WWYD? Im so sad...

Here is the back story to Ella, she was dealth a tough hand from the beginning. She just turned 6 May 9th.

Ella's Back Story

Since then she has had numerous reoccurances of the ear imfections, sometimes in the bone, she is constantly itching and scratching and sore. She goes to the vet get the meds (that are very $$) and then she is fine for a few more month and then another reoccurance and she is in pain alot from what the vet says. Now fast forward to this week, MIL (who has her now because we didn't want to separate her from Sadie, her german shephard friend and they live on 50 acres of awesome roaming territory) said she had another reoccurance of the infection and this time needed to have another surgical drain out in and another round of meds.This has been since 2008 we have been doing this and even after they said removing both of her ear canals would be the cure-all and it clearly wasn't. MIL was saying she wants to stop taking her to the vet because it's getting costly which ic an understand, her family and ours have shelled out probably close to $15,000 if not more for all her surgeries, meds and treatments. She is such a special part of the family and a great dog when she doesn't have a reoccurance.
2 days ago we got VERY bad news that Ella tested positive for MRSA staph that they believes (need a bone marrow test to prove) that it's in her bone which is even more bad. he is in pain in her ears, has drains, is on meds and now the treatment for the MRSA staph is a 6 week treatment and she needs to be quarantined from Sadie and the kids (I have a 9 months old, a 3 year old and DH's sister has an 8 months old). She can't be near them or lick them (before we knew this she was licking their faces when we housesat last weekend :( ) The vet saud even after the treatment is done, Ella with be a carrier and it can still be caught between dogs and humans. MIL wants to put her down because of the exposure risk to her and the kids and she will constantly have to clean anything Ella is bear or touches and especially when the kids all get together (which is often) to make sure no one gets it.
Im having a really hard time with it, we love Ella dearly but im also concerned about the risk for my kids (i had a severe staoh infection on multiple organs after my c-section with Lauren, it's is not something anyone wants). My aunt said if it were her dog she would think about her quality of life and her pain which i can understand. She just seems so normal when she doesn't have an occurance. When i think of putting a dog down i think of an old dog or a dog that is severly sick, when Ella isn't sick she is so happy and playful.I lobe her to death and it kills me to think of having to say goodbye to her and never seeing her again, makes me cry everytime i think about it. Sje is so young but i know she will constantly have this problem with her ears. The vet even said she has never seen a case this sever or in a dog so young. She has had 6 surgies, numerous meds treatments over the course of 4 years. MIL said the vet sounded defeated on the phone giving her the staph news and seemed like she didn't know what to do anymore.
I want to take her records and Ella to another vet to just make sure we have done everything possible but even if that vet can do something for her ears the MRSA exposure risk is still there. What would you do? Would you put her down? Im worried for my kids being exposed to the MRSA but i feel like a bad person for even considering this, i fell like im killing her. Her life is in our hands.

Re: WWYD? Im so sad...

What a horrible situation to be in. I recall your staph infection problems, and I recall your dog's as well. I remember your dog needing it's ear canals removed and feeling so sad for it, and for the whole situation that you are trying your hardest with.

I would absolutely take your dog to another vet. THere is a great vet that alot of people go to, who is a vendor on here as well. Marc Gurtman of Townline vet in Hauppauge. He sometimes writes to people who post on here. Maybe you can contact him and see what he thinks?

As for putting your dog down, it's hard for me to answer since it's not my dog. As an outsider looking in, I feel terrible your dog has to keep going through such pain. That's my gut instinct speaking. I felt terrible when your dog had to have his ear canals removed, making him deaf. And I also can see how the cost of this could be such a burden, on top of the dog's pain. Then the dog having to be quarantined would be so sad as well.

But I can't say since it's not my dog...kwim? I am so sorry. I would 1 million percent say get a second opinion and not do a THING else until I got a second opinion. And fast.

Message edited 6/24/2012 8:56:28 PM.

Re: WWYD? Im so sad...

I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Poor Ella I would definitely get a second opinion very quickly before making any decisions. I can't say what I would do because honestly, I have no idea. It's such a horrible situation to be put in. Keep us posted and I'm sending many prayers for Ella

Re: WWYD? Im so sad...

Since you are in Maine, our vet recommendations are useless. I would take her to another vet, although I'm sure what you are bring told is true. We had to put our 7 year old dog to sleep a few years ago, but it was due to Lyphoma. It's such a hard decision to make.