PUP CARE, PART ONE
GUEST COLUMN BY REGINA SEARLE | A TWO-PART INSTALLMENT
After several unexpected trips to the vet with the family dog, Entegra Coach owner Regina Searle,
a physicians assistant since 1978, sheds insight on regional bugs that might leave your four-legged
companion feeling under the weather in this two-part guest column.
T
om and I experienced a pet emergency last year on
Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) is an infectious fungal
our way to the Entegra Coach Summerfest. Spock, our
disease. The fungi’s spores are commonly found in dirt, and
10-year-old Alaskan Malamute, became lethargic, short of
when wind or digging disturbs the dirt, the spores are released
breath and stopped eating while we were in Oregon. We
into the air. These spores can settle into the lungs if inhaled.
consulted a local veterinarian and were told he likely had
The symptoms, which occur 5-21 days post-exposure, matched
allergic bronchitis. He was put on prednisone and showed
Spock’s. A blood test and chest X-ray confirmed his diagnosis,
improvement in the first week, so we continued on.
and Spock was given an anti-fungal medication. Having successfully treated the illness, Tom and I were able to make it to
But once off the prednisone, his symptoms worsened, so w