23/11/2023
Dog Friends
Awareness
This is not to spread doom and gloom. Only to make awareness.
If your dog loves to swim, play in water (as all of.mine are raised to do), be cautious of ponds and such where it is stagnant. This is especially along the Gulf Coast. Various fugi live in our soil that can make animals deathly ill.
One such is pythoisis.
Pythiosis is an infectious disease caused by a fungus-like organism, Pythiuminsidiosum, that naturally inhabits wetlands, ponds, and swamps. In dogs, the disease usually is manifested by gastroenteritis or dermatitis. Presumably dogs become infected by ingesting, or swimming in contaminated water.
Pythiosis is typically acquired by swimming in an area with Pythium zoospores. High risk areas include swamps, bayous, or ponds, and the most common states affected are those bordering the Gulf of Mexico. That said, many other states have seen documented cases of pythiosis in dogs, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, California, and Arizona. Other countries have also reported pythiosis, including Australia, Brazil, Burma/Myanmar, Columbia, Thailand, and Japan.
The most common sign of pythiosis is weight loss from gastrointestinal involvement. These dogs can become emaciated (extremely thin). Vomiting and/or diarrhea may also occur. Often, affected dogs do not seem to be very ill until they have been infected for a long time. The skin form of pythiosis is characterized by ulcerating nodules that drain and then refuse to heal. Some affected dogs develop blockages in the gastrointestinal tract.
Bottom line, don't just let an illness go. If normal treatments don't resolve, go to the vet. Your furry friend rely on you for everything.