taste bud in his head. He might not eat everything he sees, but he has no aversion to licking it or having a little taste—no matter how rotten or smelly something might be. I shouldn’t have been surprised when he quit eating and seemed to have trouble breathing—no telling what he’d gotten in to. I finally took him in to my veterinarian, Dr. Ian McKenna. Dr. McKenna is a great vet. However, I suspect he’s never seen a food he didn’t try and many of them are still lingering on his favorite lime green and yellow paisley tie. If anyone could understand Liberace, it would be Dr. McKenna. By the time we arrived at the veterinary office, Liberace was running a fever and seemed to have trouble holding himself up. I was close to panic mode. Liberace had been my cat since I studied piano at the music conservatory when he parked himself on my baby grand—undaunted by the vibrations or the terrible noise. I considered him my first fan and hoped Dr. McKenna was wearing his lucky lime tie today. Dr. McKenna listened to Liberace breathe and ordered a lung x-ray. “Does he spend much time outside?” The vet asked from behind his lucky tie. “Well, ever since we had all the rain, I can’t keep him away from that nasty wash behind my house. He goes back there and chases bugs, birds and stuff, I guess.” “His lymph nodes are swollen. I’m going to run some blood tests, also. He definitely has an infection. I’m just not sure what kind it is. He might just need some antibiotics, but let me see what we find.” Now, the part I hated—the wait. Waiting to see if Liberace might have cancer, a bacterial infection or if he just ate an old piece of salami, he found on the street. A while later, Dr. McKenna came back in and said they were going to do a tracheal wash and look at some cells. I knew that under normal circumstances, Liberace wouldn’t let anyone near his trachea, but now I didn’t know what to think. I was afraid he was too sick to care. Finally, Dr. McKenna came back in and said he thought Liberace had a fungal infection called Blastomycosis. “It’s unusual for a cat to have this type of infection especially without lesions.” Dr. McKenna explained. We’re going to have to keep a close eye on him. This particular fungus can be deadly.” Then he gave me a pamphlet and left me alone, wondering if Liberace would make it or not. The pamphlet said Blastomycosis is a fungus found predominately in our area around the Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi river valleys, but cases all over the world have been documented. Many incidents of the disease are traced back to moist areas of bird droppings and bat guano. Normally, it doesn’t make animals ill unless their immune system is already compromised. Liberace was getting older. I thought his age might be a factor. Fever, depression, weight loss, and weight loss are common symptoms. Respiratory distress, blindness, lameness, testicular inflammation, seizures, coughing, enlarged lymph nodes, and a variety of other symptoms have been reported. Some animals do not survive. Now, I was really depressed. Occasionally, even humans inhale the Blastomycosis fungus, which commonly lives under moist places in rotting, decomposing plant material. In humans it is known as Gilchrist’s disease, Gilchrist’s mycosis, Blastomyces dermatitis, and Chicago disease. The next fungus in the brochure was Aspergillosis. It’s a dog fungal infection that is mostly seen in species with long noses and even though the fungus primarily affects the snout, lesions can appear in different organs including the eye. German Shepherds make up about 90% of all cases of Aspergillosis and the only definitive way to diagnose it is with a veterinary biopsy. The most effective medication for this type of infection has to be irrigated into the animal’s nose. I was glad Liberace wasn’t a German Shepherd. A yeast-like fungus called Cryptococcosis is also found in moist areas among bird droppings. It can infect dogs and humans, but is more common in cats. It too is an opportunistic fungus contracted by inhaling fungal spores and affects the upper respiratory system, nervous system and the eyes especially in humans and pets with a compromised immune system. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, breathing difficulties, nasal discharge and drainage, swelling of the eye, trouble walking, and circling as well as problems controlling movements. Cryptococcosis can be quite severe, infecting the nervous system and eyes. Younger dogs are more prone to this fungal infection. It spreads rapidly and if it has gone up to a higher stage then recovery is unlikely despite treatment. I hoped Liberace didn’t have this disease. Now, a fungus I was familiar with. I’d had a personal experience with it as a child. Dermatophytosis or ringworm is a fungal infection that usually attacks the skin of pets, domesticated livestock and humans. I had a scar on my arm to prove it. These fungi thrive on skin that is warm and moist, but may also survive directly on pet hair. It’s been estimated that currently up to twenty-percent of the population may be infected by ringworm. It’s especially common among people who play sports and it is fairly easy to treat with topical medications. There are even homeopathic shampoos to keep it under control. I found out there was another uncommon fungus, called Pythiosis that is also regional in nature. Pythiosis is common in large breed dogs and horses, but is also found in cats, cattle, and humans. Pythium occupy swamps in late summer and infect dogs that drink water containing it. Pythiosis is commonly found in the Gulf States of North America, especially Louisiana, but has also been found in Midwest and eastern states. It’s also found in Southeast Asia, eastern Australia, New Zealand, and South America. In horses there is a subcutaneous strain known as Leeches, Swamp Cancer, and Bursatti. Pythiosis enters the organism by way of wounds, either in the skin or in the gastrointestinal tract and forms nodules. Surgical excision is usually required for this nasty infection and prognosis is usually considered poor. Another scary fungus I had never heard of was Zygomycosis. Infections are rare, but often fatal. This fungus also lives in the soil and among decaying plants. Dogs with healthy immune systems usually kill off any fungi that enter the system before they’re given a chance to cause an infection, making this skin condition relatively rare. Common symptoms include vomiting, jaundice and pneumonia as well as skin lesions that drain and may become irritated. These same lesions may also appear in the lungs, on the liver, in the gastrointestinal tract or the lymph nodes. Cats and humans have been known to contract these infections.
Natural and holistic treatments have proven to be extremely beneficial in strengthening the immune system, combating infection and improving overall health and wellbeing of pets. Herbal and homeopathic remedies are safe, effective and gentle to use on your cat or dog’s body without any negative side effects. Herbs such as Taraxacum officinalis (Dandelion), Echinacea purpurea, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Sylibum marianus (Milk Thistle) cleanses and purifies the system, supports immune functioning, and maintains liver health. In addition, herbal and aromatherapy ingredients such as Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Calendula officinalis (Marigold) and Hamamelis virginianum (Witchhazel) supports normal levels of dermal fungal and promotes a healthy skin.
and all around pet lover Sheli Ellsworth Helpful Supplements for Pet Fungal Infections
Continue Ring-Ex - Helps keep levels of dermal fungus in the normal range to maintain skin health Continue |
| Four of Your Pet’s Immunosupportive Natural Holistic Treatment Options: * Taraxacum officinalis (Dandelion) * Echinacea purpurea * Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) * Sylibum marianus (Milk Thistle) |
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