Tonka tested positive for Valley Fever.

[Nat Ursula]

Tonka had full blood work done plus the Valley Fever titer. She had to have a full work up because they need to make sure the antifungal drugs are not damaging her organs, etc. the Vet called me and told me her thyroid number is low. They are doing a full panel now. Her skin is so flared right now. The Vet thinks this might really help her if she needs thyroid medication.

 

[Madeleinemom]

Keeping paws crossed for Tonka, poor baby!

 

[Nat Ursula]

Keeping paws crossed for Tonka, poor baby!

Thank you.

 

[Cofla]

Sending good vibes and kisses for Tonka

Eddy

 

[Nat Ursula]

Sending good vibes and kisses for Tonka

Eddy

Thank you, Eddy.

 

[steve07]

Wish u guys the best. Good thing Tonka is a fighter!!!!! Nothing stops her

 

[Nat Ursula]

Wish u guys the best. Good thing Tonka is a fighter!!!!! Nothing stops her

Thanks, yes, but lately I've been concerned. She seems like she is making an effort on her walks. She was never like that before.

 

[TWadeJ]

When do you get the full results? Hoping for good news!

 

[Nat Ursula]

When do you get the full results? Hoping for good news!

Hi, she said it would take a few more days. This is the Animal Welfare League Vet. I'm very impressed with their concern for the dogs. She has only been practicing for 7-8 yrs. almost all my Vets in the past had at least 20-25 yrs. experience. But she and her staff have been so professional and caring towards both dogs. They help me bring them out to the car and stuff...super nice.

 

[TWadeJ]

Sometimes younger vets are more up to speed in the best current veterinarian practices and nutrition. IMO.

 

[Madeleinemom]

I know that you are smart about it - but do you only take her for walks at the coolest posisble time? AZ is a great place, but so hot this time of the year, unless you want to traipse around at 2:00 am and dodge some of those Javelina things (or whatever they are called) :openedeyewink:

 

[Nat Ursula]

Hi, she said it would take a few more days. This is the Animal Welfare League Vet. I'm very impressed with their concern for the dogs. She has only been practicing for 7-8 yrs. almost all my Vets in the past had at least 20-25 yrs. experience. But she and her staff have been so professional and caring towards both dogs. They help me bring them out to the car and stuff...super nice.

The Vet called a few weeks ago and said that the Valley Fever titer went down again to 1:2. She also said the full thyroid panel did not show hypothyroid. I don't know what to think? Why did the regular bloodwork show low thyroid. Any suggestions?

 

[rip]

So srry to hear this......speedy recovery to tonka

 

[Nat Ursula]

So srry to hear this......speedy recovery to tonka

Thank you. She has been on the medication for a year now. I'm just not sure about the thyroid being low?

 

[BCdogs]

Sometimes regular blood screenings don't do an in-depth T4 (thyroid test) and may show abnormal thyroid values that when further tested are actually within normal range. This happens fairly frequently.

http://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?id=3846168&pid=11147

 

[Nat Ursula]

Sometimes regular blood screenings don't do an in-depth T4 (thyroid test) and may show abnormal thyroid values that when further tested are actually within normal range. This happens fairly frequently.

http://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?id=3846168&pid=11147

Okay, well then hopefully she is not doing terribly then.

 

[Nat Ursula]

I want to start reducing this medication but they keep telling me not to do it.

 

[rip]

Sorry you're going thru this. I am so scared of my dogs getting valley fever

 

[Nat Ursula]

Sorry you're going thru this. I am so scared of my dogs getting valley fever

Thanks, it is hard to deal with because once the spores are in the dog or person they are there forever. It is hard to know if she would be fine with a low titer number. They want her at zero for two blood tests (at least 6 more months) I don't know if I agree with that. She has had 1:2 and 1:4 every three months. That is really low. They told me that when she had 1:16 they often don't even medicate for those numbers unless they are symptomatic. She was feeling very lousy. She seems like she is feeling much better.

I took the same dose of the same medication for six months and it makes you feel very shitty. That makes it harder for me to see her on it so long.

 

[Nat Ursula]

Hi Everyone,

Tonga's valley fever titer has been pretty low 1:2 for quite a while. They want her to stay on the fluconazole, 200mg 2X daily, until she gets to a negative test twice. That means that she could be on this for the rest of her life. We are thinking about stopping the medication and checking her titer in 6 months. There is a risk if she becomes symptomatic we could lose her. On the other hand she might feel much better being off the medication.

She still takes 2.5 mg prednisone every other day for her environmental allergies.

What do you think?