The only thing pet dog owners can do is
keep their canine friends away from marshy landscapes
, as well as streams and lakes where the risk of exposure is the highest.
How do you get rid of blastomycosis in soil?
Treatment. Blastomycosis can be treated with
anti-fungal medications
, which are usually continued for at least 6 months. Antibiotics designed for bacteria do not work against blastomycosis.
How do dogs get blastomycosis?
Blastomycosis typically occurs
when the dog inhales the airborne fungal spores of the genus Blastomyces dermatitidis after the contaminated soil has been disturbed
. This can be from an activity as benign as digging in the dirt or following a scent trail. The spores can also enter through the skin.
How do I know if my dog has blastomycosis?
- Fever.
- Weight loss.
- Poor appetite.
- Cough.
- Lymph node swelling.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Limping.
- Skin lesions (pimples/pustules, sometimes with draining tracts, and rash-like lesions)
Can dogs get blastomycosis in winter?
The distribution of case numbers, by season, is significant overall ( p 0.002) and is as follows;
winter ( n 53, 24%)
, spring (39, 18%), summer (79, 36%), fall (48, 22%), that is 140/219 (64%, p 0.001) of cases occurred from May – October.
How long does it take for a dog to recover from blastomycosis?
Treatment of blastomycosis requires long-term antifungal medications (i.e.
average 2-6 months
of therapy). Itraconazole or fluconazole are most commonly used. Some dogs may need to be hospitalized initially to help control some of their more severe symptoms.
Is blastomycosis curable in dogs?
Treatment of Blastomycosis in Dogs and Cats :
Clinical cure can be expected in ~70% of dogs
, with recurrence months or years after treatment noted in ~20% of treated dogs. Most dogs will respond to retreatment with itraconazole.
Can blastomycosis be transmitted from dog to human?
Blastomycosis is rarely transmitted from animal to animal or from animal to human
. If transmission does occur, it would be through an animal having an open and draining wound, and having that wound come into contact with an open wound on the human.
What is the mortality rate of blastomycosis?
Deaths due to blastomycosis. An analysis of blastomycosis deaths in the United States found that 1,216 blastomycosis-related deaths occurred during 1990–2010, and the overall age-adjusted mortality rate was
0.21 per 1 million person-years
.
What do you feed a dog with blastomycosis?
Avoid excessive time in the woods, especially near water (since blastomycosis is in the soil near water) Feed your dog
foods containing no yeast
. Give Vitamin C, E, A, and B as a supplement if your veterinarian recommends.
Where is blastomycosis endemic?
Blastomycosis. Blastomycosis is considered endemic to the south-central, southeastern, and midwestern US states, particularly those bordering the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and in parts of the United States and Canada surrounding the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River (2,5).
How long can a dog live with a fungal infection?
In some dogs that develop signs, the disease will resolve without treatment. However, if chronic respiratory signs occur or the infection involves many body organs and tissues, longterm antifungal treatment is needed. In cases where the infection has spread, treatment of at least
6 to 12 months
is typical.
