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[Cunard123]

what is "bump?"
Irene V.

[lisakuhlmann]

I have no idea! I just read that too, I'm sure Lola's Mom knows and can tell us both. I'm trying to post a picture of my lil herd, hope it works.

[Oreosmom]

I have just come home from my vet with a 'chance' of my older dog having blasto! However now that I read more...I'm so confused and scared! He started 3 weeks ago with blood from his penis. Bladder X-rays were clear, prostate was enlarged, and they sent me home with anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory. 10 days later the morning after meds were done, there was so much blood in his urine (that was not noticeable the first visit) that his urine sample was brown. Back to the vet...still just an 'infection' and sent home with a much stronger anti-biotic. 7 days later, bleeding is much better but not stopped. Called the vet...another round of same anti-biotic...brings us to today...bleeding is sporadic and now I noticed (last night) that he has a sore on his back, but it's scabbed over and I cleaned it and put some ointment on it. I figured he had just been scratching due to 'allergies'. Tonight I noticed (at the vet) thy he has another sore on the inside of his leg. But it looks more like he licked it raw vs a scab sore...nothing oozing. When I came home I was putting some anti-fungal cream on his leg and noticed a large lump where the spot on his leg is??? The vet saw it and this is what prompted the 'it may be fungal'...I had to push for the vet to do the blasto test!!! But here's the thing...he eats normal, plays like normal, hasn't lost weight...other then the sore's, he's has eye discharge....am I panicking? I lost my husband in May 2011 and will be beyond devastated to have my oldest 'baby' be sick too!

Thoughts??

[Cunard123]

My dog Dana's blasto started with a sore on the foot.  We went the same round with antibiotics, etc. until my vet discovered the blasto.  Dana's symptoms after the initial sore were shortness of breath and she became lethargic and clearly sick not too long after.  Has your vet done a chest x ray?  Once we started her on itraconozale (antifungal) medicine, she slowly began to improve, but then she developed the infection in her eye and we are now treating her for early glaucoma.  The bad news is that this is a horrible disease, expensive to treat and full of secondary infections.  The good news is that she has returned to her playful loving self, and we are praying she does not lose sight in the eye.  Dogs CAN survive this disease, but it takes a long time to clear it from the system.  Dana has been on itraconozale since November and we are bringing her to the vet on Friday to check if it is still present.  Our prayers go out to you and your dog.  I know exactly what you are going through.  Please write with any more questions and/or concerns.  This website is a great resource/support group.
All the best,
Irene in NY

[pattenbayzoe@rogers.com]

The newsletter is fantastic and many thanks. I wish I had known about this site before both of my dogs died of this awful disease this winter. The letter has great information, very practical. FYI we are having an outbreak in higher numbers than usual here in McGregor Bay, Ontario, Canada . We too are on the Georgian Bay coastline ( farthest north it goes). I have made it my mission to pass the word here about the incredible importance of early diagnosis and treatment. I will also pass the word about this very helpful website. The pain of losing both of our fur kids continues, worse as the fungus is somewhere here on our island so we dare not get any more dogs.  ZM

[lisakuhlmann]

  :'

My heart goes out to you. It's horrible to hear you lost both of your fur babies, but to be morally forbidden to have another because of your locale and fear is unthinkable. Perhaps rescuing an older dog is an option? Of my 5, it was the youngest that contracted the evil. I wish someone would find a vaccine! I would financially help support any lab that can go into production.
     Thanks for joining Every case is different, but everyone can share something that may help someone else 

[rob cox]

Hi I'm new here and just found the group.

We lost our Small munsterlander Wilson Mar 11 2011 after all the symptoms happening over a 4 month period where the Vet treated all as a one of a kind problem. Not until he had open sores was a biopsy was done and Blasto found.

It was to little to late.

We got a new SM Munsterlander Leroy at the end of Oct 2011. While getting fixed V New Vet saw a low red blood count "dec 20' , He healed quickly. While in Florida one of Leroy's eye showed cloudy and a little loss of sight "jan 7". Went to vet on Jan8 and vet had not idea and offered drops for eye. I discussed Wilson's Blasto as they are in the same environment and asked to start Sporanox while we waited for appointment with eye Vet.
they refused and even after the eye got to the size of a golf ball over the next 5 days.

Eye vet start sporanox on the day of the appointment, but by then the second eye retina was detached. treatment start for this also. Over the next 5 weeks the swollen eye's pressure returned to normal but sight lost. It took until March 10 until a urine test was suggested to be done and the results where a 1.7 which vet said would be a negative result but because of past with Wilson and Leroy's eye they treated it as a positive.

We are home and going to local vet in a couple of days and have a new test to check, still on Sporanox.

It is now middle of April and Leroy has lost sight in one eye and retina has reattached in the other. He is a happy puppy again.

Advise start Spoanox and ask for a urine test MiraVista Diagnostics Antigen Assy. If you are wrong you can stop treatment.

our area is Sheridan Rapids near Lanark and Perth Ontario Ca, on the Mississippi river, our vet here has seen 8 cases over a few years.

Hope this helps one of our friends in need.

Rob

[lisakuhlmann]

I feel for you Rob. It's bad enough when WE can't help our loved ones, but to have a professional that we are PAYING to help, and they don't listen or are afraid to admit they don't know and don't take a proactive approach it's infuriating. Tell everyone you know about Blasto, alert every vet in your area. Areas that are not typical for Blasto are now being plagued with it.
     I'm sorry for your loss of Wilson and pray Leroy continues to improve. Big hug