Histoplasmosis can be treated and dogs with lung infection often have a good prognosis with therapy, especially if treatment is started shortly after clinical signs appear. However, long-term treatment (often requiring six or more months) is required and can be expensive.
Can dogs survive histoplasmosis?
When relapse occurs, long term treatment with an antifungal medication is again required. Unfortunately, even when treated appropriately, only about 70 percent of dogs and cats survive to six months after diagnosis — even otherwise healthy and young to middle-aged ones.
What is the treatment for histoplasmosis in dogs?
Treatment: Itraconazole (10 mg/kg/day) is the treatment of choice for disseminated histoplasmosis in dogs and cats, although fluconazole is probably also effective. Ketoconazole, 10–15 mg/kg, bid for 4–6 mo, may be effective in early or mild cases of histoplasmosis in dogs.
What is the survival rate of histoplasmosis?
One study of patients who were hospitalized for histoplasmosis in the U.S. estimated the crude mortality rate to be approximately 5% for children and 8% for adults. Another study found a six-month mortality rate of 4% among patients with symptomatic histoplasmosis.
How rare is histoplasmosis in dogs?
However, histoplasmosis is uncommon to rare in all but dogs and cats. The fungus thrives in warm moist environments and is commonly found in soil that contains bird or bat feces.
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