Deanna

Valley Fever and Your Shih Tzu

If you live in Arizona you probably have heard of Valley Fever. Valley Fever is spread through inhalation of a certain type of fungus called coccidioides. The fungus responsible for Valley Fever lives in the soil. Dogs typically come in contact with Valley Fever by digging in the dirt or inhaling fungal spores during dust storms. 

Not every dog that breathes in the fungal spores responsible for Valley Fever will become ill. Just like humans, some dogs are immune from the ill effects of the fungal spores. Now I will tell you a true story to make my point. My teenage son and my husband both went through a dust storm a few years ago. A couple of days later both my husband and my son came down with a fever. We thought it was a virus.

Fortunately, my husband’s fever went away within a day and he had no other symptoms. My teenage son was not so lucky. His fever didn’t go away, he came down with a cough, body aches, headaches, fatigue, etc. His symptoms were not getting any better so we took him to the doctor. The doctor thought it was just a virus as well. 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a virus. The symptoms were sticking around long term. My son was miserable. We went from doctor to doctor without answers. His chest and joints hurt so bad at this point he didn’t want to leave his bed. Finally, I took him to Mayo Clinic Emergency in the hope of answers. The doctor did a chest X-ray. Nodules consistent with a Valley Fever infection were present in his lungs. Blood work came back and he did have Valley Fever. We made an appointment with an Infectious Disease specialist. The specialist said my son would need to take fluconazole, an anti-fungal for about a year to fight off the infection. 

As you can see from my story above, Valley Fever can be serious! Most cases go away on their own but other cases can range from fever to full-blown fungal meningitis. Our dogs are susceptible as well. As a responsible Shih Tzu breeder this is especially concerning to me. Puppies have weak immune systems and may get sick. It is important to know what symptoms to look for in your dog.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Dry cough

• Runny Nose

• Lethargy

• Fever

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss

• Limping

• Seizures

Diagnosis of Valley Fever in your pet is usually done through a blood test. If the Valley Fever blood test comes back positive anti-fungal medication is typically given to kill the fungus that is making your pet sick. Medication may need to be taken for a year or more depending on the severity of the disease. Your veterinarian will monitor the healing process by taking routine blood samples that look for the specific fungus. Once clear of the fungus your dog is usually able to come off of the anti-fungal medication.

There’s currently no vaccine to protect dogs from Valley Fever. Fortunately, most dogs are immune or fight off the infection before we ever even notice something is wrong. There are treatment options available to help with recovery if your dog becomes ill. Just make sure to look out for the symptoms that suggest a coccidioides infection. Remember to seek veterinary care right away if you suspect Valley Fever. Cases that are caught early usually respond quicker to treatment.

The Benefits of Using Prebiotics & Probiotics with Young Puppies

Good gut colonization is essential in young puppies. Prebiotics and probiotics are great at increasing good gut bacteria. Probiotics are of significant importance during puppyhood. Exposing puppies to a variety of foods that are rich in good bacteria helps to create good gut colonization in puppies according to studies. Studies have shown that good gut colonization in puppyhood follows the puppy into adulthood even if foods rich in probiotics aren’t offered anymore!

I recently took a class, “From Newborn to New Home” by the famous dog breeder and professional dog trainer, Jane Messineo Lindquist. Jane is also the author of the popular Puppy Culture videos and the book, “When Pigs Fly: Training Success with Impossible Dogs.” Jane is a powerhouse full of knowledge. She is one of the pioneers when it comes to puppy training, socialization, and proper puppy-raising protocols. After taking her class, I am very passionate about optimal gut health in puppies. All of the Shih Tzu puppies in my breeding program will receive prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods from this day forward.

Puppies should be introduced to prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods while they’re still young and under breeder care. The gut colonization window closes sometime during puppyhood. Nobody knows when the window closes so it is great for breeders to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

I have given prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods with my past litters. After taking this class I am going to offer a lot more foods that enhance the gut microflora. Dogs with good gut colonization have more robust immune systems and better behavioral health according to studies. Why wouldn’t I want to incorporate good gut colonization in the Shih Tzu puppies I raise in my breeding program?

Let me just tell you how grateful I am that I took Jane’s class. Otherwise, I would never have stumbled upon the importance of gut colonization in puppies. This is exactly why I feel it is important to continue my breeder education. I am always learning new things that I can incorporate into my responsible breeding program.

By introducing the puppies to prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods, I’m not only enhancing good gut colonization in the puppies, I’m also introducing them to novelty. Novelty doesn’t have to just be exposing puppies to a new item each day. It can also include exposing the puppies to different food items as well. By introducing different foods puppies get to use their senses to discover. They are introduced to new textures, new flavors, new scents, etc.

Some of the prebiotic and probiotic foods the puppies will taste while under my care include:

• Raw goats milk

• Pureed Pumpkin

• Oatmeal

• Cooked rice

• Potato

• Plain Greek Yogurt

• Kefir

Prebiotics are a type of fiber that helps increase good gut bacteria to prevent harmful bacteria from hijacking the immune system. A weak immune system is prone to illness. Prebiotics are essentially food for the probiotics. Prebiotics supercharge the probiotics which in return leads to better health outcomes.

Prebiotics and probiotics have been shown in studies to decrease the following:

• Odorous breath

• Dry skin

• Loose stools

• Ear infections

• Allergies

• Parasitic infections

• Vomiting

One may ask what they should do if their dog has already reached adulthood and the gut colonization window has closed. In this case, it is still a good idea to offer prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods. Make sure to go slow if it is the first time your dog has been introduced to the food to prevent stomach upset.

The difference is that you will need to offer prebiotic and probiotic-rich food sources or a probiotic supplement daily. To reap similar benefits after puppyhood good bacteria need daily replenishment. Puppies that already have robust gut colonization due to early prebiotic and probiotic implementation may not need to supplement daily to reap the same benefits. 

Please don’t panic if your dog doesn’t receive prebiotics and probiotics as a puppy. Most of my adult dogs didn’t either and they’re very healthy. My goal as a Shih Tzu breeder is to do everything in my power to give the puppies the very best start in life. Good gut colonization is simply another novel way for me to give the puppies a head start.