smhufflepuff
super-duper hedgiepig
Thought I should officially update this thread.
On 4/29, their vet called with continued good news: still nothing showed up in the final report. The kids looked to be free, though he cautioned that MRSA is one of those bugs that can lurk, so we're not to let someone with a compromised immune system or young children handle them. Then he paused, chuckled, and questioned the wisdom of handing a hedgie to a baby anyhow. So, we're to just watch and treat if anything arises.
On 5/10, Satin went back in to see him for another bump that appeared on her back (looked like it might be an ingrown quill to me) and a new lump on her chest near where her abscess was. Given her history, he and hedgiedaddy thought it best to get a culture of the stuff that came out of the back-side bump rather than blindly treat with antibiotics. He thinks the front-side lump is the cancer triggering a reaction in her lymph nodes.
The final report on the culture came in two days ago. I had been debating on what my worst fear was: MRSA or cancer. We were able to pretty much rule out cancer in that area when she was seen - hedgiedaddy says her vet looked at the cells; they looked like "normal" skin cells and white blood cells to him. The culture came back negative. Nothing grew. No MRSA
So, we're classifying it under the benign hedgie getting older lumps and bumps category and just watching it to make sure it doesn't worsen.
Meanwhile, Satin's nose has remained normal. Tex's is a bit more moist than Satin's, more moist than before this whole ordeal, and equal to how he'd been in the last couple of weeks during treatment. The runniness doesn't seem to be a product of the super-bug being active. His vet's concluded that he might just have a wetter nose than others - so we'll keep on eye on him as always.
So, for now, my kids are my kids again. We've been going gloveless. Tex's attitude has improved tremendously - he'd really taken some psychological blows with the introduction of the gloves. Was such a sad little thing.
I do make a point to wash *very thoroughly* before and after handling each hedgie. And every fabric item that comes in contact with them gets the hot water & vinegar wash and hot tumble dry. And, yep, sometimes that super-bright blue light continues to make an appearance to "clean" their toys a bit more than my scrubbing does.
It's been absolutely wonderful to hold them again. To feel their warm fuzzy bellies, their pudgy feet; to compare this sound and feel of their quills as I rustle through them. Love those quillkids
On 4/29, their vet called with continued good news: still nothing showed up in the final report. The kids looked to be free, though he cautioned that MRSA is one of those bugs that can lurk, so we're not to let someone with a compromised immune system or young children handle them. Then he paused, chuckled, and questioned the wisdom of handing a hedgie to a baby anyhow. So, we're to just watch and treat if anything arises.
On 5/10, Satin went back in to see him for another bump that appeared on her back (looked like it might be an ingrown quill to me) and a new lump on her chest near where her abscess was. Given her history, he and hedgiedaddy thought it best to get a culture of the stuff that came out of the back-side bump rather than blindly treat with antibiotics. He thinks the front-side lump is the cancer triggering a reaction in her lymph nodes.
The final report on the culture came in two days ago. I had been debating on what my worst fear was: MRSA or cancer. We were able to pretty much rule out cancer in that area when she was seen - hedgiedaddy says her vet looked at the cells; they looked like "normal" skin cells and white blood cells to him. The culture came back negative. Nothing grew. No MRSA
So, we're classifying it under the benign hedgie getting older lumps and bumps category and just watching it to make sure it doesn't worsen. Meanwhile, Satin's nose has remained normal. Tex's is a bit more moist than Satin's, more moist than before this whole ordeal, and equal to how he'd been in the last couple of weeks during treatment. The runniness doesn't seem to be a product of the super-bug being active. His vet's concluded that he might just have a wetter nose than others - so we'll keep on eye on him as always.
So, for now, my kids are my kids again. We've been going gloveless. Tex's attitude has improved tremendously - he'd really taken some psychological blows with the introduction of the gloves. Was such a sad little thing.
I do make a point to wash *very thoroughly* before and after handling each hedgie. And every fabric item that comes in contact with them gets the hot water & vinegar wash and hot tumble dry. And, yep, sometimes that super-bright blue light continues to make an appearance to "clean" their toys a bit more than my scrubbing does.
It's been absolutely wonderful to hold them again. To feel their warm fuzzy bellies, their pudgy feet; to compare this sound and feel of their quills as I rustle through them. Love those quillkids
