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My Diary

The Bridge is Beautiful

Oh my! If you could see all the angels here with me, you wouldn't be sad at all!

They are taking such good care of me at The Bridge. They've taught me how to fly with my wings and everyone says I look beautiful with them. I am so happy not be gasping for air and I have my appetite back. I am a Beagle again. I am at peace.

I'm getting my wings.

The fun guy is having a big party in my body. See, the fungal infection is so advanced the only way it may go away is for me to have 6 months worth of IV treatment. This treatment would be incredibly harsh on my sick beagley body.

The new med I got yesterday is to simply stop the fun guy from partying in different parts of my body, but not stop the party that has already started.

Last night was the worst night yet. My tummy bloated and I labored to take every breath. I had mini seizures. I am not going to get better and it's time for my wings at the bridge.

I can't wait to breath again! My barfritis will be gone and my liver won't be Swiss cheese. I will be able to do my two favorite things that ALL my personalities have loved since the day I was born: sniff and eat!

Angels will greet me and show me where the bunnies are. I'm fulfilled and my life was one filled with so much love.

A special note to my Snoop family, I luv you.

~Sybs

Fungus is not fun, but it's better than the "c" word!!

Guess what!! We got the blood test results back today and I have a fungal infection which is causing my short breaths! Althought it's not great news in itself, it's excellent news that I can catch my breath again and feel better!

Our dogter is researching for me to see if this is connected to my liver issues, but one step at time... it looks like we can treat this (hopefully!). Ironically, it seems the Prednisone caused this to surface, and it likely lay quietly in my body for a while. Daddy is picking up new meds right now (grrr... not really want I want... more for my druggie habit) and here's some info my mom found on the web about what I have:

Cryptococcosis is caused by a fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, which is widespread in the environment and can infect dogs, cats, and people. While this fungus is widespread, it infects a relatively small number of animals. It is primarily a problem in animals that have a deficient or suppressed immune system. This fungus is well known in human medicine as the disease that infects up to 20% of AIDS patients. The organism is relatively easy to diagnose and treatment can be performed successfully if instituted early.

Where is it found?

Cryptococcus is widespread throughout all of North America. The fungus has been isolated from several different locations including soil, fruits, and even the skin of healthy people. While it can be found almost anywhere, the primary source of exposure to people and animals is in bird excreta. Even more specifically, it appears to be very closely associated with pigeon feces. The high body temperature of pigeons prevents them from becoming infected, but the fungus can pass through their GI tract and become concentrated in their feces. The high level of creatinine in pigeon feces also creates an environment that is desirable for cryptococcus and if the fungus is protected from drying or sunlight it may live for up to two years.

How do pets or people become infected?

Pets and people contract the Cryptococcus infection primarily by inhaling the fungal particles. After the particles are inhaled they can take up residence in the nasal cavities or lungs. Some studies have shown that in a population of healthy dogs, up to 14% of them had Cryptococcus present in their nasal cavities. In a similar study of healthy cats, up to 7% contained the organism in their nasal passages.

After Cryptococcus reaches the lungs or nasal cavity it can do one of several things. In most healthy animals the fungus remains isolated and never creates any symptoms of problems. In animals with a suppressed immune system, e.g., from excessive steroid use, the disease can progress and create granulomas, pneumonia, or systemic disease and symptoms.

What symptoms are present?

Dogs that become infected with cryptococcus are usually young adult dogs of any breed. The Cocker Spaniel appears to have a slightly higher incidence of the disease than other breeds. Dogs have a different variety of symptoms than cats. In one study, 75% of infected dogs showed abnormal neurological signs, 64% had eye or vision problems, 42% had severe weight loss and loss of appetite, and 20% of the dogs had skin lesions. Fever, nasal discharge, and a cough were present in a small percentage of the dogs.

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis can be successfully achieved by several different methods. One of the fastest and easiest ways to get a diagnosis is to examine the discharge from the nose or skin lesions. Cryptococcus is usually present in high numbers in the discharge and can be identified under the microscope. A blood test is also available to identify the fungus. The latex agglutination test is the most widely used and accurate of the blood tests and can be performed by a veterinarian. Identification of the organism through cultures or biopsies can also be used.

How is it treated?

Dogs are usually treated with oral itraconazole or ketoconazole. As with cats, these treatments can be expensive and must be continued for several months or longer to be effective. Due to the cost, toxicity, and long use required with all oral antifungal agents, the pet owner needs to work closely with the veterinarian to determine which treatment option is going to be best for their pet.

Because of the high incidence of an underlying immunosuppressing disease with cryptococcal infections, a complete work-up of all infected animals should be performed. The underlying condition should be treated to ensure the success of treating the cryptococcal infection.

How can you prevent it?

There are currently no vaccinations available to prevent cryptococcus. Cryptococcus is primarily only contracted from the environment, so the best prevention is to keep pets away from areas that are contaminated with the fungus, especially areas with pigeon feces. Transmission from infected animals to other animals or people is extremely rare and not considered a risk.