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[harv]

Hi my name is harv, and my austrailian shepard zip started to have no energy and slight loss of appetite about 7 days ago. by may 10 he just layed around and we found two
small lesions on his back. My wife took him to the vet may 11 and they took x-rays
of lungs and found a snowy look. thankfully are vet without any other tests suggested that it looked like blasto, because 3 other dogs in area had already passed away from it,
because another vet didn't realize what they had and put them on antibiotics and the owner waited to long to come to are vet. here is my questions my 8 year old dog was put on itraconazole by 6:00pm may 11 same day. However his symptons have multiplied. as of may 13 sunday his breathing is shallow and he moans, he's becoming
more and more lame, lost his appetite won't eat anything, i had to make him swallow some food with pill in it tonite, at times very lethargic, he can barely get up to go outside
to urinate ect. and when he gets back in he's really out of breath, but relaxes and finally his breathing thou shallow, he  seems to get somewhat comfortable.He seems to be having trouble opening his mouth it hurts him pretty bad, my wife just got him to eat a couple crackers a few minutes ago and he barely would open his mouth. he is drinking water, alot friday and saturday not as much today but still drank some. I realize he will get worse before he starts to get better. But is this normal to see all this happening
to him. And is there anything abnormal about all these things, or should this be expected.
We're just beside ourselves about him we don't want him to be suffering. also in how many days on medication would we see a improvement in him especially his breathing.
any information would be greatly appreciated. We would do anything to save our best friend.

Thank You Harv

[Jen]

Hello Harv -
   First off, glad to meet you, but sorry it's under these circumstances. I've read many stories and it appears that blasto affects each animal in its own way. It doesn't sound like you have severe dissemination.  Second, you are ahead of the game with a quick diagnosis and starting treatment right away. Lots aren't that lucky. Looking back on several other dogs in our area, it's possible they died of this without being diagnosed. Hindsight and all...
   We caught Dirtbike fairly early (so the vet says) and she has been on about 3 weeks of treatment. The first few days were not so bad for her, but the medicine will quickly make them very ill. The breathing is going to go from bad to worse, and you'll have many sleepless nights. Wilson3 can tell you all about it.
   After the first few doses, she got really sick and her breathing went to hell. She has times when she appears lame and off balance, but gets moving and it resolves. We are treating the lesions with antifungal creams, and the small ones have disappeared - only 2 remain, almost healed. She sometimes has a watery brown discharge from her nostrils and her nasal passages are swelled & crusty. Lots of slobber.  I think that a loss of smell is also keeping her appetite low. The teeth and gums appear to be sore, but she had no trouble gnawing a bone.
   After 3 weeks of freaking out, I've calmed down enough to let things take their course for now. She has very little appetite, but we are feeding her Ensure Plus 2x a day (in a bottle) along with all the meat she will eat, which is not much. She drinks very well on her own. We have had to force things like peanut butter just to keep some calories in her. She's lost a lot of weight. (From 80 lbs. to about 55, which is scary.) I've stopped any other medications because the Itraconazole is very hard on the liver, and don't want to overwhelm her system.
   There were times when we were sure we were losing her, but she's hanging in. Signs of improvement are VERY slow in coming, and the treatment is very long. We've had lots of ups and downs.  Patience, hope, lots of love, that's about all the advice I can give you.  We let her spend her days as she likes, inside or out, roaming or sleeping.
   Don't take any of his time for granted, but don't give up. Wilson3 has lots of good advice and is farther into this than I am, and Wilson is getting better. As far as I can tell, it sounds like what you're going through is not uncommon. It hurts and it's sad, but you do the best you can for your friend.
   Good luck and feel free to email or post - it helps to vent.
Best to you and yours,
jen

   

[harv]

thank you so much newby, rough nite last nite he is looking so bad you can't believe he's still withn us.
i half to leave for work but my is home to take care of him. will keep in touch later thank you.

[harv]

Thanks again newbie, however zip passed away early this morning.
it's been a tough day for the family. we will miss him always and never forget the love he had for all of us. we all lost our best friend. your dog will be in our prayers everyday. we all hope for a full recovery for him.

take care harv

[Jen]

I'm so sorry for you all, harv. We lost our Charlie, an Aussie, a couple of years ago, and now looking back it could very well have been blasto but it was so quick.
   Dogs are blessed animals and losing them is very hard.
Our thoughts are with you and your family-
jen
obie
millie
dirtbike
   

[Wilson3]

oh am sooo sorry!!
you guys did what you could!! This is a very hard battle and not always what we want to happen.
Zip is safe and happy and feeling much better where he is. And you will see him again someday.

Where are you located?
How long did It take them to dianoges?
How long was he on treatment?
What vet where you going to?

I hate to ask you all this now,but I am trying to figure out a few things about Blasto.
I had never ever heard of this until last year.
Now I know 3 other dogs with it and everyone here.
Somthing just isn't right.
And why do vets/drs. all misdianoges?


wilson3

[Lucky]

Sorry to hear about your loss harv.  You have our deepest sympathy.  We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.  I also lost my dog "Lucky" in March.  I had her put to sleep due to non recovery from blasto etc.  It took 1 1/2 yrs to finally diagnose my dog and I do work for vets!  We had never had a case at our clinic and the symptoms match so many other illnesses.  I am getting ready to write a letter to a nearby tv station and hope that this website along with my letter will inform the public of this terrible disease both for humans, and our animal companions!!  It seems that the areas that are badly infected know a lot more about this disease and the treatments for it along the the Veterinary schools.  But our everyday vets do not know much.  Education about this disease should be given to all vets and not just some.  I do know that my dog got this disease in Indiana but not sure which residence.  Anyway, please check into the websites on pet loss and the rainbow bridge.  I found that it was very good.  Thanks for listening and thanks lisa for this web site!  Terri Lucky and all my other rescue critters.

[boling12]

My dog Rocky is a seven year old black lab and has been on treatment for four months and is doing fine but lost sight in one eye. ithink the worst is behind us. Just wanted to say that it took me three times at the vet with me not leaving the last time untill they found blasto then because of cost they said I shoud put him down.I said I never asked about cost and got treatment.But what I want people to know is he got it from mulch I got at lowes and no one has told me mulch was dangerous. It dosn't matter where mulch comes from people need to know what can happen.If you call TV station tell them about mulch to. Thanks Jan