Things you can do to reduce the likelihood of your dog's exposure to the fungus: Avoid activities that generate dust, reduce digging behavior by dogs, prevent sniffing in rodent holes, and keep dogs indoors more than outdoors .
How can you prevent valley fever?
- Try to avoid areas with a lot of dust like construction or excavation sites. ...
- Stay inside during dust storms and close your windows.
- Avoid activities that involve close contact to dirt or dust, including yard work, gardening, and digging.
- Use air filtration measures indoors.
Can dogs be vaccinated for valley fever?
A team led by Valley Fever Center for Excellence researchers successfully tested a vaccine for dogs, with two doses providing high levels of protection.
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.
What do you feed a dog with Valley Fever?
While some dogs eat reasonably well with Valley Fever, others shun food entirely. These patients need extra nutritional care, such as hand-feeding highly palatable food (e.g. cooked meats), placement of a feeding tube, or medication to reduce nausea and vomiting or stimulate appetite .
How do dogs catch Valley Fever?
Dogs and people acquire Valley Fever by inhaling these fungal spores in the dust raised by the disturbance . The dog may inhale only a few spores or many hundreds. Once inhaled, the spores grow into spherules (parasitic cycle) which continue to enlarge until they burst, releasing hundreds of endospores.
How long can a dog 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 .
How long does it take for Valley fever to go away in dogs?
As with lung infections, the majority of dogs with disseminated disease respond well to medication and lead normal lives, though they often require prolonged drug treatment ( 12-18 months ).
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.
How much does it cost to treat a dog with Valley fever?
Canine influenza cases popping up here
The valley fever medication fluconazole has become costly, rising recently from $20 a month to as much as $200 .
How common is Valley fever in Arizona?
Two-thirds of all Valley fever cases in the U.S. are reported from Arizona . And though it's uncommon in most of the nation, over 10,000 valley fever cases were reported in 2019, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. With the number of cases continuing to rise, Valley fever cannot be ignored.
How do you get Valley fever in Arizona?
Valley fever is caused by a person inhaling spores of certain fungi . The fungi that cause valley fever — Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii — live in the soil in parts of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, California, Texas and Washington.
Is Valley Fever painful for dogs?
Once the fungal spores have reached other parts of your dog's body more diverse symptoms may appear such as painful swollen joints , persistent fever, weight loss, eye inflammation, and blindness. In some very rare cases, if the fungus reaches the brain, valley fever can result in seizures.
How do you get rid of a dog's fever?
To reduce fever in dogs, apply a towel or cloth soaked in cool water to your dog's ears and paws and run a fan near your dog . Stop applying the water when your dog's temperature drops below 103 F. Continue to monitor your dog closely to ensure that the fever doesn't return.
What natural remedy can you give a dog for a fever?
To help reduce a pet's fever—103 degrees or higher—first apply cool water around his paws and ears . You can use a soaked towel or cloth, or a dog cooling vest. Continue to monitor his temperature, and when it drops below 103, you can stop applying the water. See if you can coax him into drinking a bit of water.
Can a dog have Valley Fever without cough?
Sometimes a dog will not have any signs of a primary infection in the lungs, such as coughing , but will only develop symptoms of disseminated disease, e.g., lameness, seizures.
