March 28, 2008

STRATHAM, N.H. -- Gingerbread, a seven-year old cat, wormed his way out of surgery this week, astonishing vets for the second time.

The first surprise came when a rare giant kidney worm was discovered in the orange tabby two weeks ago, after the feline began to lose weight and show signs of kidney failure.

A urine test diagnosed him with the potentially deadly parasite, which typically infests minks and can grow up to three feet long.

With the condition confirmed, surgery was scheduled at the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, where vets were intrigued by Gingerbread’s unique case --which was a first for the medical team.

It also was a first for staff at the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Gingerbread’s Stratham home, where he serves as the shelter’s official greeter.

Dr. Ann Marie Manning, chief medical officer at the center, said that while the worm can occasionally enter the bodies of cats, dogs and other carnivores, Gingerbread might have contracted it by eating something contaminated with the parasites eggs.

The prognosis: the removal of his kidney. According to Manning, extracting the parasite would very likely damage the organ. To nip any future problems in the bud, such as dormant eggs, Gingerbread was slated to be less one kidney and laid up for two days in the hospital.

But Gingerbread must have struck a deal with the pesky parasite. On surgery day, vets used an ultrasound to pinpoint the exact location of the giant worm, and try as they might, it could not be found.

Doctors speculate the very rare giant kidney worm might have found Gingerbread an inhospitable host, a little less welcoming than his title at the shelter suggests.

Back at the NHSPCA, which Gingerbread calls home, the feline is not home scot-free just yet. He’s still taking antibiotics and waiting to see if the worm’s eggs are discovered again in his urine.

“It’s hard to say if he’s better; it’s hard to say anything concrete at this point,” said Sheila Ryan, NHSPCA development and marketing. “He’s doing OK, not feeling his best and taking his medication.”

While staff hopes the “beautiful cat” will recover, if eggs are found in his urine, he will head back to Boston for a second attempt at treatment.

Robin Wallace, Pet Pulse and Dave Choate of The Seacoast Online, contributed to this report.