Blastomycosis in Dogs
Jaime Green
Volunteer State Community College 15 April 2017
Blastomycosis, also known as North American Blastomycosis and Gilchrist’s Disease in humans, is a fungal infection caused by the organism Blastomyces Dermatitidis. This fungus occurs naturally in North America and infections are most often seen in geographic areas located near water, such as Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Missouri river basins. This systemic yeast like fungal infection occurs more frequently in male dogs, but females can also contract the illness. Blastomycosis is most often diagnosed in large breed dogs weighing 25 kg or more and especially seen in sporting breeds. These dogs are more often exposed to areas where Blastomyces …show more content…
Treatment is generally done at home, using oral dosages of these antifungal medications. These medications are relatively expensive and must be administered for a minimum of 60 days, or one month after all signs of blastomycosis have disappeared. Dogs with severe dyspnea or pneumonia may require supplemental oxygen, hospitalization, and intensive nursing care until lung conditions have improved. In severely prolonged infections, or when medication has not cured the infection, surgery may be necessary in order to remove part of an abscessed lobe in damaged lungs, or enucleation of an eye if it is a source of infection. Over 75 percent of dogs respond to treatment for blastomycosis, so the likelihood of recovery is good. For dogs who survive the initial infection, approximately 20 percent relapse within the first several months to years following infection. In 80 percent of those cases, a repeat course of treatment is successful. It is imperative to continue to give the necessary antifungal medication regularly and limit the dog's physical activities -- this will help it avoid straining its lungs. A high-quality diet to stimulate the dog's appetite is also encouraged. Chest X-rays can help determine the duration of and response to treatment, and reveal any permanent changes in the lungs that may have resulted from …show more content…
Preventing exposure to areas where the organism lives can reduce risk of blastomycosis, but this may be impractical, especially for dogs who live near these areas. Spores may be more likely to go airborne during dry weather, when the contaminated dust is lighter. It is not easy to predict exactly where the Blastomyces organism may be growing, and is thus difficult to avoid entirely. Avoiding the dense, dark areas where the fungus would thrive is the best prevention which will reduce the dog's risk of
Jaime Green
Volunteer State Community College 15 April 2017
Blastomycosis, also known as North American Blastomycosis and Gilchrist’s Disease in humans, is a fungal infection caused by the organism Blastomyces Dermatitidis. This fungus occurs naturally in North America and infections are most often seen in geographic areas located near water, such as Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Missouri river basins. This systemic yeast like fungal infection occurs more frequently in male dogs, but females can also contract the illness. Blastomycosis is most often diagnosed in large breed dogs weighing 25 kg or more and especially seen in sporting breeds. These dogs are more often exposed to areas where Blastomyces …show more content…
Treatment is generally done at home, using oral dosages of these antifungal medications. These medications are relatively expensive and must be administered for a minimum of 60 days, or one month after all signs of blastomycosis have disappeared. Dogs with severe dyspnea or pneumonia may require supplemental oxygen, hospitalization, and intensive nursing care until lung conditions have improved. In severely prolonged infections, or when medication has not cured the infection, surgery may be necessary in order to remove part of an abscessed lobe in damaged lungs, or enucleation of an eye if it is a source of infection. Over 75 percent of dogs respond to treatment for blastomycosis, so the likelihood of recovery is good. For dogs who survive the initial infection, approximately 20 percent relapse within the first several months to years following infection. In 80 percent of those cases, a repeat course of treatment is successful. It is imperative to continue to give the necessary antifungal medication regularly and limit the dog's physical activities -- this will help it avoid straining its lungs. A high-quality diet to stimulate the dog's appetite is also encouraged. Chest X-rays can help determine the duration of and response to treatment, and reveal any permanent changes in the lungs that may have resulted from …show more content…
Preventing exposure to areas where the organism lives can reduce risk of blastomycosis, but this may be impractical, especially for dogs who live near these areas. Spores may be more likely to go airborne during dry weather, when the contaminated dust is lighter. It is not easy to predict exactly where the Blastomyces organism may be growing, and is thus difficult to avoid entirely. Avoiding the dense, dark areas where the fungus would thrive is the best prevention which will reduce the dog's risk of