Pet yak on the mend at WSU
Small hole in intestine could have been fatal
Eight-year-old Makloud, a 1,100-pound pet yak, came to the Washington State University Veterinary Hospital about a week ago after an unknown blockage in his urethra created a condition that, if left untreated, could have cost the yak his life.
To his owner, Lynn Taylor, Makloud isn’t any regular yak.
Taylor owns Taylor Ranch Yaks, near Athol, where he’s raised yaks for 13 years.
He said when Makloud was a calf, his mother died, and he resorted to feeding him with a bottle until he was able to fend for himself. Likely because of that, Makloud would rather be with Taylor than with the rest of the herd.
A little more than a week ago, Taylor noticed Makloud was in distress. His friend Diane Carlson, a sheep farmer who had brought animals to WSU in the past, encouraged him to bring Makloud to WSU.
Since Makloud arrived at the university, veterinarians have performed a urethostomy.
The operation allowed Makloud to release urine from around his pelvis area and allowed for an endoscope to examine if backed-up urine caused any damage to his bladder.
Veterinary student Ashley Bredenberg, who provides care for Makloud, said the endoscope found a small hole the size of a nickel where urine was leaving Makloud’s bladder and entering his abdominal cavity.
Bredenberg said the hole in Makloud’s bladder is healing now.
Hospital officials plan to examine Makloud’s bladder one more time next week to ensure the hole has healed.
If the hole has healed, Bredenberg said, Makloud will be able to go home.
It’s good news to Taylor, who as of last week wasn’t sure if his half-ton pet was going to make it after doctors told him there was a chance his kidneys could fail.
Back at home Makloud is a lot like Taylor’s guard dog.
Taylor said he sits in the front yard and waits for anyone to show up.
Taylor likes to ride Makloud and on occasion he’ll put him on a flatbed trailer and pull him around with his ATV.
He’ll even let him in the house from time to time, as long as Makloud tilts his head to get his horns through the door frame.
“We don’t leave him in the house for long, but so far he hasn’t made a mess,” he said.