Giant Kidney Worms in Dog of Local Military Veteran

On 7/17/2015 “Bob” Brim presented to Redmond-Kirkland Animal Hospital for a two day history of blood in his urine and excessive drinking/urinating.  He was adopted 6 months prior to presentation.  The shelter said “Bob” had been rescued from a neglectful owner.  He had not been outside of Washington since being adopted and the owner did not know where he lived prior to adoption. With diagnostic testing, Dr. Andrea Hoover was able to diagnose “Bob” with Giant Kidney Worms.  She coordinated with the surgery specialists at Seattle Veterinary Specialists for “Bob” to have a Nephrectomy (kidney removal) on 7/20/2015 for removal of the kidney worms.  They found one male worm free in the abdomen and one female worm in the kidney.

“Bob’s” background story from owner Andrew Brim:

Bob is Bob.  He's his own dog.  The VA helped locate him for me, WSU rescued him, and after 12 years of stumbling around after serving 6 years in the Marine Corps with depression major, chronic ptsd, and problems maintaining employment.  Within a week of having Bob, I got my rest.  He has earned the title Bob without quotations.  Bob has never been trained, but knows to wake me up during a night terror.  He has his own night terrors from his past, they sound terrifying, and I wake him and hold him.  We get through the tough times together.  Next month is our first full year together.  I am grateful to have Bob in my life, we've both made good progress, and we will continue to do so.  

If you would like to help local pets like Bob, please make a donation to our Angel Fund.  

CLICK HERE to make a donation.

Information on Giant Kidney Worm: http://www.capcvet.org/capc-recommendations/urinar-tract-nematodes/

Redmond-Kirkland Animal Hospital

7251 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE

Redmond, WA 98052

www.redmondkirklandveterinary.com

info@rkvet.com

425-882-8000 p

425-882-8077 fax

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Are you planning to hit the road with your pets this summer?

Whether you are planning a lengthy family road trip or a quick summer getaway, there are some important things you need to know before making the decision to travel with your pets. Use the following tips to guarantee a safe and stress-free trip for the whole family!

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When Your Pet's Food Is Recalled

How to Stay Informed About Recalls

According to government regulatory agencies, there are three types of pet food recalls that can be issued. Recalls can be conducted by a company or brand, by request from the regulatory agencies, or by order from the government agency. When your pet's food has been recalled, you'll want to contact your veterinarian immediately. If it's been due to a contamination issue, you'll want to rule out any resulting health concerns. Occasionally pet foods are recalled because of an error in production so that certain nutrients are present in excess.  You'll want to discover if your pet is suffering from any nutritional toxicities, or if there a health-related risks associated with the recall.

You might be thinking, "Wait, how will I know if my pet's food is recalled?" You can stay on top of recalls by signing up for emails at the American Veterinary Medical Association's website or by following nationally recognized veterinary education associations. Other sources can include pet education websites, pet food manufacturer websites, regulation organizations, and your pet's veterinarian.

How to Choose a New Food

Depending on your pet’s species, he or she has very specific nutritional requirements. Instead of substituting something around your home, be sure to call your veterinarian if you need to make a change. You may have something in your home that is temporarily appropriate, but you should give your pet only food designed for them unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian is familiar with the popular pet food brands on the market. If yours is recalled, he or she will be able to make a suggestion for another excellent, nutritionally complete diet. Remember, it's normal for pet food needs to change as a pet grows and ages,  so it could be time to check in with your veterinarian on this topic.

To avoid recalls altogether, some owners choose to prepare homemade foods for their pet. Pet owners should know this requires a great deal of time commitment and know-how. Before diving into making homemade meals for your pet, consult with your veterinarian to discuss what specific nutritional needs your pet requires and which foods to focus on or avoid.  The recipe you follow to make your pet's food should be developed by a veterinary nutritionist, and the meat should be well cooked or this will be the source of Salmonella, Campylobacter, or E Coli for your pet.

Remember to do your homework. If you choose to change food, be sure to investigate the company's recall history before choosing a new brand.

Tip for Making the Transition to a New Food

If you decide to transition your pet to a new food, many people will do this gradually over four to five days by gradually introducing the new food.  For example, the first day you may offer 25% of the new food and 75% of the old food. The third day would be 50 % of each, and then the next day the majority would be the new food, and so on until only the new food is offered. If you have any questions about changing your pet’s diet, always speak with your veterinarian.