Was Jesse's Death Genetic?

Thank you so much for all of your many heartfelt messages of love and sympathy for Jesse’s passing.

It’s always such a blessing to have this wonderfully caring community of great dog lovers in my life.

I asked our vet, Dr. Work, at Deer Park Veterinary Clinic to perform a necropsy on Jesse to see if anything obvious jumped out at her that would give us a better clue as to the origins of Jesse’s debilitating illness.

Dr. Work was very thorough in her exam, for which I am very grateful.

It is important to me that anything health related be recorded correctly.

Luckily, Jesse’s necropsy did reveal some finite answers to her slow decline in health over these last five months.

Dr. Work was sure to mention how Jesse’s internal organs looked great, except for one of the organs…

Her kidneys.

The were riddled with lesions throughout.

According to our vet, this is a big indication that she sustained a kidney infection, which is why Jesse initially presented with a low-grade fever.

But, apparently, even on antibiotics, her kidneys never recovered from the infection.

Dr. Work reiterated that all of the symptoms, including the kidneys being riddled with lesions inside and out, all pointed to some external cause.

She specifically mentioned leptospirosis and tick borne illness that look very similar to what Jesse’s body showed.

Both of the vets who saw her initially thought that same thing at the time, which is why she was given a test for both leptospirosis and tick disease.

These were both ruled out with negative results.

I, then, specifically asked Dr. Work about black widow spider bites.

The good doctor shared that it would be unlikely that a black widow’s venom would affect the kidneys in this way.

She further stated that a venomous animal’s bite usually affects the nervous system, although it was impossible to rule it out.

When I asked ChatGPT 4.0 if a particularly lethal black widow spider bite could produce lesions and ultimate kidney malfunction, here’s the response I received:

Yes, a particularly severe black widow spider bite can potentially affect a dog's kidneys, although it is not the most common complication. Black widow venom contains neurotoxins, primarily alpha-latrotoxin, which can cause widespread systemic effects. The venom leads to massive neurotransmitter release, resulting in severe muscle cramping, pain, and autonomic dysfunction.

In severe cases, this venom can cause:

1. Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) – The muscle damage releases myoglobin into the bloodstream, which can overwhelm the kidneys, leading to acute kidney injury (AKI).
2. Systemic Toxemia – The venom can trigger widespread inflammation and oxidative stress, potentially leading to multiple organ damage, including the kidneys.
3. Coagulopathy and Hemorrhaging – Although less common, the venom's effect on blood vessels might contribute to vascular damage and localized lesions in organs like the kidneys.

The presence of multiple lesions and eventual kidney malfunction could be consistent with severe envenomation complications such as acute tubular necrosis or direct vascular injury from systemic effects of the toxin. Immediate veterinary intervention with supportive care, such as IV fluids and muscle relaxants, is critical in such cases.

With Dr. Work’s assurance that nothing in Jesse’s internal organs showed any indication of congenital (present at birth) origins…

And Jesse’s sudden symptom onset at two years old…

Dr. Work is fairly confident Jesse’s condition was not genetic or contagious.

Therefore, none of her offspring would be affected in any way from Jesse’s illness.

We have placed Jesse’s memorial on our Rainbow Bridge.

The Dire Wolf Project honors all known DireWolf Dogs that have passed on.

You can visit them anytime at the Rainbow Bridge.

https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-dogs/our-health-foundation/rainbow-bridge/

If your DireWolf Dog has not been added and you want them to be remembered, send us a picture and a brief description, including the age and ancestry, and we’ll add them.

Much love to all of you.

Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.