Guest Ritz Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 How long can Valley Fever stay dormant in a greyhound before causing real heath problems? My greyhound raced in Arizona but has live in BC with us for 5, almost 6, years. She has always had minor coughing and lameness due to what we thought was arthritis. In November of 2006 she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. As you know OS tends to take dogs quickly and we opted for pain management only but now 9 months later she has a large tumor in her right leg and is sometimes completely lame but at other times looks fine and runs full speed. She eats well and most of the time is a happy dog. Someone has suggested this could be Valley Fever but is it possible almost 6 years later? Vets up here do not know of Vallet Fever so I am trying to do research before bringing this possibility to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest azlorenz Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 (edited) I would recommend you contact Dr. Lisa Shubitz (lfshubit@u.arizona.edu) at the Valley Fever Center for Excellence in Tucson, Arizona. Here is a link to their website: http://www.vfce.arizona.edu/ I currently have a greyhound battling Valley Fever but holding her own. My greyhound Jeffrey lost his battle with Valley Fever in August 2003. Edited August 14, 2007 by azlorenz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytloves Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 (edited) Hmm...not sure, but I'm bumping this in case anyone else knows. Dr Stack's book states that xrays on a valley fever dog may resemble osteosarcoma and if so, test for cocci titer. Edited August 14, 2007 by greytloves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey14me Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I don't know, but I would not let her run! If she does have osteo that leg can just snap and would be unbelievably painful. Quote Michelle...forever missing her girls, Holly 5/22/99-9/13/10 and Bailey 8/1/93-7/11/05 Religion is the smile on a dog...Edie Brickell Wag more, bark less :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyAcresMom Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I think Dr Stack is the best one to try to get ahold of. I have heard that she is really great about talking to people. You can post on the G-L and she will respond there or maybe answer directly. Good luck! Quote Sheila and COwww.greyacres.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guinness_the_greyt Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 My boy Memphis has been Valley Fever positive since I got him 3 years ago. (who knows how long he was positive before that!!!) His titer stayed 1:4 for 3 years and JUST NOW made him extremely ill. You are right that bone lesions look like osteo on an xray... Testing for Valley Fever is a simple blood test.... Please get it done. If he does in deed have VF and it goes untreated if will move from him lungs - into his bones - then into his central nervous system - then into his brain. It becomes painful but is completely treatable when caught early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ritz Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Thank you all. I will continue my research and we will do some testing. Either way she is sick and we need to keep her happy and comfortable. Which we are doing to the best or our ablity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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