Can valley fever be mistaken for lung cancer?

Most people struck with Valley Fever recover on their own. Some patients, like Pierce, develop lung nodules, which are small patches of infection in the lungs that can be mistaken for lung cancer. For Pierce, antifungal medications taken for a year helped him recover from the infection.

How Long Can dogs live with valley fever?

Dogs with disseminated infection As with lung infections, the majority of dogs with disseminated disease respond well to medication and lead normal lives, though they often require prolonged drug treatment (12-18 months).

Does valley fever cause lung damage?

Approximately 5 to 10% of people who get Valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs.

How fast does valley fever progress in dogs?

Primary valley fever generally presents three weeks following initial contact with the fungus, most notably as a persistent cough. This is soon accompanied by a fever and overall decline in mood. You may notice your dog has stopped eating as well or displays a sudden lethargy or disinterest.

Does Valley fever ever go away in dogs?

Can valley fever in dogs be cured? When diagnosed and treated early, many dogs recover well from valley fever. Dogs diagnosed with valley fever after the disease has spread to other parts of the body are more challenging to treat, and in some cases the disease becomes life-threatening.

Does Valley fever show up on PET scan?

Fluorodeoxyglucose PET (FDG-PET) scanning can help identify areas of active coccidioidal infection. Intense diffuse uptake is seen in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Solitary nodules may have uptake indistinguishable from malignancy, and long-standing granulomas may have little or no uptake.

How did my dog get Valley Fever?

The strands are very delicate, and when the soil is disturbed – by digging, walking, construction, high winds – the strands break apart into tiny individual spores called arthroconidia or arthrospores. Dogs and other animals mainly acquire Valley Fever by inhaling these fungal spores in the dust and air.

Do dogs survive Valley Fever?

A small number of dogs, usually those that develop disseminated disease, will die from valley fever. However, the majority of dogs that are treated appropriately will recover from this disease. Your veterinarian will periodically repeat the antibody titer test to determine when the antifungal medication can be stopped.

Can dogs spread Valley Fever to humans?

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.