HARLESTON, S.C. A vet made a shocking discovery of six three-foot giant worms living inside the dog’s kidneys last week. The worms were so big that the veterinarians working on the dog thought at first they must be plastic tubes.
The Charleston Animal Society had recovered the hound dog, Twiggy, after she was found running loose on Johns Island, the largest island in the state of South Carolina.
After being taken in to the shelter, and following routine spay-neuter surgery on 13 June, the veterinarians were amazed to see what looked like red-colored tubes inside Twiggy’s abdomen. The tubes turned out to be unbelievably big kidney worms.
“I was performing a routine spay when we saw a red tube-like object through the incision and were shocked when it turned out to be a worm that seemed to go on forever. This was just one of six giant kidney worms that we pulled out of Twiggy.”
Dr. Morris, Charleston Animal Society
The giant red worms enter through a dog’s body when they eat raw fish or frogs. It is very rare to find them though, and they take a long time to become huge. Once these worms enter the dog, they go to the kidneys and can cause kidney failure.
The kidney worms can also develop inside humans if they eat raw fish or frogs, or drink contaminated water. Just as in dogs, the presence of kidney worms in humans can cause all sorts of nightmare health problems.
Twiggy is recovering at the shelter. Without the treatment for the kidney worms, and the surgery from Charleston Animal Society, Twiggy would have faced an excruciating death in the wilds of Johns Island.
“We are glad Twiggy is back outside enjoying the fresh air, we can’t wait until she finds a new, loving home.
Dr. Morris, Charleston Animal Society
Given interest in discovery of the rare kidney worms, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Lucy Fuller is planning to write a case study giving details of Twiggy’s procedure that will assist scientists and veterinarians across the U.S.
“This is something that doesn’t happen every day,” Fuller said.
A veterinarian who specializes in parasites assisted Dr. Fuller with the case and has asked to study samples of the kidney worms found in Twiggy.
Charleston Animal Society’s Sam Greer Spay-Neuter Clinic is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, representing the highest standards of veterinary excellence. Every year the clinic performs more than 10,000 spay/neuter surgeries which tremendously helps the dogs and the public.
Charleston Animal Society’s clinic employs fully licensed, highly trained veterinarians who treat every animal as if the pet were their own. It is thanks to them that Twiggy is alive.
Charleston Animal Society wants to kindly remind the public they are currently overcrowded and are offering free adoptions on all of their adult dogs. Donations can be made here.
