Valley Fever - Page 1

My mother's 8 year old Yorkie-poo was diagnosed with Valley Fever. They live in Tucson AZ and she is freaking out. I don't know much about this condition other then it is a fungal disease that is ipicked up in dust/dirt. Has anyone here had any experience with this or have any treatment recomendations...?

Thanks,
Summer

Here is a link it also includes a possible vet that is giving the meds a lesser cost, they are expensive and mst be given for a long period of time.

opps forgot link

http://www.dlrrphoenix.org/VF.html

SURE HOPE THAT YORKIE GETS TO FEELIN BETTER.  NEVER HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH VALLEY FEVER BUT IVE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF BOUTS WITH JUNGLE FEVER.

Thanks - 1doggie2 where is the link...?
So other then a good strong immune system there is really no prevention is there and even then not for sure....?  I'd be concerned about my dog picking it up during a track....

Valley Fever. One of the primary reasons that there is nothing anyone could do or offer me that would entice me to move to Arizona (most of the dogs I've personally known about with Valley Fever lived in AZ).  Yes, the fungus is in the soil, and yes, there's very little you can do to protect your dog (or yourself) from it, unfortunately, and while it can be treated, the meds do have side effects that can affect the dog's quality of life, and they are costly.  GSDs seem to be especially susceptible to it, probably because of their affinity for snuffing around the ground.

app.vetconnect.com/5min/data/04600461.htm

My DAD got it when I was a teenager, here in Calif. He was a highway engineer and doing lots of blasting. He was sick for a very long time with on-again and off-again fevers and almost narcolepsy, tons of sleeping when he wasn't coughing. I think it was intermittent for like a year. 

All dogs and people in area between St Joachim valley Ca (thus Valley fever) and Texas can and do get it. I have once talked to a human radiologist and he said anybody in this area who lived here longer then 6 mo got it and he can see it on lung x rays. I assume the same being the truth about dogs.
 Coccidioidomycosis. Spores of this fungus spread by dust and wind. Especially around construction sides and when the dogs are digging. I believe every dog gets it and will either overcome it and you may not even notice it or it will not overcome it and valley fever then gets disseminated and if not treated dog then dies.
My experience:
1.Dogs born in the area usually have less or no problems, even so they all show in tests that they had it (were exposed to it).
2.Digging may induce more severe cases because dogs inhale a lot of spores. 
3. Symptoms to look for, any or all (sometimes none) : Coughing, limping, selective appetite.  
4. Prevention. If you are new to the area, put the dogs on medical grade of  echinacea root extract in alcohol only. This is a immune system enhancer. Every word in highlighted area is absolutely necessary. No in water, whole plants , mixtures and so on!!!! Apply for 14 days 5 drops 2 times a day. I am using product from Herbs ETC in New Mexico.
Before we got here new synthetic meds I have treated VF with this . 32 dogs  were treated by it one died.
5. Some of the new  products are highly effective, expensive and should be used with vitamin ester "C" Ask your vet about it.
6. I am using Fluconazole. Cost is about $700-$1000 per treatment which lasts at least 4 but usually 7  or more months.
 Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

Wow, that's scary, I've never heard of it before.  Hope the little guy is okay!  Does it have anything to do with rodent droppings?  I know there was an outbreak out west (Nevada?), back in the 90s, a respiratory infection that was really nasty and had to do with rodent droppings and mold.  Does anyone else remember and if so, is it the same type of infection?

GSDTravels, you're thinking of hantavirus.  Unrelated. 

There is very often an increase in the incidence of Valley Fever when construction is being done in an endemic area, the result of the soil being disturbed and releasing spores into the wind. 

Think I'll stick with the ice and snow in MI.