Dogs and other animals mainly acquire Valley Fever by
inhaling these fungal spores in the dust and air
. The dog may inhale only a few spores or many hundreds. Once inhaled, the spores grow into spherules which continue to enlarge until they burst, releasing hundreds of endospores.
How long does it take to get Valley fever after exposure?
Symptoms of Valley fever may appear
between 1 and 3 weeks
after a person breathes in the fungal spores.
How do I protect my dog from Valley fever?
Airborne Fungi
Although there is no vaccine currently available to prevent valley fever, steps are being taken and studies underway in the development of one. The best step right now that owners can take is to
minimize their dog's contact with fungal hot spots
.
How contagious is Valley fever in dogs?
Valley fever in dogs is
not contagious
between dogs or able to jump from dogs to people. The condition develops when the fungal spores are inhaled.
How long do dogs live with Valley Fever?
Your veterinarian will take blood samples and potentially x-rays to diagnose your pet, then decide upon the proper treatment and duration or care. Valley Fever is almost always treated through antifungal medication, and based on how far the disease has progressed, it can last anywhere from
6 months to a lifetime
.
What are early signs of Valley Fever in dogs?
Signs of primary valley fever include
a harsh dry cough, a fever, a lack of appetite, and lethargy or depression
. These signs usually occur about three weeks after infection although sometimes, the organism can lay dormant in the body for up to three years before signs occur.
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).
Can you get Valley fever twice?
If you've already had Valley fever, your immune system will most likely protect you from getting it again.
Some people can have the infection come back again (a relapse) after getting better the first time, but this is very rare
.
How do you catch Valley fever?
Valley fever isn't contagious, so you can't catch it from someone else
. Fungus that grows in the ground causes it. When something stirs up the soil, spores from the fungus fly into the air, where people breathe them in.
Is Valley Fever in dogs curable?
Is valley fever curable in dogs?
When diagnosed and treated early, many dogs recover well from valley fever
. Dogs diagnosed with valley fever after the disease has spread to other parts of the body are more challenging to treat, and in some cases the disease becomes life-threatening.
Is there a shot to prevent Valley Fever in dogs?
A team led by Valley Fever Center for Excellence researchers successfully tested a vaccine for dogs, with two doses providing high levels of protection.
Can Valley Fever cause limping in dogs?
The most common symptom of disseminated disease in dogs is lameness; the fungus has a predilection for infecting bones of the legs in dogs. However, Valley Fever can occur in almost any bone or organ of dogs.
Signs of disseminated Valley Fever can include: lameness or swelling of limbs
.
What are the side effects of Valley Fever in dogs?
The side effects that are common to all of them are:
Loss of appetite
is the most common and may be severe in some dogs. Vomiting and/or diarrhea. Elevated liver enzymes – monitored with regular testing of your dog's blood by your veterinarian.
What are the symptoms of blastomycosis in dogs?
- Fever.
- Weight loss.
- Poor appetite.
- Cough.
- Lymph node swelling.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Limping.
- Skin lesions (pimples/pustules, sometimes with draining tracts, and rash-like lesions)
How can the initial Valley fever get worse?
The fungus that causes valley fever lives in soil in the U.S. desert Southwest and parts of Mexico, Central America and South America.
Inhaling the fungus' airborne spores
can cause flu-like symptoms that can turn into pneumonia, meningitis or even worse.
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.
What time of year is Valley fever worse?
Valley Fever typically peaks in
late fall and early winter
with a minor peak from June to August (refer to the 2007-2011 Valley Fever Report). Those who've been in Arizona for a while may know that Valley Fever is a lung infection caused by a fungus that is common in the soil here.
