Medication
There are three common medications used to treat Valley Fever in dogs: Fluconazole (Diflucan) Itraconazole (Sporanox) Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Self-care
Nov 14, 2021 · Once your dog no longer has a high titer of valley fever antibodies, your vet will inform you of when you can stop their treatment. In addition to any supportive care that your dog requires in their state of crisis, some dogs will require additional medication to ease their symptoms as their condition resolves.
Nutrition
"At the present time, dogs that develop valley fever require lengthy treatment with antifungal medications." There are a number of antifungal medications that are effective against the disease. The most commonly prescribed medications are ketoconazole (brand name Nizoral®), itraconazole (brand names Itrafungol® and Sporanox®), and fluconazole (brand name …
How to prevent your dog from getting Valley fever?
Treatment choices vary by the individual veterinarian and patient. Reasons for choice of medication include practitioner's experience with the drugs, costs, side effects, efficacy, severity of illness, and convenience to the owner. If one medication is unsuccessful, another will often be tried. For disease of the brain and spinal cord, fluconazole (Diflucan) is the drug of choice.
Can you cure Valley fever in dogs, if so how?
What Is the Treatment for Valley Fever in Dogs? Your vet will prescribe antifungal medicines such as fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole to treat valley fever. They are effective at...
How long does Valley fever medicine take to work dogs?
Jan 18, 2018 · Treating Valley Fever in Dogs Dogs that have been diagnosed with Valley Fever will be given anti-fungal medications which inhibit the growth of Coccidiodes organisms and allows the dog’s immune system to control and hopefully eliminate the infection. Commonly used medications include fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole.
How do you treat Valley fever in dogs?
May 31, 2021 · Some of the most common antifungal medications used to treat Valley Fever in dogs include ketoconazole (Nizoral®), itraconazole (Itrafungol® and Sporanox®), and fluconazole (Diflucan®). Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets.
How can I help my dog with Valley Fever?
Dogs that have been diagnosed with Valley Fever will be given anti-fungal medications which inhibit the growth of Coccidiodes organisms and allows the dog's immune system to control and hopefully eliminate the infection. Commonly used medications include fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole.Jan 18, 2018
Can Valley Fever in dogs be cured?
Can valley fever in dogs be cured? 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.Jan 29, 2021
How Long Can 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.
Can dogs recover from Valley Fever without medication?
Dogs with Valley Fever in the brain (seizures, etc) also carry a guarded prognosis. Among those that respond to medication (about 80%), most will remain well with fluconazole (Diflucan), but treatment may be required for life.
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.Oct 27, 2013
How did my dog get Valley Fever?
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.
Is Valley Fever painful in 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.Jan 15, 2021
Can dogs transmit Valley Fever to humans?
Is Valley Fever contagious from animal to animal or animal to human? Valley Fever is considered a noncontagious disease. Even if multiple animals or humans are affected in a household, each infection was acquired by inhaling spores from the soil. Coughing cannot spread it between animals or people.
How do I know if my dog has Valley Fever?
Signs of disseminated Valley Fever can include:lameness or swelling of limbs.back or neck pain, with or without weakness/paralysis.seizures and other manifestations of brain swelling.soft abscess-like swelling under the skin.swollen lymph nodes under the chin, in front of the shoulder blades, or behind the stifles.More items...
Supportive Treatments For Sick Dogs
Other treatments for Valley Fever are mainly directed at supportive care: making your dog feel better while the antifungal medication starts to hea...
What Is The Best Treatment For Valley Fever?
Treatment choices vary by the individual veterinarian and patient. Reasons for choice of medication include practitioner's experience with the drug...
What Is The Proper Dose of Valley Fever medications?
Your veterinarian is skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of your pet's illness. Should you feel that your dog is not responding or may have side...
What Are The Side Effects of Oral Valley Fever Drugs (Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, and Fluconazole) in Dogs?
All Valley Fever medications have the potential to cause side effects in dogs. 1. Loss of appetite is the most common and may be severe in some dog...
What Happened to The Price of Generic Fluconazole & What Can I Do About It?
In 2013, most of the manufacturers of generic fluconazole stopped making it. There are only a few manufacturers left, which has driven the price up...
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The list of infections a dog can catch seems endless. Every good dog owner does their best to protect her furry friend from disease. However, sometimes, the fate of a dog is simply out of our hands. Disease-causing agents are everywhere and we cannot always keep them away from our dogs.
What is Valley Fever?
Valley Fever is a fungal disease common in dry hot areas. The disease is caused by a fungus. Valley fever is also known as Coccidioidomycosis. The fungus is commonly found in the soil in hot desert areas. In the United States, valley fever is endemic to hot states like Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, and California.
How is Valley Fever Spread?
Dogs catch Valley Fever by digging in dusty areas where the spores of the fungus reside. When the spores are inhaled, they multiply in the body resulting in an infection. The disease cannot spread from one dog to another or from a dog to a human being. It can only be caught from inhaling the spores of the fungus.
Signs and Symptoms of Valley Fever
Fever. Increasing body temperature is one of the first responses to infection. Dogs with valley fever tend to catch a fever with temperatures rising up to 1030F and higher.
Why does Valley Fever Cause Dogs to Limp?
When valley fever is allowed to spread, it becomes disseminated in the body. Some of the organs it can disseminate to include the bones, eyes, skin, and the central nervous system. The bones are the most likely organ to be affected by the fungus after the lungs.
Diagnosis of Valley Fever
Since the signs and symptoms of valley fever are very similar to those of other diseases, a number of tests have to be carried out to confirm its presence. The tests your vet may have to carry out include a blood test, chest x-ray, urinalysis among others.
Treatment of Valley Fever
The treatment process can be tiring and expensive. Since it is a fungal disease, your dog will have to go on antifungal treatment. Antifungal therapy in particular is the most costly part of treatment. Three common antifungal drugs are used for valley fever: fluconazole, ketoconazole, and itraconazole.
What is the disease called Valley Fever?
Valley fever is a disease caused by a fungus known as Coccidiodes immitis. Although the proper name for this disease is coccidioidomycosis, it is most often called valley fever, California disease, desert rheumatism, or San Joaquin valley fever.
How long does it take for a primary valley fever to show?
The primary disease is limited to the lungs. 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.
How long does it take for a dog to feel better after a fungus treatment?
Although the treatment is prolonged, dogs usually begin to feel better within 1-2 weeks after the treatment begins.
Can a dog die from valley fever?
A small number of dogs, usually those that develop disseminated disease, will die from valley fever. However, the majority of dogs that are treated appropriately will recover from this disease. Your veterinarian will periodically repeat the antibody titer test to determine when the antifungal medication can be stopped.
Can valley fever be transmitted to animals?
The disease cannot be directly transmitted from person to person, nor can it be transmitted from people to animals. In other words, an animal with valley fever is not contagious to other pets or your family members.
Is Valley Fever in Washington State?
It has been also reported in south-central Washington State. Infections rates vary greatly by county, and not all the factors that contribute to the rate of infection in an area have been determined. Valley fever tends to occur during certain seasons.
Can Valley fever spread to dogs?
In these patients, the spherules continue to grow and eventually burst, releasing more infectious organisms to spread throughout the lungs or to other organs in the body where the cycle repeats itself over and over. Valley fever can take two main forms of disease in the dog, the primary disease and the disseminated disease.
How much does Valley Fever cost in Arizona?
It is estimated that valley fever costs all Arizona dog owners at least $60 million per year. How Dogs Get Valley Fever. Symptoms. Diagnosis.
Is Valley fever a disease?
Valley Fever is considered a noncontagious disease. Even if multiple animals or humans are affected in a household, each infection was acquired by inhaling spores from the soil. Coughing cannot spread it between animals or people. More FAQs.
How to treat Valley Fever in dogs?
To treat a dog naturally for Valley Fever, give it a canine multivitamin to boost its immune system and provide nutritional support . Next, try adding garlic to your dog's food, since garlic has antiseptic and antiparasitic properties that can help fight the infection.
Why does my dog cough when he has Valley fever?
Your dog will develop a respiratory infection because of the fungal spores in its lungs, making the dog cough. You may also notice that the dog isn't breathing well or is wheezing.
Why do vets X-ray dogs?
The vet may X-ray your dog's chest to help determine the severity of the infection. They'll look for cloudiness in your dog's lungs, which may indicate an infection in the lungs. Since Valley Fever starts in the lungs, the X-ray will help the vet make a diagnosis.
How to help a dog with inflammation?
Provide a yucca supplement to help combat inflammation. Natural yucca supplements formulated for dogs can help reduce inflammation in your dog's body. This can help your dog heal faster, and it reduces your dog's pain. Read and follow all of the instructions on your supplement before giving it to your dog.
How to get rid of a dog's poop infection?
2. Add garlic to your dog's food to help fight the infection. Garlic has antiseptic and antiparasitic properties, so raw or slightly cooked garlic can help your dog's immune system fight the infection. Simply add the garlic to your dog's food and watch to make sure they eat it.
Can Valley fever cause open sores in dogs?
Watch for open sores that don't heal if the infection is severe. Most dogs who have Valley Fever won't have open sores. However, this may happen after the infection becomes severe. If you notice sores on your dog's body, take it to the vet immediately. Don't try to treat the dog's sores yourself.
Is Valley Fever contagious?
Valley Fever is fungal infection that's common in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It can infect both humans and their dogs, though it's not contagious. Although a dog with a healthy immune system can usually fight off the disease, Valley Fever can be deadly for dogs that develop symptoms.
What are the symptoms of Valley fever in dogs?
Typical symptoms of an infection that is limited to the lungs include: Coughing. Lethargy. Fever. Poor appetite. Weight loss. Additional symptoms are seen when the infection spreads outside of the lungs.
What is the best medicine for Valley Fever?
Commonly used medications include fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole.
What is Valley Fever?
Valley Fever is a disease caused by infection with a type of fungus called Coccidiodes immitis. The condition may also be called coccidioidomycosis, California disease, desert rheumatism, or San Joaquin Valley Fever. The disease is extremely common in south-central Arizona but is also frequently diagnosed in other parts ...
How does Valley Fever spread to dogs?
Valley Fever is transmitted by inhaling spores contained in dirt and dust, not through contact with a sick animal or person.
How long does Valley Fever last?
Valley Fever requires long-term treatment. Dogs are typically given anti-fungal medications for at least six months to a year, but some may need extended or even life-long treatment to prevent relapses.
What is a titer test for dogs?
In other words, a titer test determines whether or not a dog has been exposed to Coccidiodes. Veterinarians combine the results of a dog’s titer with other diagnostic tests (complete blood cell counts, blood chemistry panels, x-rays, etc.) and a dog’s symptoms and history to make the final determination as to whether or not a dog has Valley Fever.
Can dogs survive Valley Fever?
More than 90 percent of dogs that are treated for Valley Fever will survive, according to The University of Arizona. Dogs with symptoms involving several parts of the body (particularly the brain) or that do not respond well to anti-fungal medication have a worse prognosis. Unfortunately, relapses are common even with appropriate treatment, so it is very important to monitor dogs closely. In general, dogs that relapse respond well again to treatment but may need to stay on an antifungal medication for the rest of their lives.
What is Valley Fever in dogs?
Coccidioidomycosis is a condition seen in dogs and people that goes by a number of different names including Valley Fever, desert rheumatism, San Joaquin Valley Fever, and California disease.
How is Valley Fever spread?
Valley fever is spread through the inhalation of Coccidiodes immitis (fungal) spores. When the spores are inhaled by your dog they grow into spherules within the lungs.
Is Valley Fever contagious in dogs?
Valley fever in dogs is not contagious between dogs, and can only be contracted through the inhalation of spores.
What are the most common Valley Fever symptoms in dogs?
In the early stages, when the spherules are contained within the lungs, symptoms of Valley Fever in dogs typically include fever, dry cough, decreased appetite and lethargy.
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.
What is the treatment for Valley Fever in dogs?
Valley Fever in dogs treatment is typically antifungal medications. How long your dog will need to take these medications will depend upon the severity of your pup's condition.
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What test is used to determine if a dog has Valley fever?
X-rays (chest and abdomen) Ultrasound of the abdomen or chest. Skin wound biopsies (if your dog has lesions) *As I mentioned earlier, titers measure the level of antibodies (fighting cells in the immune system) to a particular organism. These factors will usually confirm a Valley Fever diagnosis: High titer levels.
How much does Valley fever cost?
The University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence estimates that Valley Fever costs Arizona dog owners about $60 million a year. That’s partly because the conventional drugs are so expensive and treatment lasts a long time (more about that later).
What is Valley Fever?
Valley Fever, also called coccidioidmycosis, is caused by Coccidia fungi called Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasi. The spores are especially fond of warm soils. That’s why it’s so prevalent in Arizona, California, and Mexico.
How to help a dog with an infection?
Prescribe herbal and/or homeopathic remedies to stimulate your dog’s immune system. Supplement the diet with foods and nutrients that support the immune cells. Prescribe natural anti-inflammatories to reduce inflammation and pain associated with the infection.
What does a blood test show for Valley fever?
A blood test (titer test) can reveal if there are antibodies against the Valley Fever organism. This may indicate if your dog has the infection. I’ll talk more about diagnosis in a bit. Here is a list of the more common symptoms in dogs.
Where is Valley Fever common?
Unless you live in Arizona or California, you may not have even heard of it. But Valley Fever is common among people living in the Southwest desert. But before we get to how it affects your dog …. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported nearly 7,000 cases of it in 2017, with 725 hospitalizations and 48 deaths.
Is Valley Fever in California?
In humans, Arizona accounts for about 2/3 of cases nationwide … though cases are greatly under-reported and are probably much higher. The incidence of Valley Fever in California has also increased with about the same number of cases as Arizona.
