Here are the top 10 visual signs that your poodle may have allergies:

1. Excessive licking, itching or head shaking.
2. Odor (ears or generalized)
3. Ear discharge
4. Inflamed, bleeding or copper-stained paws
5. Hair loss
6. Circular crusting lesions
7. Red pimples
8. Oily or greasy skin
9. Thickened, leathery skin
10. Scaly or red skin

Because there are so many potential causes for skin and ear allergies and because they usually require life-long management, it is best to see your vet.

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Risk factors include living or spending time near water, disturbing the soil during excavation, construction, or gardening. Dogs that dig increase their risk, hunting dogs and hounds are infected much more frequently than house pets and younger dogs are more commonly infected, with the highest prevalence seen in 2-year-old dogs. But any dog can contract blastomycosis.

Blastomycosis is caused by a microscopic fungus that lives in sandy soil in close proximity to water and periodically releases invisible spores into the air, which dogs, other animals and people can inhale. Conditions must be perfect for the fungus to survive. The fungus occurs more frequently in the fall around wetlands and waterways, but it can occur in urban and suburban areas, too. The spores can travel in the wind for at least half a mile.

Blastomycosis cannot be transmitted from an infected animal to a healthy animal or from an animal to a person, it can only be acquired from inhaling the spores in the soil.

Blasto can be found in the Upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern states, and in the Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi River valley and parts of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario. Blastomycosis is often found in small pockets instead of being widespread. It is believed that the range of blastomycosis continues to grow.I have seen several cases of Blastomycosis in Central IL where I live by the Vermillion River.

Symptoms Of Blastomycosis

Infection occurs from the dog inhaling the spores that are found in the soil. Blasto can infect multiple organs and produce various symptoms. At body temperature, the spores turn into yeasts and infects the lungs. Once Blastomycosis establishes itself in the lungs, it then enters into the bloodstream, blasto will spread to the skin, bones, joints, lymph nodes, kidneys, eyes or brain. Dogs show symptoms within a few weeks to a few months after inhaling spores.

Symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Persistant fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Open sores or lumps that drain blood or pus
• Blood in urine
• Pain in a limb or joints, lameness
• Cloudy, bulging, or red painful eyes
• Enlarged lymph glands
• Seizures or other signs of brain infection

Up to 85% of dogs with blastomycosis have lung lesions and an accompanying dry, harsh cough. Forty percent of dogs with blastomycosis have eye lesions including uveitis, retinal detachment, and hemorrhaging into the eye. Skin lesions that are ulcerated and draining are found in 20 to 40% of the infected dogs. Bone involvement and resulting lameness is present in about 30% of infected dogs.

Treatment for Blastomycosis

Relatively few animals are exposed and infected with blastomycosis, but those that are require treatment. There are several treatment options. The most common treatment is the oral administration of the antifungal drug Itraconazole. This drug usually needs to be given daily for 60 to 90 days. It is a human drug and can be very expensive, particularly for a large dog, but it is currently the safest and most effective way to treat blastomycosis.

For dogs that can not tolerate or do not respond to Itraconazole, the injectable drug Amphotericin B can also be used. This drug is given intravenously several times a week. Because it is more toxic than Itraconazole, it is administered under close veterinary observation.

Ketoconazole (Nizoral) is occasionally used in milder cases where cost is a strong consideration. It is not as effective and is slightly more toxic than Itraconazole, and therefore, is not usually the first choice in treatments.

Most animals will have severe appetite loss and must be encouraged to eat or be force fed the first 7-14 days. Blastomycosis can be rapidly fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Even with proper treatment, many dogs do not recover from the infection and relapses can occur.

Prognosis

Prognosis for any animal diagnosed with blastomycosis is guarded to good. Approximately 50% to 75% of affected dogs recover when treated with itraconazole or an amphotericin-ketoconazole combination. The two most important prognostic indicators are brain involvement and severity of lung disease.

Prognosis is poor for dogs with brain involvement, but some can be successfully treated. Approximately 50% of the dogs with severe lung disease die from pulmonary failure, but if the dog survives the first 7 to 10 days of therapy, the prognosis improves.

Eyes that are severely affected may not respond well to the treatment because the medication does not penetrate eyes very well. Significantly affected eyes may require enucleation (removal of the eyeball).

Relapses occur in approximately 20% of animals that survive treatment. Relapse after apparently successful treatment typically occurs in the first 6 months but can occur up to 15 months post-treatment. Recurrence of disease is treated with another 60 to 90 day regimen of ITZ. Recurrence usually occurs due to reactivation of a residual site of infection. Retreatment has an 80% or greater chance of producing a cure.

Can Blastomycosis Be Prevented?

There is currently no vaccine available to protect against blastomycosis. Because of the isolated distribution pattern of blastomycosis, it is difficult to determine where the source of most infections come from, and therefore, avoidance is almost impossible.

Awareness of the disease and its symptoms is the best defense against Blasto.

• Limiting the amount of time a dog spends in the woods, particularly near water sources may reduce the incidence.
• Avoid taking your dog to known blasto areas, places with disturbed areas of moist soil and prevent digging.
• Recognizing the symptoms, and seeking prompt veterinary attention are the best ways to deal with this disease.

The information for this article was obtained from The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. and VeterinaryPartner.com

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• In hives, small bumps occur within the skin. The hair will often stand up over these swellings. Sometimes, they itch.
• In angioedema, you will see swelling of the face, especially the muzzle and around the eyes. Sometimes, the swelling is so severe, the dog cannot open his eyes.

Most often, these types of allergic reactions are not life-threatening and will go away by themselves. Rarely, the swelling in angioedema can affect the throat and make breathing difficult. Antihistamines are generally the best treatment for angioedema and hives. If severe, steroids are sometimes given.

If your dog has hives or a swollen face, contact your veterinarian right away. A more severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, is life-threatening, and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Allergic Reaction to a Vaccine

If your poodle has ever had a reaction to a vaccine your veterinarian will probably administer an antihistamine prior to future vaccinations and have your dog remain in the office after the vaccination, in cause your pet has a reaction. In some cases, certain vaccines may be excluded from your dog’s vaccination regimen, or a different type of vaccine will be used.

If a dog has already had an allergic reaction to a vaccine or medication, be sure your current veterinarian knows and the information is placed in your dog’s medical record.

Allergic Reaction to a Insect Bite

If your dog has developed hives or a swollen face from an insect bite, you may want to discuss various options with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may give you a prescription for an ‘epi-pen.’ An ‘epi-pen’ is a special syringe and needle filled with a single dose of epinephrine.

If your pet has an anaphylactic reaction or severe angioedema, inject the epinephrine using the ‘epi-pen’ and seek emergency veterinary assistance immediately. Be sure to take the ‘epi-pen’ with you on any trips or hikes.

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May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month.
Cancer in pets is on the rise. For dogs over six years of age, 60 percent will be diagnosed with some form of cancer, and nearly half the deaths of pets more than 10 years old are from cancer. The most common type of cancer in cats is leukemia, and the most common cancers for dogs are lymphoma and mammary gland cancer.

Pet Cancer Facts

• Cancer accounts for nearly 50% of all disease-related pet deaths each year.
• Cancer is the #1 natural cause of death in older pets.
• Dogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans.
• Over 60% of the dogs over age 10 will die of cancer.
• Just like in humans, cancer can occur in virtually any part of your dog’s body.
• Approximately 1 in 4 dogs develops a tumor of some kind during his lifetime.
• Common risks of obesity in pets include many forms of cancer.

Common Pet Cancer Warning Signs

This list of early warning signs comes from The American Veterinary Medical Association

• Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
• Sores that do not heal
• Loss of weight
• Loss of appetite
• Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
• Offensive odor
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
• Persistent lameness or stiffness
• Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

Many of these signs are also seen with non-cancerous conditions but still warrant prompt attention by your veterinarian to determine the cause. Cancer is frequently treatable, and early diagnosis will aid your veterinarian in delivering the best care possible.

What Causes Cancer in Pets?

Cancer in our pets is caused by the same factors as in human cancer. Just as cancer runs in some families, certain breeds of dogs are genetically prone to canine cancer.

Over-Vaccination has been clinically proven to weaken your pet’s immune system, setting the stage for pet cancer. Cats suffer from a specific type of feline cancer named “Vaccine Induced Fibro Sarcoma.” It develops at the vaccine site on your pet’s skin as a direct side effect of over-vaccination.

Initial puppy and kitten vaccinations are necessary, but try to avoid automatically vaccinating every year. Speak with your veterinarian about spreading out the vaccinations and inoculate only those for diseases that are prevalent in your geographical area.

A variety of reports from the EPA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission confirm the hazards of household toxins including lawn fertilizers, detergents, and cleaners. Many veterinarians see a link between environmental toxins and pet cancer. Exposure to chemicals in the environment and even small daily doses of chemical additives and preservatives in their food can build up and cause cancer.

Treatment Options

With treatment advances, pets with cancer have a much better chance of survival than they did just a few years ago. Cancer treatments in pets can be safe, with few or no side effects, and can provide long-lasting or complete remission. The key to successful cancer treatment is an early diagnosis and effective treatment. Too often, a qualified cancer specialist is not available locally, causing you and your local veterinarian to bypass treatment.

The Pet Cancer Foundation, in cooperation with online oncology specialist Oncura Partners, is providing any dog or cat owner in the United States with the opportunity to receive a free initial consultation with a pet oncologist (cancer specialist) for your dog or cat who has cancer.

Orchestrated through your veterinarian, the free consultation will provide you and your vet with current options and best practices for different cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery or any combination of these.

Pet Cancer Resourses

• Pet Cancer Awareness
• Pet Cancer Foundation
• Pet Cancer Center
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• Morris Animal Foundation
• Pet Owner’s Guide to Cancer Video Series
• Household products linked to pet cancer

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