Blastomycosis

[BlueBell]

My daughter's purebred 8 year old Griffin has just been diagnosed with Blastomycosis. It is a rare systemic disease and I am concerned about where he got it since he has been at my house a couple of weeks ago and Bella stayed with them 5 days while I was away. Does anyone on this forum know much about it or their dog been diagnoses with it? We are not sure at this point what his survival chances are. The Vet gave the inmpression that they caught it early. She lives in Nashville and I in Jackson.

[nobarkus]

I just Goggled it and there's a lot of info. Try it.

[renaultf1]

For some reason I remember another member on here having a dog that contracted it. I think it was Wizard and her dog El D. Maybe do a search on here and see what you come up with and maybe send her a message.

[Rita Jean]

I just typed blastomycosis and kinds of web sites came up. I found one at
www.canismajor.com said was dog owners guide.
Good luck.

Rita Jean

[lvoss]

Here is a link to the thread about El D, http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=4855&highlight=blastomycosis

On the second page of posts it says how it is usually contracted.

[Rita Jean]

I was just reading on this it is some bad stuff. I never knew there was such a thing I do so hope you babies are all right. Way it sounds to me catching it early is the best. Take care will be thinking of you both.

Rita Jean

[BlueBell]

Thanks. I have been researching it. Just wondered if it was even rarer for a Basenji to contract it.

[wizard]

I'm the one who lost EL D to blastomycosis – it's a nasty nasty disease and strikes quickly. It is caused by a fungus that sprouts in the soil by lakeshores in the fall; dogs (and people) inhale the spores but it can't be passed from animal to animal. I have friends who work in veterinary diagnostics and they tell me certain areas of the country are hotspots but it is cropping up in other areas too. If caught soon enough (though tough to diagnose early) it can be treated with medication and dogs may (or may not) recover but often become blind; if animal start limping then probably in mid-late stage; and if not caught soon enough (don't read further if you are a quesy type) the fungus spreads throughout the entire body. With my EL D, he began limping on a Friday (my first clue something was wrong) and by Tuesday morning he was already becoming blind and by the next Friday he was gone. It can happen that quick.

[Basenjimamma]

Oh my…I had no idea about this. Is it only prevelant around lake shores or does it exist in other humid areas as well, think Houston, TX, like a sauna..?? I am sorry to loose your El D like that, horrible, and meanwhile there was nothing you could do?

[wizard]

The vets (and my mycologist coworker) told me it is only reported in the soil of lakeshores and riverbanks - its' not like mold on the walls.

[Rita Jean]

I am very sorry you lost EL D. That was fast moving so I can see how easy to over look it. Thank you for information nice to know I had never heard of this.

Rita Jean

[BlueBell]

I am so sorry for your loss and was reticent to contact you because I was afraid of the outcome. Griffin doesn't fit the profile except being a hound. We don't live where there are woods, we don't live by bodies of water, he is isn't taken hunting. To answer one of the other posts yes, states that are humid like Tennessee and I am sure Texas have higher incidences of this rare illness. Skin lumps were what sent Griffin first to the Vet where he diagnosed an infection. When more lumps continued to appear and he was not tolerating the antibiotic so she took him back to the Vet yesterday and was diagnosed. I am going to call my Vet and have it noted on Bella's chart and to let them know. From what I have read we will never know where whether he got it here in Jackson or in Nashville.

[wizard]

Is Bella on the medication - if not be sure to get her on it. If she's still in the early stages, she's got a good chance from what I was told.

[BlueBell]

Christa's pharmacy couldn't get it done before today so her Vet called all around Nashville last night to find him just one dose so he could get started. She said he tolerated the med pretty well but did cough off and on through the night. This morning he seemed fine but she was going home over lunch to check on him. She assumes the first 72 hours is the time of the greatest concern. Also I assume the real compounded form may affect him somewhat differently. Did you have other B's at the time? How do you get over wanting to put them under house arrest? If it was my yard then even my little grandsons who I care for could be exposed. We are going to make sure that all our Drs. have this noted as a precaution.

[nobarkus]

@wizard:

I'm the one who lost EL D to blastomycosis – it's a nasty nasty disease and strikes quickly. It is caused by a fungus that sprouts in the soil by lakeshores in the fall; dogs (and people) inhale the spores but it can't be passed from animal to animal. I have friends who work in veterinary diagnostics and they tell me certain areas of the country are hotspots but it is cropping up in other areas too. If caught soon enough (though tough to diagnose early) it can be treated with medication and dogs may (or may not) recover but often become blind; if animal start limping then probably in mid-late stage; and if not caught soon enough (don't read further if you are a quesy type) the fungus spreads throughout the entire body. With my EL D, he began limping on a Friday (my first clue something was wrong) and by Tuesday morning he was already becoming blind and by the next Friday he was gone. It can happen that quick.

My God what a terrible and traumatic loss! I very sorry. Mold and fungus are very dangerous!

[BlueBell]

For clarification. It is my Nashville daughter's 8 year old male Griffin who was diagnosed. She also has a 9 year old male Phoenix. Bella is my 1 year old Basenji Mix. They have all been in each others environment.

[wizard]

BlueBell, sorry for the mixup in names – if the two griffins live in the same environment the male is potentially exposed as well; I would suggest asking the vet about a blood sample just to be sure. It would be helpful to find out where the female might have picked it up.

[BlueBell]

Christa's (my daughter) dogs are Griffin and Phoenix. They are both males and they are cousins. They live in Nashville but visit here at least once a month. I will ask her whether her Vet said anything about Phoenix and suggest what you have said. Griffin has had two doses of the med Itraconazole. So far so good. She said he wanted to go outside and walk with her and Phoenix but she thought best that he not do that. She is giving him his med with a canned puppy food as suggested by her Vet so that he eats. He loves it. He has the cough at night since starting the medication but I think that goes with it. Christa has been asked to post on the BRAT website but said she was not ready to do that but will.

[Basenjimamma]

Good to hear that he is taking his meds good, I am sending good vibes over to him and your daughter and Phoenix too, that he will make swift recovery, but please do keep us updated as this can happen to all of us, so long as we take our dog to lakes or rivers..and we do, since it is so much fun to watch them trying to avoid the water..

[wizard]

BlueBell - I'm really sorry about screwing up all the names :o
It sounds like things are under control and here's prayers that a full recovery occurs.