When Eric Lundholm caught a rat while working at a rodent breeder, his life changed forever.

"I caught it with my hands and was holding it by the tail, but it crawled up its tail and bit my right thumb," the 28-year-old said. The incident happened July 5 at Butter Ball Rodents near Athol.

About a week later, Lundholm developed flu-like symptoms. He recovered after four days.

"On Aug. 1, I became really sick, with severe shaking, extreme chills, high fever and a high pulse rate," Lundholm said.

A series of medical tests revealed nothing.

Finally, lab work sent to the University of Washington revealed the cause of his illness. Lundholm had contracted Rat-Bite Fever, an infectious disease caused by bacteria.

"We mentioned the bite at the doctor appointments, but it's very hard to identify," he said.

Lundholm’s health deteriorated to the point that he required open-heart surgery three weeks ago at Kootenai Health. Surgeons replaced one of his heart valves and repaired another, both because of damage caused by the bacteria’s advance.

"When the bacteria found its way into the heart, it started eating away at the tissue," he said. "The aortic valve was unrecognizable."

Lundholm, who has returned to the Post Falls home of his parents, John and Denise Lundholm, has a long recovery ahead.

"He is often exhausted with all the followup needed," John said.

Eric is treated with antibiotics every morning at the hospital. He has cardiac rehabilitation three days a week.

"It will be several more months (of recovery)," he said. "I can't lift more than 5 pounds, and I can't drive yet. I'll be on blood thinners for the rest of my life due to the mechanical valve."

Leanne Rousseau, a doctor at Heritage Health, said about 20,000 rat bites are reported in the United States each year. About one in 10 of the cases results in Rat-Bite Fever.

"The cases are on the rise since rats have become a popular pet," she said. "It's difficult to diagnose it, and the disease can result in organ failure."

Lundholm, a 2009 Post Falls High School graduate, was temporarily working at Butter Ball Rodents while visiting his parents this summer. He planned to start a new job at a northern California custom guitar and ukulele manufacturer Aug. 12, but those plants have been delayed as he recovers.

"I hope when all is better they will still have an opening for me, but there's no guarantees," said Lundholm, who plays the guitar and ukulele.

The medical costs have reached a half-million dollars. He thinks his insurance from a previous employer is still active, but he still face hefty out-of-pocket expenses, especially as the medical providers here are out of the network covered by his previous employer in Hawaii.

A Go Fund Me account set up by John had raised $1,590 as of Thursday.

Butter Ball Rodents was in violation last year of Hayden's ordinance prohibiting animal-based businesses. The owner, Michael West, was arrested on a misdemeanor public-nuisance charge.

The city also received several smell-related complaints from neighbors about the business, which raises mice, rats, chicks and rabbits to feed snakes and birds of prey.

The business moved from Hayden to the Athol area in July 2018. Lundholm said the company moved again to Post Falls, off Prairie Avenue, while he was employed there.

A call to the family-owned business on Wednesday was answered but was quickly disconnected. A subsequent call went to voicemail. Messages left with the company were not returned.

The company's slogan is "Helping wildlife one meal at a time."

Eric said the company didn't show compassion after the bite and hasn't been cooperative in his pursuit to receive his remaining pay.

"They shorted me about $500, so I'm not happy about that situation," he said. "When I told them I was in the ER, they told me I was supposed to be at work."

Eric said he wasn't wearing gloves when he was bit nor did the company have any medical supplies and safety equipment readily available.

"On my first day of work, they said their rats don't bite, but apparently they do," Eric said.

Eric said a worker's compensation case has been opened with the Idaho Department of Labor against the business. His family is also consulting with attorneys to decide on other possible steps.

Eric said he never imagined that a rat bite would result in a life-threatening illness that has put his life on hold.

"I never would have expected it from a little rodent," he said.