Overview
Valley Fever in dogs is a serious disease induce by photograph to the fungusCoccidioides immitis . Symptoms can range from cough , febricity , and lethargy to more severe signal such as weight loss , raptus , and exit of coordination . Symptoms typically appear 1 - 3 weeks after exposure . Not all frank will develop symptom that require treatment .
Valley Fever , also know as desert rheumatism , is a fungal infection in dogs . contagion takes place when an animal is exposed to the fungusCoccidioides immitis .
This fungus is localized to sure geographic areas , meaning that your hot dog ’s risk of contracting Valley Fever is based largely on where you live . In area where the fungus is present , a relatively in high spirits number of dogs will become septic at some percentage point during their lifetime , but only a percentage will spring up diagnostic sign that require intervention .
What is Valley Fever in Dogs?
Valley Fever is a disease that is because of the fungusCoccidioides immitis . While many infection with this fungus are asymptomatic ( do not show symptoms ) and clear up ad libitum , some infected dogs go on to develop Valley Fever . mark of unwellness range from a mild upper respiratory tract contagion to a wide - spread disease strike the nous , bones , and other interior organ .
Traditionally , Valley Fever has been discover primarily in Central and South America and the Southwestern United States . However , in recent years , the statistical distribution of this fungus has begun to spread to other geographic expanse , let in as far north asWashington State . Talk to your veterinary surgeon to influence whether Valley Fever is a concern in your geographical field .
How Do Dogs Get Valley Fever?
The fungus that causes Valley Fever , Coccidioides immitis , is found in the soil . It can rest sleeping for foresightful periods of fourth dimension , even at gamey desert temperatures . When the filth is upset by weather , fungous spores can aerosolize ( be released into the air ) and be inhaled by people and positron emission tomography . Dogs may also contract desert rheumatism by digging in the dirt or using their nozzle to enquire rodent burrow .
Valley Fever is most common in vernal , male , large breed dogs , especially those that are tolerate to stray freely outdoors ( as oppose to being threesome - walk on sidewalks ) . Valley Fever seems to be especially rife in Boxers and Doberman Pinschers .
Is Valley Fever Contagious in Dogs?
While Valley Fever can infect people and other pets ( include cats , horse , and even some exotic positron emission tomography ) , it is not considered a contagious disease . Your dog can not transmit Valley Fever to you or other household favourite through coughing or contact , and you may not transmit Valley Fever to your pets .
Any dog infected with the disease came into direct contact withCoccidioides immitis .
Valley FeverSymptomsin Dogs
Valley Fever can be divided into two separate clinical forms : basal and spread . In basal Valley Fever , clinical signs of unwellness are confined to the lungs . In propagate Valley Fever , however , the fungus go around throughout the consistence . This results in clinical signs touch on a all-encompassing chain of soundbox organization .
Valley Fever may be difficult to distinguish fromkennel coughor pneumonia in dogs .
Signs ofprimary Valley Feverinclude :
Disseminated Valley Fever , in demarcation , is a more severe status . Affected bounder may demo a variety of symptoms , depending on where the fungus has spread within their body . Signs ofdisseminated Valley Fevermay include :
While many contagion withCoccidioides immitisare asymptomatic , symptomatic Valley Fever is a serious medical status . Disseminated Valley Fever , in particular , requires urgent discussion . If a dog develops Valley Fever , sign of illness typically develop one to three weeks after exposure to the fungus .
Diagnosing Valley Feverin Dogs
There are a act of tests used to diagnose Valley Fever in dogs , but each of these tests has limitation . In most cases , obtaining an accurate diagnosis will ask a compounding of tests .
Your veterinarian will begin by performing a thorough forcible test of your dog . By examining your dog from nose to track , include listening to your blackguard ’s warmness and lungs , your veterinarian will be able to zero in in on particular areas of business concern that may be get your frankfurter ’s illness .
Next , your vet may do a unadulterated blood mobile phone counting ( CBC ) , serum biochemistry profile , and radiographs ( X - ray ) . These examination are used to begin narrowing down the list of potential causes for your dog ’s sign of malady . Dogs with Valley Fever often have bloodwork changes that suggest contagion . Radiographs of your dog ’s pectus may show alteration that propose the bearing of fungal pneumonia .
If initial tests suggest a possibility of Valley Fever , your veterinarian will perform more targeted testing aimed at get a definitive diagnosis . Your veterinarian may commence by testing samples of roue or other corporal fluids forCoccidioides immitis . While these tests can definitively confirm a diagnosis if the organism is found , false negatives are relatively common and may require further testing .
Your veterinary may also test your dog for antibody againstCoccidioides immitis . The presence of antibodies only suggest exposure , not active contagion . However , this can allow an additional tier of musical accompaniment for a diagnosing of Valley Fever . Your veterinarian may collect cell samples from any accessible lesion , for microscopic examination .
In dog with neurologic sign of Valley Fever ( such as raptus ) , ripe brain imaging such as a CT scan or MRI may be necessary .
In many case , multiple test are needed to make an educated finding of whether or not a dog ’s unwellness is triggered by Valley Fever . This is seldom a shape that can be diagnosed on the basis of a individual laboratory test .
How to TreatValley Fever in Dogs
Valley Fever is handle with antifungal medications , which are typically administered on an outpatient base . The length of treatment will depend on the rigourousness of your dog ’s symptoms and reaction to therapy . Some cases can be treated with as few as six months of antifungal therapy , while other cases require womb-to-tomb fungicidal handling to preclude lapsing .
Some dog can be completely cured with antifungal agentive role , while many are merely kept in subsidence through long - term therapy .
Medications for Valley Fever
There are four antifungal drugs used to treat Valley Fever in Canis familiaris
Fluconazole , itraconazole , and ketoconazole are all unwritten medications , administered once or twice daily .
Amphotericin B is an injectable medication that must be dole out intravenously . dog typically visit their veterinary hospital for infusion several time weekly .
General Cost of Treatment for Valley Fever
The monetary value of Valley Fever treatment can vary significantly , depending on a bit of factors . chief disease that is diagnose early will in all likelihood be less expensive to cover than sophisticated , disperse Valley Fever .
to boot , medicine price are small for smaller dog-iron than they are for heavy dogs . In cosmopolitan , the medication used to treat Valley Fever in frank typically cost several hundred clam per month .
How to PreventValley Fever in Dogs
regrettably , the only sure - fire fashion to avoid Valley Fever is to void live in or traveling to area where the fungus is found .
If you live in an area whereCoccidioides immitisis found , however , you may reduce your dog ’s hazard by limiting their pic to inhaled dust . Keep dogs chiefly indoors and walk them outside on a trinity , or else of allowing them to roll loose , dig in the soil , and sniff in rodent holes . Avoid walking your weenie during periods of high-pitched farting , if potential . you’re able to further deoxidize debris exposure by attempting to keep your lawn covered with grass or groundcover .
Although there is currently no vaccinum uncommitted for Valley Fever , theUniversity of Arizonais working to develop vaccine for usage in both homo and pets .
