Blastomycosis ("blasto") in dogs presents with varied, often severe, non-specific symptoms, including chronic coughing, respiratory distress, fever, dramatic weight loss, and lethargy. It commonly causes eye inflammation (leading to sudden blindness), skin lesions (oozing, nodular, or ulcerated sores), and lameness. Skin lesions are most commonly found on the face, nose, and nail beds.

What are the first signs of blasto in dogs?

Fever, depression, weight loss, and loss of appetite are also common clinical signs. Draining skin lesions are seen in many cases. Infection of the eyes may cause sudden blindness. Lameness, orchitis (testicular inflammation), seizures, coughing, enlarged lymph nodes, and a variety of other signs may occur.

How do you treat blasto in dogs?

Itraconazole (5 mg/kg every 24 hours) is the treatment of choice for dogs and cats with blastomycosis. A minimum of 3 months of treatment is necessary, and the drug should be continued until active disease is not apparent.

Can dogs survive blasto?

Blastomycosis can be treated and most dogs have an excellent prognosis with therapy, especially if diagnosed and treatment is started early in the course of disease. However, long-term treatment (six or more months in many cases) is required and can be expensive.

What do blastomycosis lesions look like?

Papules, pustules, or nodules are most frequently found on exposed body areas. They may look like warts or ulcers. They are usually painless. They may vary from gray to violet in color.

How we saved our dog from Blastomycosis

What are the signs of blasto?

Symptoms

• Joint pain.
• Chest pain.
• Cough (may produce brown or bloody mucus)
• Fatigue.
• Fever.
• Night sweats.
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
• Muscle pain.

How to tell if a rash is fungal or bacterial?

A bacterial skin infection usually develops when bacteria enter through a cut or wound, leading to swelling, pus, or painful rashes. In contrast, a fungal skin infection thrives in warm, moist areas like skin folds, often appearing as circular, scaly, and itchy patches.

Is blasto contagious from dog to human?

Pets and blastomycosis

Blastomycosis can spread from animals to people through bites. Veterinarians can also become infected from injuries caused by needlesticks contaminated from use on an infected animal. The symptoms of blastomycosis in animals are similar to the symptoms in humans.

How much does it cost to treat blastomycosis in dogs?

The process of diagnosing blastomycosis alone can range from $1,500 to $5,000. Once the disease is diagnosed, veterinarians will treat blastomycosis with antifungal medications that cost about $200 per month, with fungal therapy usually lasting at least two to three months.

What to feed a dog with blasto?

Avoid excessive time in the woods, especially near water (since blastomycosis is in the soil near water) Feed your dog foods containing no yeast. Give Vitamin C, E, A, and B as a supplement if your veterinarian recommends. Give garlic supplements if your veterinarian recommends.

Can diet affect fungal infections in dogs?

Diets aimed at supporting a dog's skin or immune system may help to lessen the incidence of yeast infections by removing or disguising ingredients to which the dog is allergic and by improving the barrier function of the skin.

What kills blastomycosis?

The antifungal itraconazole is usually used to treat mild to moderate blastomycosis. Amphotericin B is usually recommended for severe blastomycosis. Healthcare providers may test patients' blood to check if there is enough antifungal medication in their body.

How to prevent dogs from getting blasto?

Because blastomycosis is more common in certain geographic regions, the best way to reduce your dog's risk is to be cautious in areas where the fungus is known to live, especially around moist soil, wooded areas, and water sources.

Can blasto go away on its own?

Blastomycosis may seem like the “flu” with cough, muscle aches, joint pain, tiredness, chills and fever. These symptoms may develop suddenly, days to weeks after exposure to the fungus. In some people the symptoms can go away naturally but others may develop a persistent cough with yellow or green phlegm.

How long does blasto last?

Infection with Blastomyces species is asymptomatic in up to 50 per cent of cases. Incubation periods between exposure and clinical disease are typically 2 weeks to 3 months (median 43 days). Rarely, an incubation period may last many months to years due to reactivation or latent infections.

What does blasto look like?

Blastomyces dermatitidis is a type of blastomycosis that can spread to your skin. It can look like large bumps, warts or sores. They might be large, open wounds or closed clusters of bumps. They're often scabbed or crusted over.

Is blasto painful for dogs?

Symptoms of blastomycosis vary depending on which organs are affected. They can include coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint pain and fever. Blastomycosis can also cause unexplained skin and eye problems and may result in blindness.

What if I can't afford chemo for my dog?

If you can't afford dog chemo, explore financial aid from pet charities (like The Magic Bullet Fund, The Pet Fund), ask your vet about payment plans or less costly alternatives, consider options like CareCredit/Scratchpay, look into vet schools or low-cost clinics, or research crowdfunding/clinical trials; if treatment isn't feasible, discuss quality of life and humane euthanasia with your vet, potentially surrendering the pet to a shelter if necessary.
 

How did my dog get blastomycosis?

If your dog spends a lot of time outside, especially where it might sniff or dig in moist soil along riverbeds in areas where this fungus is known to occur, then your dog may be at higher risk for blastomycosis.

What is the survival rate for dogs with blastomycosis?

“The survival rate for dogs with severe respiratory disease due to blastomycosis is only about 50%,” says Dr. Reinhart, “which is unacceptable. We need to figure out what we can do to support them initially, so they can get through the worst of the clinical signs.”

Can you test your soil for blastomycosis?

Soil testing is very difficult and is generally unreliable as a predictor of Blastomycosis even in areas of known occurrence.

Where does blasto come from?

Blastomycosis is a lung infection caused by breathing in fungal spores from Blastomyces. Blastomyces live in soil in the midwestern, south-central, and southeastern U.S. Surveillance research helps estimate areas where Blastomyces live. The exact geographic range of the fungus is not known.

Can poor hygiene cause fungal infections?

Poor hygiene can increase the risk of fungal infections. Fungi are naturally on and inside our bodies. But, when they grow too much, they can harm us. Keeping clean is key to stopping this.

What does the beginning of a fungal rash look like?

Fungal infections usually appear as circular, scaly, or itchy patches. They often have well-defined borders and may resemble a ring, especially in the case of ringworm. The skin can look red and irritated, and sometimes peels or flakes.

What can be mistaken for a fungal rash?

Two of the most common are eczema and fungal infections. Both conditions can look similar, but a fungal infection is more likely to involve your hair and nails. It also doesn't come and go like eczema.

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