A 3-year-old Standard Poodle developed a serious parasitic infection after eating raw elk meat. Veterinarians discovered tiny parasites called Hammondia heydorni in the dog’s pancreas and liver, causing inflammation and illness. This case is important because it’s the first time doctors have found this parasite in a dog’s pancreas, and it shows that raw meat diets can carry hidden dangers. While this parasite was once thought harmless, recent cases suggest it may cause real health problems in dogs. The infection was confirmed using advanced genetic testing that matched the parasite’s DNA perfectly.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How a parasite from raw elk meat infected a dog’s pancreas and liver, causing serious illness
  • Who participated: One 3-year-old Standard Poodle dog that was fed a raw elk-meat diet
  • Key finding: Genetic testing confirmed the dog had Hammondia heydorni, a parasite that had never been documented in a dog’s pancreas before. The parasite caused inflammation in both the pancreas and liver, leading to loss of appetite and yellowing of the skin and eyes.
  • What it means for you: If you feed your dog raw meat, especially wild game like elk or deer, there’s a risk of parasite infection. This case suggests raw meat diets may carry more health risks than previously thought, though this remains uncommon.

The Research Details

This is a case report describing one sick dog. The veterinarians examined the dog’s symptoms, took tissue samples from the pancreas and liver, and looked at them under a microscope. They found tiny parasites but couldn’t identify exactly what they were just by looking. To solve the mystery, they used advanced genetic testing called PCR sequencing, which reads the parasite’s genetic code like a fingerprint. The genetic code matched perfectly with a parasite called Hammondia heydorni, confirming the diagnosis with certainty.

The doctors investigated the dog’s history and learned it had been eating raw elk meat for some time before getting sick. They researched what was known about this parasite and discovered that while it was once thought to be harmless, recent cases suggest it can cause real disease in dogs.

This research matters because it documents a new way this parasite can harm dogs—by infecting the pancreas, which hadn’t been reported before. It also adds to growing evidence that Hammondia heydorni is becoming a more serious health concern in dogs, especially those eating raw meat diets. Understanding these emerging diseases helps veterinarians diagnose and treat sick dogs more effectively.

This is a single case report, which is the lowest level of scientific evidence. However, it provides valuable real-world information about a specific disease. The diagnosis was confirmed using genetic testing, which is highly reliable. The main limitation is that one case cannot prove that raw meat diets always cause this problem—it only shows that it can happen. More cases would need to be studied to understand how common this infection is.

What the Results Show

The dog presented with three main problems: it stopped eating (anorexia), its skin and eyes turned yellow (icterus), and blood tests showed very high levels of liver enzymes, indicating liver damage. When veterinarians examined tissue samples from the pancreas and liver under a microscope, they found inflammation and tiny parasites inside the cells.

The parasites looked similar to another known parasite, so genetic testing was necessary to identify them precisely. The genetic sequencing showed a 100% match with Hammondia heydorni. This was significant because it marked the first documented case of this parasite infecting a dog’s pancreas—something that hadn’t been reported in veterinary literature before.

The infection was directly linked to the dog’s diet of raw elk meat. Hammondia heydorni normally lives in wild animals like deer and elk. When dogs eat the raw muscle tissue of infected animals, they can become infected with the parasite’s dormant forms, called tissue cysts.

The case highlights that Hammondia heydorni is increasingly being recognized as a disease-causing organism in dogs, contrary to earlier beliefs that it was harmless. Multiple recent reports show this parasite can cause gastrointestinal problems and liver disease. The case also demonstrates that this parasite has a complex life cycle involving two hosts—dogs and coyotes are the final hosts where the parasite reproduces, while ruminants like elk and deer are intermediate hosts where the parasite develops in muscle tissue.

Historically, Hammondia heydorni was considered clinically inconsequential, meaning veterinarians didn’t think it caused real disease in dogs. However, this case adds to a growing body of recent reports showing that the parasite can cause significant illness. The involvement of the pancreas is particularly novel—previous cases documented gastrointestinal and liver disease, but pancreatic infection hadn’t been reported before. This suggests the parasite may be more dangerous than once believed.

This is a single case report, so it cannot establish how common this infection is or how likely it is to occur in dogs eating raw meat. The case doesn’t prove that all dogs eating raw elk meat will develop this infection—individual factors like the dog’s immune system, the amount of parasite exposure, and other health conditions likely play a role. Additionally, we don’t know if this dog had any underlying health problems that made it more susceptible. More research with multiple cases would be needed to understand the true risk.

The Bottom Line

If you feed your dog raw meat, especially wild game like elk or deer, be aware of the potential parasite risk. Consider having your veterinarian check your dog regularly for signs of illness. If your dog develops loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or other signs of liver disease, seek veterinary care immediately. Cooking meat thoroughly kills parasites and eliminates this risk. (Confidence level: Moderate—based on emerging evidence, though this infection remains uncommon.)

Dog owners who feed raw meat diets, particularly those using wild game, should be most concerned. Veterinarians should also be aware of this emerging parasite as a possible diagnosis in dogs with unexplained pancreatic or liver disease. Dogs with weakened immune systems may be at higher risk. This is less relevant for dogs eating only commercial pet food or cooked meat.

In this case, the dog developed symptoms after eating raw elk meat for some time, though the exact timeline isn’t specified. Symptoms appeared as liver and pancreatic damage accumulated. Recovery timeline would depend on treatment and the severity of organ damage.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If feeding raw meat, track weekly: appetite level (normal/decreased/absent), energy level (normal/low/very low), and any signs of yellowing in eyes or gums. Note any vomiting or digestive changes.
  • Switch to cooking meat thoroughly before feeding, or transition to commercial raw pet food products that have been tested for parasites. If continuing raw feeding, schedule veterinary check-ups every 3 months instead of annually.
  • Set monthly reminders to observe your dog for warning signs: loss of appetite, lethargy, yellowing of skin/eyes, or digestive problems. Log any concerning symptoms immediately and share with your veterinarian. Consider annual liver enzyme blood tests if continuing raw meat feeding.

This case report describes a rare but serious infection in one dog. It is not medical advice. If your dog shows signs of illness—including loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, lethargy, or vomiting—contact your veterinarian immediately. Do not attempt to diagnose or treat your dog based on this information. Always consult with a licensed veterinarian before making changes to your dog’s diet or health care routine. While this infection is uncommon, it highlights potential risks associated with raw meat diets. Your veterinarian can help you assess the risks and benefits of different feeding approaches for your specific dog.