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[ian marshall]

Hello all. First off thank you for all the wonderful information on the site. After much reading, I have noticed that some of Drugs to treat basto have evolved over the past year or so and I wanted to make sure that I am providing my Golden the correct meds. I am located in Ga and can't seem to find a straight answer as to how to care for my dog.  He is 70 pounds (10 pounds less over the past 3 weeks) and is on a 400mg's of Fluconazole a day(2 200mg pills at dinner).  Is there anything else that anyone recommends for preventative eye problems or to help with his energy level.

Also any other advice to help me save my Hunter would be appreciated.

Hunter's symptoms..so that it might help someone else that might be doing research(all within the past month)
heavy breathing (was initially mistreated for thyroid...fyi)
throwing up
lethargic
loss of appetite
2 IV trips to the emergency room with 104-105 fever
xrays of lungs show them covered
lympnode test came back negative

Also, I do not know if it is a coincidence but the Condo building I live in newly landscaped the grounds with mulch about 2 months ago.  I have read on several threads that blasto could be carried in it but I could never prove that this is where Hunter was infected.

Here is a pic of Hunter a couple of months before he got sick....I hope he makes it...I  cannot imagine life without him....Thanks in advance for any advice or help!

[FrenchieMom]

Hi.  So sorry you have to join in.

Have your vet call Dr. Legendre:
http://www.vet.utk.edu/faculty/legendre.shtml

My vet wasn't very familiar with Blasto since we live in a big city.  I called Dr. Legendre's office and his assistant told me he would gladly consult on Annie's case if our vet called.  Sure enough, our vet called him on Wednesday and received a call back the same day.  He suggested exact quantities of both Itraconazole and some steriods.  He has done numerous studies with blasto.  This is a pretty good article that his work was part of:
http://www.miravistalabs.com/pdf/reviews/BlastomycosisinDogs2007.pdf

We have no idea how Annie got blasto either, but we do have a park in our area with tons of new landscaping/mulch.  It's a good possibility that the blasto came from that.

[evayola]

I am so sorry about Hunter. I too hope that he makes it. Marge is only on 300 mg of fluconozole a day because we don't want to shock her body by giving too much. We tried that and almost lost her. The dosage we are giving is really working well. She is no longer lethargic and she is eating and drinking normally. Her treatment will probably last 4 more months but she has made it this far and she is such a trooper and I know she will beat it. When we went heavy on the treatment the blasto was on the run in her body and went into her eye and she has lost vision in one eye. We are treating her with two different eye drops. One is a steroid to keep the inflammation down and then one is for glaucoma. She was on another also which was antibacterial. Our biggest goal is to keep her eye which seems like it is going to happen. Try contacting the blasto specialist because they should give you a good idea of what to do. My vet has been amazing with all of this. She has used all of her resources possible. Order your meds through pet health pharmacy in arizona because they are so cheap. I just got Marge's meds for $22 for the whole month! That was shocking! Supportive theraphy was the most important thing for Marge. Make sure you tell Hunter you love him and encourage him through it. We were so crazy with Marge that I would lay on the floor with her and read to her just so my voice would calm her and make things easier. The first couple of weeks is the hardest by far so just stay positive. There is a pain reliever and fever reducer called deramaxx that Marge has been taking and it really helps her a lot. Marge had that high temp for a few days too. Just keep him cool. They say keeping their paws cold lowers the body temp. Take it one day at a time and love him with your everything. I never thought I could love my Margie more than I did but I do. This really has brought me closer to her.

[ian marshall]

Hi Guys, I want to thank everyone for the support, assistance and kind words. My poor Hunter lost the fight with blasto this morning around 9;45.  I will miss him dearly! 

[Jen]

So sorry for you and your Hunter.
This is a terrible disease.
jen

[evayola]

I am so sorry to hear that you lost Hunter. It is such a terrible disease. You and Hunter will be in my thoughts!

[Rosie]

I am so sorry. I know your pain all too well. Blasto really stinks..