Topic #2

[vickieschessies]

With hunting season upon us I would like to bring up the topic

Blastomycosis commonly known as Blasto

Blastomycosis
North American Blastomycosis is a fungal disease that is most usually found in the Mississippi River area and around the Great Lakes, along with areas in the South and Southwest where soil is moist, acidic, and rich in decaying vegetation. Rain, dew, or fog may play a critical role in aerosolizing the fungus. The primary entry is the respiratory tract by way of inhalation of spores from sites of fungal growth. For some reason the dogs most affected are usually young intact males, two to four years of age, with hunting breeds most likely to pick up the fungus than other dogs.

The disease is characterized by lesions in various tissues with organ involvement. Lesions and nodules consist of numerous, variable sized, irregular pus-filled granulomas that multiply and ulcerate through the skin as cutaneous pustules covered with yellow scabs. The bronchial lymph nodes enlarge and the dog will show signs of a fever and respiratory problems including coughing, and a nasal discharge. Dry, harsh lung sounds from lung lesions are commonly found. The infection may also involve the urinary tract, with blood in the urine, and difficult urination. If the disease spreads to the eyes and growths develop in the eyeballs, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and blindness can result. Weight loss is evident, accompanied by anorexia, and lameness from nodular lesions on bones.

Blastomycosis should be considered when a dog has both respiratory problems and draining nodules on the skin, along with extreme weight loss. Diagnosis can be made from radiographic findings in the lungs or from aspirated samples from lesions. This fungus does not respond well to treatment unless caught early, and the lesions removed surgically. The prognosis is best for dogs without lung disease or even with only a moderate lung disease. With the use of Ketoconazole and Amphotericin B, some symptoms can be reduced without a chance of relapse, but the treatment will require extensive veterinarian management.

Has anyone ever experienced this disease if so please post your experience.

I had this happen to one of my dogs 2 years ago right before christmas. I heard one of my chessies coughing (at about 8:00 am) didn't think to much of it but by 12:00 pm it got worse so I opened her mouth thinking she had a stick lodged in there. instead I saw her coughing up blood. I put her in the car and headed to the vet. My vet decided to put a scope down her throat. So we put her to sleep to run the scope and more foamy blood came, well.... I knew there was only 1 place foamy blood came from, your right the lung. At this point I said please save her I will be in the waiting room(at this point I thought she was having a lung aneurysm) 2 days in the hospital and 4 months on sporanox she is fine with very little lung scar tissue.