Causes
of Valley Fever in Dogs
Valley
fever symptoms are caused by a fungal infection referred to as
'Coccidioidomycosis'. The fungal spores that cause this illness are
often found in dry hot sandy areas of the US - particularly South West
America where there is little rain. Canine valley fever symptoms will
normally start after your dog has inhaled the fungal spores - this will
then lead to the infection taking hold. A dog that has a weakened
immune system (one that has been recently ill) is even more susceptible
to the disease.
Valley
Fever Symptoms
As
previously discussed this illness comes in two forms 'Mild' (also
referred to as 'Primary') and 'Disseminated'. The mild form will
normally attack a dog's upper respiratory system (the lungs) and even
the Lymph Nodes with the early symptoms including...
- A cough (mild)
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
- A high temperature
(normally associated with a fever).
- You may notice that
your dog has lost much of his energy.
In
the later stages valley fever symptoms can start to affect other
areas and organs in your dog's body. This is when the illness becomes
more serious and can be fatal if not treated early - this is referred
to as 'Disseminated' Valley Fever. This type will involve the infection
attacking the lower and upper respiratory system. Symptoms will
include...
As
the infection takes hold it will start to affect other organs
including...
- The
Lymph Nodes (Thoracic) become swollen and extremely painful
when contact is made with them - particularly around below the chin and
around the Shoulder Blades.
- Swollen joints and
limbs
- Pain around your dog's
back
- Neck pain
- Your dog may even
start to have fits (Seizures).
- You
may also notice that your dog starts to develop swelling that appears
under the skin - this will look like an abscess.
- Your
dog may experience diarrhea.
- Your dog may become
lame.
- In
some cases the eyes might be affected with symptoms ranging from cloudy
eyes to pain and inflammation and painful eyes.
- In
rare valley fever symptoms your dog may develop skin problems including
ulcers and other secondary infections.
Canine
Valley Fever Diagnosis
A
vet will normally undertake a thorough physical examination of your
dog to check that it is valley fever symptoms that your dog is
experiencing and not something else.
A
vet will also be able to gather evidence for a successful diagnosis
by looking into the geographical area that your dog lives. For example
if your dog lives in the South West where the infection is known to
exist then it is more than likely that the vet has either come
across a
dog with the condition before or is aware of it's symptoms. It would of
course be more problematic to make an accurate diagnosis if your dog
does not live in areas where the infection is known to exist.
An
accurate diagnosis can also be achieved through examining what
type
of valley fever symptoms your dog is experiencing - for example a dog
that exhibits the more unusual symptoms such as swollen joints, limbs
and problems affecting the Lymph Nodes then it more likely that your
dog has Valley Fever (of course this is not always the case but an
experienced vet will be able to determine the likelihood of your dog
being infected with the fungal spores that cause this illness.
It
might be necessary for the vet to undertake lab tests to examine
your dog's blood and determine anti bodies that have been triggered by
the fungal spores. A chest X Ray might also be requested. It is vital
that this condition is treated in its early stages as the later more
deadly variety can be fatal of not treated quickly.
Canine
Valley Fever Treatment
The
treatment for Valley Fever Symptoms is prolonged (with the Mild variety
sometimes needing six to twelve months of medical treatment and the
Disseminated sometimes needing even longer). Each variety may need a
variety of different treatments depending on how your dog responds to
each treatment.
A
vet will normally aim to treat the respiratory symptoms with specific
medications and also treat any fever, coughing and breathing
difficulties at the same time. At this point the vet may also prescribe
anti inflammatory medications to counter act any swollen joints or
limbs.
The main treatment fir this condition will include anti fungal
medications - these can come as oral capsules and will need to be
administered by you or your vet as prescribed. Common anti-fungal
medications include...
- Ketoconazole
- Itraconozole
- Fluconozole
If the above anti-fungal medications do not work then the vet may
prescribe Amphotericin B.
If you and your dog live in an area that is known to harbor the fungal
spores that cause the disease then it would be wise not to walk your
dog in affected areas. If you are unsure you should speak to your vet
or tourist office.
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