Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy Brutus' Medical Costs

 

 

Welcome to our GoFundMe page to help Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy Brutus during the medical challenges that he faces to overcome a congenital condition called Dermoid Sinus. Funds contributed go directly to the Hamm Family to assist with Brutus' medical expenses.

 

We are Aaron and Katie King of Blacktail Mountain Rhodesian Ridgebacks in NW Montana. Brutus was born to us at 2:28 on the afternoon of July 8th to our healthy Dam, Daphne, and Sire, Magnus. He was first born of our first litter. Brutus was one of four beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies and instantly won our hearts over. From birth until he was rehomed at 8 weeks to the Hamm Family out of Spokane he was our pick of the litter. He had the kindest disposition and was always on the back heels of his mom wanting to snuggle up.

 

Brutus and his siblings lived out their first 8 weeks with us on our sprawling 17 acres of mountainous property in Kila, Montana. With both parents on site, the puppies had abundant opportunity for playful interaction, not to mention many new things to explore. Born in the middle of Summer the weather in our area of Montana was warm and much of their time was spent outside during the days. Our two year old daughter, Ari, spent every waking moment with the puppies and life was good. Our hearts could not be more full.

 

The puppies received veterinarian care at Calm Animal Care in Kila. Their first appointment for vaccinations was August 27th at 7 weeks old. All puppies received a "clean bill of health." Only a week or two earlier I had noticed while Brutus was wrestling around with his siblings that a small umbilical hernia was developing. I pointed this out to our vet on this first appointment and expressed our desire to have this fixed before he was rehomed. Five days later Brutus went in for hernia repair. While waiting to be taken in for surgery Aaron noticed a small, painless lump on the midline of Brutus' neck. He asked the vet to check this out. The vet assured us the lump was "nothing to worry about" and likely was irritation in his skin from his vaccinations administered only a few days earlier. Hernia surgery proceeded without complications and the vet gave us "the okay" that Brutus was ready to be rehomed that following weekend.

 

Brutus joined the Hamm Family on September 4th at 8 weeks 4 days old. Brutus was a gift for their son, Archer. They were in love with Brutus long before he came to even live with them. They doted on him and often updated us with pictures as he was settling into their home.

 

Brutus had his first vet appointment with his new vet in Spokane at 9 weeks 4 days of age. His hernia repair site was healing without complications and he received his next round of vaccinations. It was around 3 weeks after Brutus came to live with Archer, Elizabeth and Cory that the painless lump on his neck grew larger and began to ooze. It was not until Brutus' fourth vet appointment since birth that he was diagnosed with a serious and potentially life-threatening congenital condition called Dermoid Sinus.

 

As a disclaimer, Brutus' parents, Daphne and Magnus, had full genetic testing before they were bred for the first time. Screened for over 300 diseases and traits they both were clear of all conditions tested for. According to the American College of Veterinarian Surgeons a Dermoid Sinus is a "tubular skin defect caused by incomplete separation of the skin and the nervous system during embryonic development." The sinus can be found at any point along the back or neck.  Dermoid sinus is specific to Rhodesian Ridgebacks. The ridge of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is caused by a mutation resulting in duplication of a length of DNA coding for three growth factor genes. This mutation, which has an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance also causes dermoid sinuses. The depth of the defect varies and may extend into the tissues just beneath the skin or much deeper, connecting to the membrane covering the spinal cord. If the defect connects to the spinal cord the affected puppy is at risk of pain and infection causing serious disease, such as meningitis or even death.

Below is a visualization of different types of Dermoid Sinuses.



The preliminary diagnose of Brutus' Dermoid Sinus was delayed as it did not fully manifest itself until he was almost 12 weeks old. Many breeders that detect this condition at birth will euthanize the affected puppy. Still other puppies with a Dermoid Sinus can undergo surgery to remove the defect, depending on the depth and other variables. Advanced imaging of the spine is necessary prior to any neurosurgery. MRI alone, which requires pre-procedure labs and sedation of the puppy, can be over $3,000. Advanced imaging centers for animals are few and far between as well. Brutus and his new family will have to travel to Washington State University College of Veterinarian Medicine for consultation with the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery. Thanks to staffing shortages and the overburdened veterinarian healthcare system, Brutus is not scheduled for consultation at WSU until November 8th. We can only pray at this time that Brutus' sinus tract does not become infected and that he remains a candidate for surgery.

To our friends and family, please consider making a donation, no matter how small. Please feel free to reach out to us with any further questions. The funds that we are able to raise will go directly to the Hamm Family for medical expenses accrued for Brutus' advanced imaging, consultation with vet specialists and ultimately surgery.

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http://www.gofundme.com/f/rhodesian-ridgeback-puppy-brutus-medical-costs