Blasto

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Mcarlton28
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:24 pm
Location: Harrison, Arkansas

Blasto

Post by Mcarlton28 »

Can anyone tell me if a beagle can come back from this, or would be better to put him to sleep?
Has anyone else encountered this disease this year?
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Michael , Bubba , & Karla Carlton
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jdmart
Posts: 1153
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 3:35 pm
Location: South Central, KY
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Re: Blasto

Post by jdmart »

From what I know of peers that have had dogs with it, very expensive to treat and they never will return to the same lung capacity. They are damaged permantely.

Chris Powers
Posts: 606
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:50 am
Location: KY

Re: Blasto

Post by Chris Powers »

I have treated one my self seen serval thats had it there never the same.. If you really want to use in breedi ng program its worth saving I treated a female she came through and Ive raised 5 litters. But she could never run again
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Mcarlton28
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:24 pm
Location: Harrison, Arkansas

Re: Blasto

Post by Mcarlton28 »

Thanks guys, this was a hard call to make. He was a great dog and is getting better, and it is expensive
but he will make an excellent stud, best young male I have owned in a very long time, would not have
happened to a cull!
Ozark MTN Beagles
Michael , Bubba , & Karla Carlton
2014 World Bench Champion
LPRCH LPGBCH CARLTONS BELLEFONTE SNAKE DOC
2017 World Bench Champion open
LPBCH LPRCH Ozark MTN Joker

Charles Philpot
Posts: 542
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:27 pm
Location: Corbin, KY

Re: Blasto

Post by Charles Philpot »

What are some of the symptoms with blasto?
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S.R.Patch
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Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2002 1:17 am

Re: Blasto

Post by S.R.Patch »

Here's some info...
Blastomycosis is a relatively rare, but potentially fatal fungal infection caused by the pathogen Blastomyces dermatitidis. The fungus grows in moist soil or vegetation. In certain conditions, spores are released into the air that can be inhaled by dogs or people, thereby infecting them. Ocular blastomycosis can cause instant blindness in a dogOnce the pathogen enters the lungs, the spores transform into large, thick walled broad-based budding yeast that multiply within the lung and other tissues of the infected animal. The symptoms and illness that evince in a dog can be extremely variable. But the disease primarily affects a dog's skin and lungs, although eyes, joints and other organs can be affected as well. Ocular blastomycosis can cause rapid and permanent blindness. If left untreated, the disease will eventually cause death. When the soil or vegetation where the fungus lives is disturbed, the infectious spores are released into the air. Dogs may develop blastomycosis by breathing the pathogen into their lungs or having it enter through an open wound. The soil can be disturbed by an activity such as digging in the dirt or following a scent trail. Conversely, in dry weather the spores may simply spread through dust, such as at a recently excavated area or areas undergoing construction. The Blastomyces fungus thrives in wet environments, such as riverbanks, lakes and swamps, where damp soil lacking direct sunlight fosters growth of fungi. It is also present in areas that are rich in decaying matter, such as wooded areas, forests, and farms. Studies have concluded that most affected dogs live within at least 400 meters of a body of water. B. dermatitidis is widely distributed geographically and has been detected throughout North America with the highest prevalence of infection taking place in geographic areas located near water - such as the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, and Tennessee River basins. However, it is also in the central and southeastern United States, in Canada, India, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Africa. Paw lesion of dog with blastomycosisAlthough widespread, the actual area infected with B. dermatitidis is likely to be restricted to a small area and may be limited to one rotting log or several square yards of infected soil. Depending upon environmental conditions, the area may be infected for only a brief time. Therefore, one factor that greatly increases the chances of getting Blastomycosis is where you live and the activities you do with your dog(s). The disease is typically associated with large hunting and working breeds of dogs, as they are often exposed to the environments where the fungus is more likely to be found. However, all breeds of dogs are susceptible to blastomycosis and the fungi can occur in urban, as well as rural, environments. The disease cannot be spread from a dog to a human or from human to dog. Symptoms of Blastomycosis Lesion caused by blastomycosisAs the pathogen multiplies, it spreads out of the dog's lungs or wound into the lymph nodes and/or vascular system. Blastomycosis is a chronic infection, and dogs are usually sick for several weeks before any diagnosis is made. Sometimes it can be mistaken for another illness like pneumonia, because of its impact on the lungs. If your dog’s symptoms do not go away, be persistent with your veterinarian, as blastomycosis is rare and may not be initially diagnosed because many of its symptoms mirror other illnesses in a dog. The disease is more likely to affect dogs with weakened immune systems. Early detection of the illness will increase the odds of your dog's survival. Symptoms to look for include: Fever Flu-like symptoms (pneumonia) Loss of appetite Weight loss Eye infection, specifically the iris Sudden blindness Difficulty breathing (e.g., coughing, wheezing and other unusual breathing sounds) Skin sores or lesions, which are frequently filled with pus and do not heal Decreased stamina Joint pain Reluctance to walk, loss of coordination Lymph glands swelling Diagnosis Xray of dog's chest with blastomycosisA dog must be properly tested for a definititve diagnosis. This condition is commonly mistaken for cancer or pneumonia. If mistaken and treated as a bacterial infection, it will be treated with antibiotics, which can actually exacerbate the illness. If your pet has been in an environment where the Blastomyces fungus may have been present at any time in the six weeks previous to the onset of symptoms, you will want to ask your veterinarian to test for a fungal infection. There are several methods to diagnose blastomycosis: Analysis of fluid drained from any skin lesions Sputnum culture (if dog coughing up fluid) Tracheal wash for collecting trachea (windpipe) fluids Chest x-rays (which shows a 'snowstorm' pattern if the fungus is growing as a budding yeast) Blood and urine analysis (in the form of a diagnositc antigen test) Examination of the cells in the lymph nodes Examination of lung tissues Tissue samples may be taken to check for the presence of fungal organisms, especially if a dog is coughing, but there is no sputnum or fluids to test on. Treatment Blastomycosis is treated with anti-fungal medication. It is usually easier to treat, the earlier it is detected. Anti-fungal therapy is challenging for veterinarians because prolonged treatment is needed and the fungus is difficult to eradicate. There are a limited number of anti-fungal drugs that can be used, which tend to be expensive and can pose significant toxicity problems. Below are the most commonly drugs used: Itraconazole (Sporanox) Amphoterericin-B Itraconazole (Sporanox) suspension Ketoconazole (Nizoral) Fluconazole (Di flucan) Posaconazole Voriconazole Prednisone One preferred treatment of canine blastomycosis is with the triazole drug itraconazole. Other clinicians have reported success using fluconazole (a different triazole), ketoconazole with amphotericin-B, or amphotericin-B alone. Amphotericin-B presents risks because of its toxicity for the kidney. For life-threatening Blastomycosis, Amphotericin B (Amp B) is usually the treatment of choice, although as noted, Amphotericin B can have serious side effects. At the commencement of treatment, many dogs seem to get worse for 5 to 8 days after treatment starts. This is probably because of a "die off" effect, where a dog's body is purging itself of tens of thousands of dead yeast organisms. Despite extensive treatments, some dogs may not entirely rid their body of the yeast, and relapses can occur. Prevention Dog with lesion caused by blastomycosis on his noseBeing around infected soil is the key risk factor for a dog contracting blastomycosis. Knowing if blastomycosis has occurred in your area, recognizing the symptoms of the disease, and getting your dog diagnosed early are the best defenses in preventing your dog of contracting the disease. Currently, there is no vaccine to guard against getting the illness. The fungus is often isolated to a small area and therefore is often very difficult to trace back to a source. Also there is no convenient or reliable means of detecting B. dermatitidis in the soil, and there is no way for it to be eliminated from the soil. Therefore, the best prevention is limiting a dog's possible exposure to the spores by being aware of your surroundings. This is not always practical, given the amount of time dog spend in wooded areas or near lakes and streams. But just as with other fungi - such as mushrooms - the spores are probably only present for a short period of time, in specific environments and conditions. rotting vegetationAvoid letting your dog forage in areas with rotting vegetation at water's edges or in dark dense forest where fungi can thrive, especially in an area known to have had cases of blastomycosis in previous years. Also avoid letting your dog play in excavation sites that have a lot of dust or loose dirt (like landscaping a backyard, draining a pond, etc). If you know of a dog that has caught Blastomycosis, it is important that you report the location where the dog was infected as a NeighborHound Alert to warn fellow dog owners in your area. And make sure you check the NeighborHound Watch often to read warning other dog lovers have posted!
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