The University of Arizona

Valley Fever in dogs - Symptoms

The most common early symptoms of primary pulmonary Valley Fever in dogs are:
  • coughing
  • fever
  • weight loss
  • lack of appetite
  • lack of energy

Click on image

Some or all of these symptoms may be present as a result of infection in the lungs.  As the infection progresses, dogs can develop a severe pneumonia that is visible on x-rays.  Sometimes the coughing is caused by pressure of swollen lymph nodes near the heart pressing on the dog’s windpipe and irritating it.  These dogs often have a dry, hacking or honking kind of cough and the swollen lymph nodes can be seen on x-rays.

When the infection spreads outside the lungs, it causes disseminated disease. The most common symptom of disseminated disease in dogs is lameness; the fungus has a predilection for infecting bones of the legs in dogs. However, Valley Fever can occur in almost any organ of dogs. Signs of disseminated Valley Fever can include:

  • lameness or swelling of limbs
  • back or neck pain
  • seizures and other manifestations of brain swelling
  • soft abscess-like swelling under the skin
  • swollen lymph nodes under the chin, in front of the shoulder blades, or behind the stifles
  • non-healing skin ulcerations or draining tracts that ooze fluid
  • eye inflammation with pain or cloudiness
  • unexpected heart failure in a young dog
  • swollen testicles

Sometimes a dog will skip any signs of having a primary infection in the lungs and only develop symptoms of disseminated disease, such as a swollen, lame leg but no coughing or fever, or fever, weight loss, and a draining tract, but eating and not coughing.

FAQ - Is Valley Fever contagious from animal to animal or animal to human?

Valley Fever is considered a noncontagious disease.  Even if multiple animals or humans are affected in a household, each infection was acquired by inhaling spores from the soil.  

Coughing cannot spread it between animals or people.  In the case of draining lesions, the form of the organism in the fluid is not considered to be infectious to people or animals.  Nevertheless, such lesions are best handled by bandaging.  Bandages should be changed daily or every other day and discarded in outside waste containers to minimize risk of contaminating the environment.

For immunocompromised persons living in a household with a pet that has a draining lesion, it is best to consult your physician regarding this issue.

 

Click on image

 

 

Valley Fever Center for Excellence, 1656 E. Mabel St. P.O. Box 245215, Tucson, Arizona 85724
HOTLINE (520) 626-6517, FAX (520) 626-4971
EMAIL vfever@email.arizona.edu
2008 All contents copyrighted ©. The University of Arizona. All rights reserved