READ THIS FIRST. It will give you a better
understand what Merlot has suffered.
WHAT IS VALLEY FEVER?
April, 2004: Merlot, my beloved black Standard Poodle boy
was hit by an unknown illness. I took him to our on post vet
(Military) because he was running a fever of 103, cough, not eating,
drinking, depressed, etc. Blood work was taken and we were told to watch him
and let them know if his fever goes up. Probably just a virus. We watch him
over the weekend and he didn't seem to get any better. On Monday, his fever
goes up to 105 and I notice a small abscess on his lip. He goes back in for
x-rays of his abdomen and to get IV fluids because he will not drink and I
can't seem to get enough liquids down him by squirting it in his mouth. I
point out the wound on his lip and the vet blows me off and tells me he
probably just bit it.
At this time, they start treating him for Tick Fever, because of his
history as a Search and Rescue dog. The medication craps his stomach, but he
must take it. 5 days later, one of his testicles is 3 times it's normal size
and the wound on his lip continues to get worse. I call the vet who sends
me to a well know vet in town. Merlot has emergency neuter surgery and we
discuss his illness in depth. They seem to STILL think it is tick fever.
They are blinded by his History as a Search Dog.
I pick him up the next day and yes he was doing better. They place him on
a second antibiotic just in case. This one covers Rocky Mountain Spotted
Fever specifically. I was told he would be eating and drinking by the next
day. However, 24 hours later his fever is back to 105 and he is very ill.
Right Lymph Node on his neck is now swollen. Blood in the urine. He hasn't
eating anything to speak of in over a week.
Monday, no better, actually worse. Both vets start to get mildly
concerned. My husband is a doctor and he knew the antibiotics should be
working if it was Tick Fever. I decide he must eat more than the occasional
piece of chicken if he is to get better. He has lost 8 lb. in a little over a
week. So I am now crushing up chicken, veggies, baby food, and Ensure for
calories and squirting them in the side of his mouth by hand, 5 times a day.
I try to keep him at around 1500 cal a day. Tuesday blood work is all back.
It is not EHRLICHIOSIS but was slightly raised for Rocky Mountain Spotted
Fever. He is not getting better. He is barely hanging on and I can see him
slipping away from me. He had lost another 5 lbs. Neck Lymph Node is HUGE. Both vets think "Cancer".
The IV locations on his legs are infected and not getting better. They think
I didn't leave his E-Collar on and he was licking them. I told them NO I
didn't let him lick, but of course, I am the stupid owner who's dog bit it's
lip and know nothing. They biopsy the Lymph Nodes on his neck.
Wednesday, biopsy back on the testicle. NOT CANCER!
By this time, the vets have no idea. They call a phone conference of
Internal Med docs and ask them what it might be. They know exactly what it
is. Valley Fever-ENDEMIC to the desert southwest (TX, NM, AZ, CA). We are
called and start him immediately on Diflucan to fight the fungal infection.
Merlot has now lost 14 lb. in just over two weeks with a constant fever of
103-105. A wound shows up on his leg, one on his belly, and one in his nose.
The wound on his lip was one of the first tip off. His cough as well was
important but NEITHER vet did a chest x-ray.
Within 24 hours of starting him on Diflucan, Merlot was improving.
I have lived here in AZ for 2 years and had never even heard of this
issue. The vets missed it and it is a common problem here in AZ. I can see
the military vet not knowing about it, but the local vet was blinded by
Merlot's history and should have treated for this infection.
Merlot has been on the Diflucan for one month now. He is doing MUCH
better. He is no longer peeing blood, bleeding from his nose, etc. He lost
18 lb. total, but has already put it all back on. He is still extremely
weak, but making progress.
Diflucan is very hard on the liver, especially in the dose needed for
treating fungal infections in the bloodstream. He will have to go in for
blood testing once a month and be on this medication for 6 months to a year.
There is a 30% chance he will have to be on the medication for the rest of his
life. This medication cost around 200-300 dollars a month, but
thankfully we can go to Mexico and buy it for 50 dollars a month. Many owners
who find themselves with this infection in their dog cannot afford to treat
it.
Why am I posting this? Because I have been researching Fungal infections
in general. There are many different types, all over the US, though they do
not seem to be Endemic as Valley Fever. If you are traveling through the
Desert, you and your dog can get an infection just like Merlot. The fungal
spores are in the soil and there is nothing you can do to prevent infection.
If you or your dog becomes ill for an unknown reason, with a cough and fever
DO NOT allow the vet/doctor to blow you off as an over protective owner or
person. You know your dog and your own health (Yes, people can get this as
well, though it generally does not get this bad in humans). Insist on a full
work up for fungal infection if the vet even thinks tick fever. Also note the
fungal infection may not test positive until the dog's body is able to mount a
response. Merlot tested neg., but his treatment is working and proves it is
Valley Fever. Treat first, test later.
Merlot lost 18lbs in 3 weeks with this infection, even with
me forcing food down him. I can not imagine how he could have survived
without that extra food I supplied him. He was such a good boy, never
refusing to swallow the mush, even though it had to be painful with the very
swollen lymph node. I cried so much during this time and if it hadn't
been for my husband, constantly telling me he was going to make it, to keep
trying, to keep feeding him even though he hated it... I don't know what I
would have done.
UPDATE: SEPT 2004- Merlot continues to improve. His energy
level is still low and his lungs are scared. It is likely he will have a
cough forever and can never think of doing Search and Rescue work again.
I am pulling him from all competitive events as well, simply to keep his
stress level low. He has been on the medication now for 4 months and
doing good. We were able to reduce his dose of Diflucan from 200mgs to
100mgs. He is now able to run and play for short periods of time.
He has gained all his weight back, plus some. He prides himself on
carrying the mail to the box every day as well as keeping the other dogs in
line. No fever since May 2004.
UPDATE: FEB 2006- Merlot is doing great! No relapse so far
and he has been off the medication for almost a year. His lungs are
permanently scared so he does have a cough when he over does things.
However, he's full of life, love, and total devotion!! He's my baby and
I am so blessed to still have him here next to me.
