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[Angus]

My 17mo old German Shorthair Pointer was just diagnosed with Blasto on Thursday.  He quit eating on Sunday and became pretty lethargic.  On Tuesday, the vet gave him antibiotics because she thought it was a respiratory infection.  He didn't improve much so back he went on Thursday.  They did a chest Xray and took blood and urine.  The blood test showed healthy organs and the urine had to be sent out.

He is now drinking very well...seems like excess to me but the vets say that's good.  He is eating a little now...on and off....kinda picky so we just keep putting different things in front of him.  He's eaten some hot dogs....bolagna....some canned dog food....he loves bacon and pork steak.

We started the Itroconazole on Thursday night and have had him confined to his crate until just a few hours ago.  I've let him in his 5'x10' kennel as it is very nice here today.   

How long till you think I will see him breathing more easily? 

[evayola]

Sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. You are definitely in the right place for support. We noticed Marge being able to breathe easier after a couple months. Marge was so far deep into the blasto that we are lucky she survived. Did you have the urine sent out for the miravista blasto test? if so, what were your results in numbers? just curious. It sounds like you are giving the itra with fat and that is pretty important for maximum absorption. Any questions that you may have, please ask. Everyone here is very helpful.

Eva

[Harleys Mom]

Hi Angus,

Like Eva said, sorry you had to find us, but you found a good source of info. My dog was diagnosed in July so I'm still learning about this sickness. My vets said to watch Harley for any respiratory distress in the first week or 2 of starting Itra treatments. What's growing in the lungs starts to die off & it can take a while for the body to absorb the dead fungal matter. As long as your pup's up to going out in the kennel, the sunshine & fresh air is probably good for his soul, just like us people!

Itra seems to work great, but then Harley has not been nearly as sick as some of the other members dogs. He'd been picking at his food & lethargic for a few days, started Itra on a Monday, & by that Friday was back to normal, eating like a pig! Of course then his diet included bacon grease, so what's not for a dog to love about that.

Keep in touch & don't be afraid to ask questions. No 2 cases are exactly the same & you may come up with something that hasn't been touched on before & be useful to someone else. There's a bunch of folks who read posts regularly & we're all pulling for both you & your dog.

[Angus]

Angus made it through his fourth night after starting treatment...we are now pulling down to just 200mg of Itro once per day.  He ate some kibble last night, but only if my 8yr old hand fed him...he probably ate about 3/4 of a cup in all.  This morning he took a good drink but doesn't seem to interested in eating.  I don't see any difference in his breathing at all. 

He did seem to enjoy a nice afternoon outside in the kennel yesterday.  It was sunny and low 70's so he layed in the sun....even was jumping on top of his dog house to sit. 

It seems his appearance is slightly better since bringing him home on Thursday.  He was blowing his coat and hand dander really bad.  Its almost unthinkable how skinny he is.  But with the fatty food, he looks a little better now.  I can't see his spine so easily....his coat looks way better....and he has just a little trot when going outside now.

[evayola]

Thats nice to hear that Angus has some sparks of energy. Marge was refusing all and any food. We would have to force feed her anything and everything. We too hand fed her. After a few days, she didnt want anything to do with that. We would pack her mouth full of food and keep her mouth closed enough so she had no choice but to eat. We fed her whatever she would eat. You also need to make sure that you keep Angus extrememly hydrated. It is very important. Marge lost over 25 lbs when she was sick and you can imagine seeing a saint bernard without those 25 lbs. It was gross. It was hard for me pet her in her favorite spots because all I felt was bones. Keep on Angus with the eating and drinking. You will see an improvement in breathing in time. It took Marge quite some time before she wasnt panting like crazy. Hang in there
Eva

[gunner]

Hi Angus,

I am glad to hear that you are doing your best to get food of any kind into Angus. Every callorie you can poke into that dog is so very important, especially the fatty kind.  And especially fat to go with the Irtraconazole is EXTREMELY important.  Once Angus is feeling better and his appatite improves, you can worry about getting him on a better doggie diet, but right now, he needs any and every kind of callorie he can get.
Nothing like the loving attention of an 8 year old to encourage a dog    Keep up the good work!!!  It won't be long and you will be suprised how fast that Angus will bounce back!  Bless his heart!  
Joyce

[Harleys Mom]

Sounds like Angus is perking up a bit if he's wanting to sit on his house & take interest in his surroundings.

Getting him to eat/drink is important so you could try offering him different things to see what he may like. My 15+ year old beagle mix was pretty sick last year (from old age & seizures, not blasto). I tried chicken livers, hamburger, & other meaty stuff & the only things she would eat were Cheerios & potato chips Who'd guess a dog would turn down chicken livers & perk up for Cheerios, so you may need to try a strange variety of edibles to find what he'll eat. Peanut butter is mentioned in a lot of posts. If he doesn't eat it, you can smear some on his tongue & he'll pretty much have to swallow it Besides, it's a great source of fat!

Since Angus is drinking, he may drink some beef or chicken broth, it would give him some nutrients.

[Angus]

Had him back out in the kennel for a few hours again this morning until I started hearing the thunder roll.  He didn't eat anything but drank alot of fresh water.  He was sound asleep in his doghouse. 

I just talked to the vet and the Miravista urine test results have not been returned from the lab yet.

I just sent a prescription for med Itro to Pet Health Pharmacy so I can keep him on it.  Wow what a price difference.  The first two weeks worth from Walgreens was $315.  The script I sent in was for 46 pills, 100mg each...prescribed for two every 24hrs and cost $38!!!!  I figure at that price I can afford to keep him on the meds for an extended period if no ill side effects.

He has had zero appetite thus far today.  I'm gonna try some hot dogs and balogna here shortly.  If he doesn't eat anything he's getting the big smear of peanut butter on his tongue. 

Thank you all for your support...I'm so glad I found this site.  These vets just offer very little information as I don't think they know much about it. 

I hope his breathing slows soon, but the vet says it probably won't for a week or so.  It hasn't gotten worse at least. 

[gunner]

If you are having a real problem getting Angus to eat enough nutrients to increase his weight, allow me to offer a suggestion.  (It is SOOOO important that he doesn't continue to loose wieght!) The vetrinarians cary a food product called a/d.  It comes in a small can (like a tuna can) but the nutrients in it are equivelant to a large can of dog food.  It has the consistancy of peanut butter.  If you have to start force feeding, then that is what you will have to do.  If you hand feed it to him that might be enough to get him started.  For Gunner, I mixed a/d and ensure plus (drink) together, and squeezed it into the side of her mouth using a large syringe.  I had to force feed her for a long time before she started getting her appatite back.  I also force fed a product I got from the feed store called sav-a-calf.  I still give it to her as now she has developed kidney failure, and it really helps with her energy and keeping her tummy balanced.

When you give your dog the Itraconazole, ESPECIALLY if you are getting the compounded form of the drug, be SURE to give it with a good quantity of fat.  At least a couple of teaspoons if not more.  Otherwise the drug is not nearly so effective.

Funny to hear that Harley likes Cheerios.  That is Gunner's favorite too.   

Best wishes for a really FAST recovery!
Joyce

[Angus]

Still not eating today....I smeared a bunch of peanut butter on his tongue....and he willingly ate a dollop of margarine...but that's all.  I have some chicken broth cooling and will try that shortly.  I may have to try the a/d food.  Thanks for the tip.

[Wilson3]

try some steak on the grill this way you can eat some and so can he put on the same plate/bowl us differnt fork if liek but they seem to like to eat what we are eating and steak has that smell they really like
canned tripe my guys love but it smells really bad almost sicking  (its from the inside of a cows stomach very good for them and for a sick animal very very god for them)
take care
wilson3

[Angus]

Got him to eat some finally late this afternoon/early evening.  He ate maybe 4 strips of bacon....a chunk of hot dog....a 1/4 piece of bologna....maybe a few tablespoons of ground beef and rice.....and best of all....probably 3 or 4 oz of chicken.  Of course he'll only eat it if you hand feed him....but I had him in a groove....was dipping the chicken in the broth or the bacon grease.....I was a mess....but he ate.  I also added some Pedialyte to his water which he drinks just fine so I'll probably keep that up.  I struck out in two places trying to find the a/d food today.....but I'll find it tomorrow somehow. 

I guess I'm just learning the ins and outs of this stuff.  It's so hard for me to rest if he's not eating....I tried every hour all day today.....finally....then he even ate a few more chunks of chicken a few hours later.

[luvmyjacks]

Great job.  The peanut butter and other fats are critical with the compounded form of Itraconazole so even if he eats kibble mix blobs of peanut butter in it.  One good day of eating and you will see a big difference.  Keep us posted.

[BRANDO]

I'VE READ THE POSTS AND LOTS OF SUPPORT AND WONDERFUL ADVICE.
BRANDO, 2X BLASTO SURVIVOR AND I WILL KEEP YOU IN OUR PRAYERS. 
I'VE BEEN THERE AND IT'S NO PICNIC...  BE POSITIVE...
I KNOW FOR BRANDO WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND I WAS WITH HIM ALL THE TIME.
I GOT SOME GOOD MEAT FROM THE DELI WHICH HE LOVED...
I MASSAGE HIM AND LAYED WITH HIM.... JUST TO COMFORT HIM.
FOR THREE MONTHS AFTER AFTERWARDS HE ACTIVITY LEVEL I KEPT TO A MINIMUM...
HE'S MY LIFE AND GOD BLESS YOU..
I HOPE THIS HELPED....
SHARON, ALLENTON WISCONSIN
shashalulu5@yahoo.com
The UW WI-Madison vet school knows blasto all too well.
Vilas County, WI had an outbreak in 1986 of Blasto...

[Wilson3]

great job 
keep up the wonderful and hard work!
wilson3