Blastomycosis PSA and hoping for support ideas

[Saskatoonian]

I’d only heard about blastomycosis vaguely until last spring, but my PWD pup - about to turn a year old - was just diagnosed with it and we were lucky to catch it as early as we did. The only reason for that is becuase my neighbor’s dog contracted it last spring, so I knew about the risk (and that my pup fell into the high risk category), and a friend happened to know that eye problems are among the symptoms, which can vary. It’s a nasty fungal infection and starting treatment asap is important.

My pup was fine on Saturday and woke up Sunday morning with a sore goopy eye. Figured it was an infection and treated it like one, figuring I’d call the vet in the morning, so warm compresses, clean off the goop, and goop with non-steroidal eye ointment.

Well, at noon the eye was clouded over and let’s just say I spent the rest of they day trying to get him in to the emergency vet. All had 6-7 hour wait times; none had an opthalmologist on call, so all they’d do is measure the pressure if I could even get him seen. Poor guy. Got him in to my regular vet on Monday morning, and she sent us directly to the emergency clinic so we’d get to see the opthal. asap. Poor guy was tested and scanned and checked six ways from Sunday, was diagnosed with a detached retina and got an antifungal injection in his eye for it (ow), came home with eye drops and a bunch of pills. We got the blasto diagnosis on Thursday and started meds for it an hour later. He’s feeling ok - a little logey, but the eye feels much better (here’s hoping we save it).

I’m headed down the internet rabbit hole for ways to support him during his treatment, which will include meds for 4-6 months. Milk thistle is one thing that’s been recommended several times and which I’ll discuss with my vet. Has anyone else gone through blasto treatment? I’d love to know if there’s anything I can do to ease his path. He’s such a sweet dog. Already on the list are a nutritional consult and a consult with a higlhy recommended local vet who does acupuncture, chiro and Chinese herbal medicine. Lucky I have vets I trust who’ll work with me on all of this.

And for anyone not familiar with blasto, it’s worth a little reading just to be aware.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

I have never heard of this, or had a dog that had it, but massive jingles for you both. It sounds awful. I’ve had two cats with histoplasmosis, and getting them through that was a massive battle.

I assume they’re putting him on an antifungal?

[Demerara_Stables]

I also don’t have any experience, but thought for a while that my dog also had a (different) fungal infection. My acupuncture/chiro vet had some recommendations, so that’s a good place to start. Sounds like fungal infections can be a long road. Jingles for your guy.

[Saskatoonian]

Yes. He got an antifungal injection in the eye when I first brought him in, and started on an oral antifungal as soon as we got the results back - 3 days later.

Thanks for the jingles, guys. It’s a long road - 4-6 months of oral antifungal meds - and hoping we can save the eye. That’s catching it early! I didn’t realize it was so common in this area and am glad I got him in as soon as I did. So spreading the word.

[GoodTimes]

Ugh jingles for your guy. I’m glad you were able to catch it early. I live in what is considered a hotspot for blasto. Our local veterinarians always seem to have it in the back of their minds. As do our doctors. Unfortunately this is cottage country and I’ve heard a number of cases over the last few decades of dogs and humans who spend the summers here, unknowingly contract blasto, and then have great difficulty getting diagnosed when they leave the area.

[ParadoxFarm]

@Saskatoonian

blastomycosis

Jingling away for you and your pup. My trainer’s dog just contracted this about a week and a half ago. It hit him hard. He spent a week in an oxygen chamber because it affected his lungs (which is common in this disease). It was really touch and go for a solid week. He’s finally doing better and on lower oxygen levels. I feel so bad because it has been such an emotional ten days for them. The good boy may come home today. Also, they have a bill upwards of 25,000.00. That’s a lot of money – but how do you put a price on your beloved (young) pet?

They say this comes from the moist soil/ground, leaves, etc. This dog plays in the creek, so that’s likely where he picked up the fungus.

[fourfillies]

We adopted a dog from Ohio and he also developed an eye presentation for acute Blasto. Thankfully he did well with treatment. Fingers crossed for your guy.

[Saskatoonian]

Yes, from what I’ve read it can be anywhere but is most likely to be in moist rich soil and near rivers - basically where I live. It’s a heck of a disease if you think that losing the eye wouldn’t be the worst result - and still hoping we can save my pup’s. Catching it early seems to be key: my guy is doing remarkably well. A little logey, but improving daily. We were lucky it didn’t get his lungs - that seems to be the worst (saying something coming from the one whose pup might lose an eye).

Thanks, all!

[ParadoxFarm]

More jingles and hugs.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Sending him lots of jingles!