Valley Fever; are you and your pets at risk?

Valley fever; also known as “California disease”, “desert rheumatism”, and “San Joaquin valley fever”.

The premiere edition of “Las Vegas Pet Scene” magazine appeared at my favorite pet store and an article by DVM Donald Levesque of the Veterinary Neurological Center of Las Vegas caught my eye describing the malady.  I had never heard of it. And I walk my dogs around the apparent areas in question.

What is it?  It is a fungal disease and seems to be in certain parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and northwestern Mexico.

The spores reside in the soil and are dormant for the dry season then develops as a mold that fragments into the air when the rains arrive.  The spores also become airborne when the soil is disturbed, such as a construction site or an earthquake.

The infection occurs when then particles are inhaled, in a human or animal host.  Animals are more susceptible due to their closer proximity to the ground.

Symptoms of infection are usually flu-like and rashes in humans, and in some occasions, could be fatal.  Other serious symptoms are open sores, fever, pneumonia, severe joint and muscle pain, heart inflammation, urinary tract problems and meningitis.

In animals, symptoms could be fevers, coughing, seizures, balance problems, non-specific pain or a look of poor health.

Most people and animals are In general good health and may be able to fight off the infection, but if the immune system is weakened, a serious lung disease may result.  The spores can attack the kidneys, reproductive organs, and bone and nervous tissue.

Some symptoms mimic other illnesses, such as cancer and other bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, therefore giving the fever a nickname of the “Great Imposter”.

If you and your pet walk through the local desert and/or construction areas, be aware of each other’s health and symptoms.  If detected early, the affliction can be treated with medication.  If detected in later stages, surgery may be required and medication use can be intense, maybe for the rest of the lifetime.

Just be aware of the possibility of the existence of Valley fever, keep you and your pet healthy by eating quality foods, visit your veterinarian regularly and pay attention to any difference in everyone’s health.