Shelters report jump in valley fever among dogs

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Shelters report jump in valley fever among dogs

By Sara Thorson, Tribune

April 4, 2006

Mesa,AZ

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=62522

As health officials predict a record year for valley fever

infections in people in Arizona, East Valley animal shelters are

also seeing an increase in canine valley fever.

Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary in Gilbert has nine confirmed

cases in dogs it cares for and is awaiting test results on a 10th.

That represents 20 percent of the dogs at the sanctuary.

Most tested positive in February, said volunteer sanctuary

spokeswoman Barb Savoy, who added that the shelter usually only has

one or two dogs test positive yearly.

Heavy rains in early 2005 followed by a record dry spell incubated

spores from the soil fungus that causes valley fever. Stray dogs, or

dogs new to Arizona may be especially vulnerable.

" Dogs, particularly stray dogs, have a tendency to stick their noses

in holes, and valley fever is caused by inhaling spores from dirt, "

Savoy said.

Though 70 percent of the dogs that inhale the spores don't become

ill, those that do often become seriously so, and obtaining a proper

diagnosis and treatment can take time.

Symptoms of canine valley fever include coughing, fever, weight

loss, lack of appetite and lack of energy.

Friends for Life is hoping foster families come forward to care for

the dogs until they become healthy enough for adoption.

" They recover much more quickly in foster homes, " Savoy said.

The Arizona Humane Society has also seen an unusually high 10 to 15

cases of canine valley fever in its dogs this year, spokeswoman

Stringfellow said.

" We've seen some pretty bad cases in the last three months, " she

said.