PYTHIOSIS IN DOGS

I am dedicating this site to my dog, Rusti, whom I lost to Pythiosis in 2006.

Derby placements, Qualified All Age at 2 years old, Open 4th at 3 years, and passed away at 4.

Click here to view Rusti's Movie.

PYTHIOSIS IN DOGS

A simple blood test is available from PavLab to diagnose Pythiosis. PavLab also makes a curative vaccine that is effective in treatment and prevention in equines and now has a new improved canine version which has shown much promise in treating dogs. My hope is that with more research a preventative vaccine can be developed and approved one day soon for use in canines.

My wonderfully talented 4-year-old male Labrador Retriever succumbed to Pythiosis in 2006, and my goal is to create awareness of this emerging tropical disease that is silently killing dogs around the country. Since this is not an infectious disease transmitted from dog to dog, vets are not required to report an outbreak. Canine Pythiosis has risen drastically in the last 3 years. We must ask canine health foundations to put aside more funding for this deadly disease.

AKC Canine Health Foundation

Morris Animal Foundation

AVMA

 

If you know of a dog with Pythiosis, please fill out this quick form to help us identify areas of infection. Your information will be always be kept private, and you will be sent information on the latest news and new treatments for pythiosis.

Click here to notify us of another dog with Pythiosis

Description of Pythiosis
Pythiosis is a devastating and often fatal cause of chronic GI or cutaneous disease in dogs, cats, cattle, equines, captive polar bears and humans. It is caused by Pythium insidiosum, an aquatic pathogen belonging to the class Oomycetes. Oomycetes differ from true fungi. Pythium infections are essentially non responsive to antibiotic or antifungal treatments and surgical resection of lesions saves only 20-25% of infected animals. Many dogs with pythiosis have a history of recurrent exposure to warm freshwater habitats. However, some cases are observed in suburban house dogs with no history of access to lakes or ponds.  The incidence of Pythium infections in dogs is not known, but the number of confirmed cases has risen dramatically in the last 5 years. Cases in the U.S. have gone from less than 10 a year just 5 years ago to more than 100 cases per year. Experts in the field estimate that 200-300 cases of canine pythiosis will be confirmed in 2008, and many more cases will be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. These numbers will steadily increase into the thousands by 2010!!

Symptoms of gastrointestinal Pythiosis
Clinical signs associated with Gl pythiosis include weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or blood in the stool. Physical examination after the disease has progressed reveals a thin body condition and palpable abdominal mass. Signs of systemic illness are not typically present unless intestinal obstruction, infarction, or perforation occurs.

Diagnosis
A simple blood test is available to diagnose Pythiosis. Contact Pavlab at 800-856-9655.

Treatment of Pythiosis
Traditional treatment options for Pythium infected dogs include surgical resection of infected tissues and antifungal medications.  Overall success when using one or more of these treatment options is only +/- 25%.  Recently the USDA has approved an Immunotherapy treatment product.  This product consists of purified proteins derived from Pythium Insidiosum.  These proteins are injected into the infected patient in an effort to elicit an immune response which will kill the invading Pythium.  In horses this treatment is successful in >90% of cases, however, in canine cases the success rate is nearer 50%.  Work continues on a new version of this product which will demonstrate a higher success rate in dogs.

Pythiosis is a disease that was not seen in the U.S. 10 years ago when practicing veterinarians attended vet school. Unless your vet has personally experienced this disease, they will probably NOT RECOGNIZE its symptoms and DO NOT KNOW about the simple blood test to detect its antibodies.

If a dog comes into contact with Pythium Insidiosum, their bodies will show symptoms and their immune systems will attempt to fight the pathogen. If their immune system is intact, they normally can fight the pathogen on their own. If their immune system is compromised, the pathogen will begin to invade their body and develop colonies which will overtake their gastrointestinal system in less than 3 months.

If you have a dog that is showing signs of gastrointestinal issues that are hard to resolve, please test them for antibodies to Pythium immediately.

Contact Pavlab at 800-856-9655 for the blood test to detect antibodies to Pythium and the immunotherapy vaccine for early treatment. Early intervention is CRITICAL with this infection. Once the pathogen has had time to develop colonies, survival is uncommon.

Veterinary Colleges are most likely to only detect this disease in its later stages where survival is rare. Their recommended treatment includes resection and anti-fungals which are expensive and survival rates are low. This disease must be stopped in its EARLIEST STAGES. Immediate diagnosis is CRITICAL!