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[paintubturner]

I am so grateful to have found your site!  My dog was diagnosed with Blasto in March--after SEVERAL trips to the vet then my dog went blind over night!  I am weaning him off the Itraconazole as of last week (1 pill a day instead of two).  He has developed a sore on his leg and has been exhausted the past several days.  He is still eating/drinking but he doesnt appear to feel well.  He has no temp at all.  I have notified the vet to make him aware and once again he doesnt seem concerned at all!  The vet had told me to give Gunner his two pills a day until they were gone and not to wean him off.  I dont know if what I am doing is right or wrong and I obviously dont trust my vet.  Can anyone offer me some advice with this?  Pet owners that have never been through this awful disease dont have a clue what we go through.  Gunner was responding so well to treatment and his blindness only slowed him down for a few weeks if that long.  I have an amazing dog and I want to do everything I can to get him through this.  Thank you.  Gwen & Gunner from Indiana.       

[viktoralan]

My dog was diganosed with Blaso in June and lost his eve sight overnight.  We also took him to the vet several time but they couldn't find what was wrong with him.  When we noticed something wrong with his eyes, we took him to emergency (different vet) and they recommended a vet specialist and this vet specialist was the one who diagnosed him with Blasto.  I give my dog Oscar 1 pill (50mg) Intraconazole per day after his dinner.  He is going well.   The specialist indicates that he'll be on Intraconazole for about 6 months.  It sounds like you're doing everything you can to take care of your pet.  What concerns me is the fact that "you don't trust your vet".  If you don't trust the vet, you may want to think about finding another vet that's more compassionate and concerned about taking care of animals.   I'm definitely looking for a new vet or will request a different vet when I take him in for follow ups.  victor & oscar.

[sequinnw]

Daisy was treated for blasto last year for 6 months (from June to December), 100 mg. itraconazole (she weighs 38 lbs.).  In retrospect, that must not have been long enough because she developed symptoms again in May 2008.  It took 7 weeks for her to get back on medication because the vets were looking in other directions (swollen wrist joint believed to be a soft tissue injury).  When she wasn't improving with rest, I asked she start medication again to which she responded almost immediately.  Of course, last year I had no idea about follow up urine testing and nothing more than a 6-month treatment protocol was used in stopping the medication.  This time I want follow up testing to determine when she should come off medication. 

If you don't like your vet or feel he/she won't listen to you, I would definitely look elsewhere.  There are wonderful resources on this site and several who live in Indiana who may be able to recommend a vet.  I am lucky to have one that listens to me and I am sure he will gladly do follow up urine testing at my request.  I would love if they would be more urgent in looking at blasto as a possible cause because sadly, so much time is lost.

[Harleys Mom]

Hi to Gwen & Gunner

Glad you found this site but sorry you had to be looking for it.

I agree with the others, if you don't like your vet or feel as if you're dog's not getting sufficient treatment, you may want to look into changing vets. Ask other pet-owner friends or contact local training or showing clubs for vet-advice. I don't know much about Indiana colleges or if any have a Vet Med school, but that could be an option. I live about 5 miles over the Indiana border in Illinois & have been taking my dog Harley to the University of Illinois college of vet med in Champaign-Urbana. They usually have all the latest info on things most vets see rarely, if at all. My regular vet diagnosed Harley and suggested U of I because they've dealt with so many more cases of blasto. (As a U of I alum, I could be maybe a little biased )

Good luck & you've got lots of well-wishers on this sight!

[paintubturner]

Thanks so much to everyone for your responses.  Just to let all of you know--I have used Purdue Small Animal Hospital on one occasion for Gunner--immediately when he went blind.  The hospital will not give ANY advice over the phone and insist on seeing the animal--they also require a referral for all visits even emergency visits.  I do want to tell all of you that since my first post this morning I have contacted Mira Vista Diagnostics in Indiana and sent all of their info to my local vet.  I will be picking up a urine specimen container tonight and collecting a sample tomorrow morning.  I let him know the accuracy of the test and that I would not stop the treatment on my dog until I know for sure he is Blasto free.  This sight is truly amazing for me and I wish I would have found it sooner.  I feel so much better just being able to talk to people with similar situations.  My dog is my best buddy and I want to do whatever I can to get him through this.  Thanks so much to everyone who has taken time out to listen to my problems.     

[Jen]

Welcome, and good for you: finding MiraVista and questioning your vet was your best course.
Sometimes they don't seem to take it as seriously as they should.
Many here have had to take things into their own hands and go to some extreme measures in order to save their animals.
Your dog has developed a sore and doesn't feel well. If your vet seems unconcerned, that's a problem and it certainly doesn't sound like a time to stop treatment.
(BTW, no weaning is truly required except for our own peace of mind...)
Apparently they've already dropped the ball once.
Remember that YOU pay THEM.

We have witnessed some really amazing recoveries that wouldn't have been possible without this site.
Keep us posted-
jen
(near Muncie)

[evayola]

That is all too sad that most of us here have gone through some sort of difficulty with our vets. I am very proud of those that put their foot down and demand that they are heard. Like Jen said, that is a concern that your vet isnt concerned. Anytime Marge develops some sort of symptom, we take her in because we (including the vet) know how close we came to losing Marge.
I am not sure that weaning is necessary but we did do it because of Marge's eye being intact... we wanted to kill anything possibly still lurking. Did it work? Who knows! But, it did make me feel better. That is great that Gunner didnt slow down from the blindness. I know it still bothers Marge only because Homer is always teasing her on the blind side and she gets mad. Otherwise, you would never know she was blind. She gets around just fine! Most definitely keep us posted.
Eva

[paintubturner]

I picked up the specimen container and packaging last night from the vet. He has insisted I do all the collection and shipping myself--that is fine atleast I will no its done. I know by being so pushy and persistant he is upset with me--and he already knows how upset I am at him! I have called around to two other vet clinics in surrounding counties again today and neither has ever dealt with Blasto so they are out of the question to use. So as of today the urine test is getting done.  My next step is to get the liver test done.  I would hope that any vet can draw blood and do the test?  I will call around for that too.  Again, I can not tell you enough how glad I am to talk to pet owners that are going through this.  I have been told by co-workers, people I thought were my friends and even a few family members that I was crazy for going through so much for a dog.  I have several other "special needs" animals and I also get criticized for my work with them also.  It is such a relief to know there are other people out there that love their pets just as much as I do.       

[Wilson3]

hi gwen welcome aboard this site has a great bunch of people with wonderful ideas and support!
I am glad you found it!
treatment is long and hard and i feel most are on it for 6 months at least
gunner is very lucky to have you !
it is so important to find a vet you trust!!
and willing to work with you!
it took wilson about 1 1/2 months before they new another vet at his clinic and the er vet both said what his signs  had nothing to do with blasto i asked only becasue we go to a place that otheers had gotten blasto
finially when demaned my normal vet did we find out when i told him about it he tested right away
he is the BEST ever! (remember you pay the bills )
He also was the only vet that said YES wilson has a chance
he shouldnt be standing but he is and he will still eat ( not like when he was well) and the way he would act when away from me when they had to do tests
I do not think if i remember right he had aslo not ever treated blasto but he reaserch it like crazy ( he also knows everything their is to know about australian shepherds even the MDR1 gene they carry and what drugs they can not have) so not ever treating a case is not always a bad thing it just means you need one that is willing to work with you and do what ever it takes to lean everthing about blasto
People will think you are crazy for caring so much for gunner but never let that bother you
boy wilsonis my heart and soul ( joey jokes my son and says mom if wilsonw as a human he would be perfect for you as a husband) people at work still will talk about what i spent and i just tell them they never really new what true unconditional love is and never felt the love and faithfulness that any animal can give.
you know in your heart what is right! you find ways to make the bills and never feel left out of anything the way they look at you they do know you love them and will thank you a 1000x's over
i can not beleive the vet made you send out the pee pee
we where very lucky with dr.reynolds i think wilson found a spot in his heart also
i remember the 1st few check ups once wilson started treatment and he started to feel a little better one time his vet was waiting for us another wilson went strait in and looked into ever open door and hall to find him then he put his feet on his shoulders and gave him a big kiss (it was his way of thanking him i beleive)
now that wilson is better and we go to the  vet one way i feel that is he is still doing well is that he is happy to see everone but wnats to leave then right away
he knew they where helping him whjen so sick and was glad to see them and get the tests or what ever exam but now it is different its like see ya i am no longer in need of your help
here is wilsons stry i know i have posted it many times and you might have already came across it
fetchmag.com in the aug. 2008 issue( titled leason in love na loyality)
this is a very hard battle and lots of peopel will say you are a fool and roll their eyes BUT the eyes you really need are gunners and those are the only ones that eally count!!!
sorry so long....
wilson3

[Jen]

Sadly, several have encountered the same kind of attitude from their vets.
Esp. when you question what appears to be indifference or a lack of knowledge about the disease & treatment. 
Use our  Blasto newsletter for reference (don't wave it in your vet's face unless they ask to see it, they'll prolly get all lathered up over "something you read on the internet"  )

As for liver testing, I've never had it done. Some here have.

MiraVista seems to do great work, and they've really catered to lots of people here.  Hope it clears things up.
jen

[Harleys Mom]

My vets have recommended periodic liver function testing because the Itra treatments can affect the liver. I would think most vets could do the test. Might be worth doing since Gunner's not feeling well. Hope he's having a better day today.

When people have given me a hard time for putting time & money into my dogs, I've told them it's my resources & I'm not affecting thier lives so mind their own business (this isn't verbatim, just the clean version). So stick by your Gunner & there's lots of us like you who will do what we can for our 4-legged family members.

[lawgirlmmz]

Best of luck to you fighting this terrible disease!
My vet immediately recommended a liver function test because the antifungals are hard on the liver.
It was in house--just a regular blood test.  He's had it twice, and it's not expensive or difficult to get.
My vet was pretty adamant about it, because of the meds he's on, but it shouldn't be too hard to get one.  My vet was also able to check for kidney function at the same time, which we were also worried about.
Good luck!
Marcy and Jonah

[Wilson3]

wilsons vet did a CBC ( complete blood count) every other month checks to see how everything is liver kidneys potassium white & red blood cells just to naem a few and it was around $45 if i rember right
if anything it did make me feel better to hear that they where fine and we watched as his white blood cell count went down and red up as the blasto disappeared
some didnt do the testing CBC on hear and it worke dour fine their ways to tell on your own if the liver is going
just athought it would save a few
also milk thistle and dandlion root to sopport the liver during treatment
wilson3

[paintubturner]

I learn more each time I read through other people postings.  My dog went blind in both eyes but he did not have them removed.  Now after doing more reading I wonder if the eyes should have been removed because the chance of a relapse is higher??  This is so confusing.  Also, now I am worried too because my dog was on the Itra and not the Fl drug that others talk about for eye involvement.  And my dog weighed 74 pounds and was taking 100 mg. twice a day (now down to 1 a day).  I hope that was a strong enough dose.  So many questions and I sure wish I would have known alot more for the beginning.  I was never told by anyone that I should feed fat with the Itra pills.  This site has been the most informative site I have found--all the others say about the same things and that wasnt near enough.  I did call a few vets this afternoon about doing a liver function test---they have to call me back because the secretaries were not sure and had to check with the vet himself.  I suppose I have burnt some bridges with some vets because of being so pushy and demanding but then I think what did I really lose because they didnt know how to help my dog and didnt seem to concerned.  Gunner is doing well as of this morning--he is still exhausted and been sleeping the entire night which he hasnt done in months.  He ate really well this morning too.  The sore on his leg and crusting over and not draining anymore which is helping him to leave it alone now.  If anyone knows any treatments for possibly regaining some eye sight in my dog please let me know.  After I find out whether anyone does liver function tests in this area I may have to try and get a referral back to Purdue University and spend a day down there.  Thanks so much for everyones help.              

[gunner]

Hi Gunner Kaylor,
 
Sad to see another dog with an awesome name like Gunner on here, but I am happy you found this place because it really is an absolutely invaluable tool to helping your dog get over blasto and helping the owners nerves! 

A liver function test is easily done and it is all a part of the normal blood work that they do.  If they can test for white blood count, they can do a liver function test.  Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about the liver really, it is something to watch for of course, but of all the dogs on here, none have ever had an adverse liver reaction to the meds that I know of.  (I hope someone will set me straight if I am wrong.)  Also, the first sign that there is something wrong with the liver is that the skin turns yellow.  It doesn't have to be much wrong either for the yellow to show up.  Just keep an eye out for the tongue and or the whites of the eyes to start looking yellowish.  If that happens then it is time for concern, but not great alarm.  It won't kill the liver all at once and if the dog starts to turn yellow, you will be on it quickly enough to stop the drugs before there is permanent dammage.  The liver is also a marvel at restoring itself.  So, as I said, it is something to watch but I wouldn't loose too much sleep over it. 

As far as sticking up for our dogs, my philosophy is this:  When you take on a pet, you now become RESPONSIBLE for it's whole life.  Not just until it costs too much, or until I am not in the mood to have a pet, or it doesn't match my couch...  We live in such a throw away society and I am so very proud of all of the blastomycosis pet owners who have truly taken their responsibillity to heart and are doing the very best they can.  I am always reminded of the verse in the Bible that goes "The righteous man regards the life of his beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." (Proverbs 12:10)  In *my* oppinion, everyone participating in this board is pretty rightious   
Best regards,
Joyce