Fantastic outcome! Thank you for bringing awareness of a growing, yet largely under-appreciated, public health emergency in North America. Year round heartworm prevention that is also labeled for tapeworms can prevent infestations. #InterceptorPlus
Ok.
Are you ready?
We weren't.
But, here we go.
Caution.
This post has some DISGUSTING STUFF in it.
To catch up a random person reading this, Bunsen, our beloved Bernese Mountain Dog presented symptoms of bloat on August 15th.
Bloat is DEADLY and we rushed him to emerg.
The initial triage confirmed our fears and Bunsen was prepped for emergency surgery.
Then things started to not add up.
Bunsen's stomach wasn't full of gas. His lactate levels were fine. Then on ultrasound a mass was found that dumbfounded the surgical team.
The surgeon called us and said what we have found is "extraordinary".
Bunsen had a massive fluid filled sack and that the surgical team would have to go in with little information and attempt to cut it out the next day.
We visited Bunsen on August 15th and told him we loved him and that he was the bestest boy. We were also told that this surgery is very risky and he may die.
I hugged him and told him that it wasn't his time. I whispered in his ear that a coyotes, badgers, porcupines and deadly cold didn't kill him - he would survive this.
Little did I know how ironic that statement would be. By the grace of the universe, prayers, luck, love from around the world and the amazing vet team led by Dr. Keyes, Bunsen survived.
They found a MASSIVE growth unlike anything they had seen before. It was enormous. 10cm by 20cm (4 inches by 8inches) and almost 10 pounds. It was attached to his liver and his aorta, living off his life processes.
So Bunsen recovered and we have been waiting for what the THING was.
Was it cancer? Was it benign? Was it deadly? What is alien? We waited and waited for results that didn't come in.
Turns out there is a very good reason.
This may be one of the only cases in Alberta, or all of Western Canada.
To put it bluntly, it is a tapeworm cyst.
Specifically, Echniococcus.
Now here is where things get wild.
In this parasite, wolves and coyotes are the definitive carrier and mice are the intermediate. Mice grow cysts, coyotes each the mice, the cyst becomes an adult tapeworm, the coyote poops out eggs, mice eats the egg and the lifecycle continues.
In this story, somehow, unbelievably, Bunsen became the mouse in the above life cycle. Hiding deep within the massive cyst pulled out of Bunsen is a prototape worm.
Dogs can get this tapeworm, but they become the definitive carrier, through one in a million circumstances, Bunsen grew a 10 pound cyst like a mouse would in his abdomen.
The University of Alberta Vet research team was STUNNED when they found this out after test after test trying to figure out what the thing was came back negative. So what does this mean?
The cyst is removed from Bunsen. He's now totally fine.
We will screen him in a couple months with a full body CT scan to make sure there aren't any other cysts growing. But here is where things get nasty.
This parasite is zoonotic. This means that if Bunsen was also a definitive carrier, Beaker and Bernoulli could also have it. So could I. So could Kris. So could Adam.
We have to get Bunsen's feces checked for this rare tapeworm egg and if he has it, check Beaker and Bernoulli and put them on anti parasite medications. AND we all then have to go for a blood test because WE might have it.
It would be rare, but we could have cysts slowly growing inside us - in our lungs or liver (that's where it lives in humans).
Dr. Keys said that chances of all of the above happening is VERY LOW but then, Bunsen had a 10 pound tapeworm cyst nobody had seen before.
We thanked him today for saving Bunsen's life.
He said - "I didn't do anything special." I told him he did. He is a hero. His our hero. I said there literally hundreds of thousands of people across the world who think he is a hero.
He gave us more time with Bunsen, who he thinks, will likely go on to live a totally full and normal life.
But we may all have cysts and tapeworm inside us.
Win some, lose some. PHEW! Ok, if you have questions, ask away!
Cookie, an 8-week-old Pit-mix, became the first puppy to be treated for parvovirus with Elanco's Monoclonal Antibody treatment. After a weekend stay at a clinic in Long Beach, California, she was parvo-free and able to go home. https://t.co/sOPycEBl3E
Even a 10 year old can do the math and see solar makes sense!! ☀️ My nephew advocated for electrifying his elementary school to the Palm Beach County School Board (starts at 1hr 52min mark). More of this!! @rewiringamerica @GoldinSolar https://t.co/uAI6QMclI1
Hurray!!! The death penalty is a stain on the US justice system. I am so glad to see it removed from the WA legal code. To bad Sen @LyndaWilson17LD and Rep Paul Harris voted against reducing harm and improving the justice system for all Washingtonians.
Glad to see this issue getting attention. The sky in Clark Co is noticeably less dark than even 5 years ago. As @PaulBogard’s book taught me, darkness is vital to our health, our food, our shared humanity. Please let’s protect the dark skies!!!
@GoldinSolar shout out to Jeff M for taking the time to help a 3rd grader with his science fair project, looking at the cost savings a solar array at his elementary school would provide. Thank you!!! ☀️🙏
Elated to have @MGPforCongress represent me in Congress. 🎉 I know you will be a representative for all us. Having knocked on over 300 doors, I know that your message resonates with the people of WA’s 3rd district.
We won. I am humbled, honored, and grateful.
I pledge to work every day to live up to the responsibility placed in me.
I will defend our rights. I will protect our democracy. And I will deliver the help working and middle class families need.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am excited to help send @ReverendWarnock back to DC so he can continue faithfully serving the people of GA by supporting @Enviro_Voter’s plan to GOTV. I love their data-driven, precision approach to this sliver of the electorate. Results prove they punch above their weight.
@ChrisK111012 @____B_S____ No. Genetically it is impossible for an F1. Base erect - maybe. But this degree of prick ear in a dog w even a single copy of the dominant drop gene can’t happen. Esp if young & cartilage is still developing (even German Shepherd pups have floppy ears til the tissue develops…)
Democracy needs to represent everyone. Join @WhenWeAllVote and @LWVPBC 10/6 at 6:30pm ET to learn more about how to make your voice heard. @SFdirewolf can you boost to your FL network?
Too often the disabled community is left out of the discussion when it comes to voting. Join @WhenWeAllVote and @LWVPBC tomorrow at 6:30 PM for a discussion on disability rights and its relation to our democracy.
Great day knocking on doors for @MGPforCongress! Helping spread the word and telling voters about Marie’s pro-women, pro-labor, pro-democracy platform! She is a candidate for all SWWA. Together, we can #FlipThe3rd.
Love reading @thecolumbian to stay abreast of the news in SWWA. Local journalism is vital to a functional, civil democracy. Thank you @BobFergusonAG for supporting this effort that will benefit so many. @LyndaWilson17LD please support our local paper!!
Via @SeattleTimes: “Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is leading a new effort to help save local news outlets in the state” with Representatives Pollet and Mullet. The bill would extend a tax preference for professional and online news publishers.
https://t.co/C0D9Hu6S1Q
Thank you @HerreraBeutler. I know @PattyMurray and @SenatorCantwell will do their part in the Senate when the bill comes to a vote. I urge my fellow SWWA residents to support @MGPforCongress in the Nov election so that we can ensure our voice is represented in Congress.
Loved canvassing and speaking to voters in Camas on behalf of @MGPforCongress. So many folks agree Marie is the best candidate to represent SWWA in Congress. #FlipThe3rd
BREAKING: Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces that Democrats are considering a vote in the House this month to ban lawmakers from trading stock — something supported by a huge swath of Americans. RT IF YOU THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS MUST DO IT!