soon for you both!

It looks very painful!

I would probably be taking her back if it was getting worse - or calling the vet and saying it's getting worse.

Lacie's Mom

· #17 · Jul 1, 2010

OMG, Stacy, this is sooooooooooooooooo much worse than I had imagined when you first mentioned it to me. Poor, poor, poor, sweet little Caira. I would do what Jaimie suggested about the biopsy, but I would also use Aloe for the open sores. Get the kind that is a green gooey gel for sunburns. I think it's made by Banana something or other. Anyway, rub the Aloe gel on her open sores at least 3 times a day. I've had luck using that for hot spots and such and if she's already wearing the cone, it will be fine, because they seem to lick the Aloe.

My heart is breaking just looking at the little sweetheart. No wonder she wants to dig her eyes out. She looks just miserable.

Prayers being sent that you get an answer soon and something that will provide relief for Caira.

Ladysmom

· #18 · Jul 1, 2010

harrysmom said:
Stacy,

I'm so sorry to hear about Caira's skin problems. Harry
had a staph skin infection a few months ago and Marj
told me to use Clearasil on Harry's lesions.... and it
worked. The vet had also given me antibiotics and
chlorhexadine shampoo. The combination of all 3 things
worked for him, but I think the Clearasil did the trick. I
asked the vet about it and he said that using Clearasil
made sense.

I don't know how to put in links to previous threads, but
if you search SM for "Clearasil", the threads that I started
about Harry's infection come up.

I feel so bad for your little girl. Good luck.

Debbie

Lady has battled staph infections for a couple of years now. In her case, it's her weak autoimmune system from her diabetes.

Clearasil (benzoyl peroxide) works amazingly well. I know Deb took my advice and used it on her Lulu after antibiotics didn't clear up her staph.

http://spoiledmaltese.com/forum/52-maltese-health-behavior/89781-look-my-lulu.html

Benzoyl peroxide shampoo is also more effective on staph than chlorhexidene.

wooflife

· #19 · Jul 1, 2010

Poor Caira!!! My goodness how uncomfortable she must be!!! And how upset and frustrated you must be trying to help her.

Dr. Jaime is so sweet to chime in with some suggestions maybe they will help.

I agree with Suzan, on the meat with rice for a couple weeks and coconut oil on the lesions. The only change I might make is to give coconut oil internally as well. Neither should make it worse. Talk to the vet to make sure he/she knows what is going on and that it wouldn't harm Caira's current treatment.

I have also read that adding vitamin C to a dogs diet can help strengthen their immune system so that might be something to think and talk to the vet about.

The more you can strengthen Caira's immune system the easier it will be for the Vet to help her fight this off.

Prayers for Caira, her veterinarian and you. Get better soon little girl!!

Snowbody

· #20 · Jul 1, 2010

Stacy - :crying: I'm so sorry for what Caira's going through. Here you've been going to all these shows and as busy as can be and have the worry of Caira's condition weighing on you. I can't imagine how helpless you must feel. I'm hoping that some of the suggestions others here gave might work.

One of my friend's Maltese had a horrible skin problem and was put on steroids, antihistamine and some sort of valium type med for dogs since he was making himself crazy with the itching. I'm not a big med person, so I wouldn't really go that route but it worked for them. I've done a lot of work with food allergies in kids and some of them have such bad eczema that they have scratched their skin until it bleeds. Vanicreme is a company that makes several skin products that the Drs. at Mt. Sinai in NY rave about. I'm not sure if it could help pets, but you can check it online. I've ordered the skin cream from Drugstore.com. and I use it myself.
Good luck in finding something that will help. Poor little Caira looks so sweet. I hate to see her go through this. :grouphug:

See less See more

1 - 20 of 71 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.