Blastomycosis

[coopersmom]

Tonight I was reading a dog magazine and saw a reference to a dog who died from Blastomycosis which is a fungal disease cause by mold in soil. Now I am worried. I give water to my neighbor's dog several times a day. I have his bowl sitting right on the other side of our chain length fence so I can reach over and pour it out when dirty, they refill with fresh. The dirt around this area is continually damp and now has a little greenish tint to it. I think it may be algea but maybe it's mold. I don't know. I read that Blasto is contracted a lot by field dogs running through wet, damp fields and inhaling the spores. do you guys think my dog Randy, as well as Gunner the neighbor dog, are at risk of Blasto because of the damp soil? Always something to worry about. Gunner's people aren't good dog people and seldom give him food, let alone water, so I look after him.

 

[Ania]

From what I know of Blasto, it is usually concentrated in areas that are not 'disturbed'. You can google it and it will tell you where in the US and Canada it is found. I havea friend that lost two pups to it - they got it at their cottage in the Canadian Shield. It usually affects younger dogs, as they love to dig, and immune compromised dogs, older too. I go camping in the Canadian Shield all the time with my dogs, and am not too worried about it.

 

[elaine2004]

To place your mind at ease.

Why not pick up a cheap rubber mat to place under the water dish therefore eliminating the moist soil.

 

[coopersmom]

Gunner would eat the mat. Seriously.

He's a young male, about one year old. I have stopped trying to find toys for him because he destroys them and eats them. I've jumped the fence several times to retrieve a toy I've given him and keep him from eating them. Two nights ago he was eating a corn cob and I had to rescue him from it. His owners have NEVER given him any toys to play with. Everything he has he either got from me or torn something apart in their yard and made a toy of it. Believe me his "people" shouldn't have stuffed animals, let alone live ones.

 

[BarbV]

It would be tempting to call the SPCA if this dog is not being fed and watered regularly.....

You are wonderful for stepping in and looking after the poor boy.

 

[Smudge]

Smudge has a water bowl inside his fenced in area. I've never heard of this problem before. His outside waterdish sits outside on the concrete. It gets changed daily and all of his bowls (inside and out) get scrubbed once a week with soap and water. Is this ok?