Print

[jpwade]

The last 2 Labs we lost to Blastomycosis i noticed

1st ... intermittent coughing
2nd ... more consistent coughing
3rd ... lack of energy, head hanging down a bit while walking ,as if looking sad,
4th ... coughing & occasional gags with white/clear mucus

vet visit for the 1st Lab, OldMan was after about a week of intermittent gagging with mucus & X-rays showed lungs full

vet visit for 2nd Lab, Blanca was as soon as we noticed the gags with white/clear mucus, X-rays showed very slight signs of splotches

Has anyone noticed similar or any other Early Warning Signs ?



 

[Jen]

Dirtbike began with what we thought was just a respiratory infection and a fever.  We treated her with penicillin and then tetracycline on our own for about 2 weeks.  We also noticed a couple of black lesions that would not heal with standard treatment.  (We don't use the vet that much.) 

After she did not respond to the antibiotics, we took her to our vet,  D.L. Dell, DVM at Northwood Veterinary Hospital.  He was on it, and diagnosed Blasto within 10 minutes.  He said that we caught it relatively early, and she had a "fair" chance if we were ready to give her the care she needed, and that's a LOT. There are no guarantees.

We had the Itraconazole from Pet Health Pharmacies the next day, and she's been on it every day since.  Everyone can read her story here, it's not been pretty, but she's getting better.  She's now bugging me constantly for "chikkin" and butter, which is fine.  I'd rather spend a sleepless night feeding her than a sleepless night begging her to breathe.

The rest of her story is in this forum, and we're thankful that she's doing betterl.  Remember that she is young and strong,  her system was not fully involved and we caught it VERY early. 

I got a heartbreaking email from a very young girl (Human) with Blasto yesterday. She is only 20 and is just now starting Ketaconazole. Apparently she has had it for most of her life, and has only recently been diagnosed.  She wanted to know when I thought she would start to feel better.  I'm so sorry that she had to ask someone who only knows about how a dog is doing, and I don't understand why the medical community is not looking out for her.
Thinking of Bunny-
jen

[AMB]

Hi there,

I am sorry to hear about both your dogs. How are they doing? I have a 3.5 year old chocolate lab named Stella who is exhibiting the exact same signs you have outlined. While I was away on vacation last week, my parents were taking care of her in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario. She has been coughing now for one week and become more lethargic over the course of the week. After a battery of tests, our vet feels she may have Blasto but we won't know for sure until tomorrow. The vet has agreed to start treatment today, based on the premise that she has it. Her chest x-rays show some splotches. My sister had to put her 4 year old poodle down, 3 days ago. Symptoms began 10 days prior and he deteriorated before the final results were in. The vet suspected lung cancer but confirmed the day after he died that is was in fact blasto. Stella was on a steriod drug for allergies which I was told lowerd her immunity. My sister's dog had an auto-immune disease. I understand that dogs with a lower immunity may be more susceptible.

We are praying for a positive outcome but after reading many of these postings, I am preparing myself that it is blasto. My concern is that we have caught it early enough. Does anyone know what an ideal time frame is to catch this disease?

[Lisa]

Hi AMB,

That is sad that both your dog and your sister's dog got blasto!  I hope the treatment will work for Stella.  And bravo to your vets for knowing what it was!!  Out of curiousity, which area of Georgian Bay do you think they might have picked it up?  I'm living temporarily in Parry Sound and I've heard that a bit north of here and some of the islands have been showing cases of blasto.

Best wishes to Stella!

Lisa

[AMB]

Hi Lisa,

Both dogs were at Sawlog Bay which is just outside Penetanguishene (about an hour drive south of Parry Sound). Do you know of any vets that are familiar with blasto? I kind of chuckled when you said bravo to my vet for knowing it was blasto. The truth of the matter is they hadn't even heard of it until I came in with information from the web. I have very little confidence in them at this time. She is however trying to consult with other vets on blasto which is encouraging. Once we get a definitive answer tomorrow, we are considering changing to a vet with more knowledge on the subject. Thanks again for the well wishes.

Anne Marie

[Jen]

That's nuts *headdesk*!  I still don't understand why they can't see Blasto.  Our vet tested DB and had a positive gram stain in less than 10 min.  He's had several dogs with it and said that most of the time the owners come in too late and the dog can't survive the treatment.

It sounds like you were quick in noticing signs, which is great.
If you get a pos. Blasto test, the medicine is much cheaper (and just as effective) from Pet Health Pharmacies in Arizona.  They'll overnight it to you once you get a scrip.  Dirtbike is bouncing-happy-healthy, but still taking medicine.

Best of Luck to you and Stella-
jen

[Lisa]

Anne Marie,
The vets at the Parry Sound Animal Hospital said they treat a few cases a year.  Their toll free number is 1-866-281-5397.
Good for you for finding a diagnosis.  My vet and I wasted valuable time with my Surf and by the time blasto was mentioned as a possibility, it was already in her nervous system and she couldn't walk.
Good luck today,

Lisa

[Wilson3]

from the understanding i have
the areas that blasto is know to be like up north in wis vets will know to test for it asap and will have the stuff right there to get results right away but like here in milwaukee blasto is only becoming more and more so the vets do not stock the testing stuff in the office it would go bad before needing it but now because blasto is becoming a BIG problem here they are starting to have it on hand and more dogs are geting fast results
you always blame the vets i have learned

[AMB]

Hi there,

Stella's results are in and she does NOT have blasto. She does however have aspergillius which is also a fungal infection. The treatment and outcome are identical. She has been on meds for 8 days now and I am noticing a difference. I think she may be on her way to recovery. I am feeling very positive that we caught it early enough. She had blood work yesterday to see how her organs are withstanding the meds and she will have another chest x-ray next week to see if it is clearing in her lungs. From the research I have done, I think she got this from eating goose droppings but it is just a guess.

My sister who lost her dog on July 22nd, has just found out her other dog Boo (they were brothers) also has blasto. She is starting treatment today.

We contacted the vet in the area we were visiting (Georgian Bay) and she has only seen two cases in the last year. Both made it through the infection. Keeping our fingers crossed and staying positive.

Anne Marie