ABRADOR RETRIEVER Update LA NESTLÉ PURINA PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO LABRADOR RETRIEVER ENTHUSIASTS VOLUME 15 | SPRING 2017 Spring 2017

FC-AFC B Bumble, a 6-year-old male black Labrador Retriever owned by Fred Kampo, was at the pinnacle of success last summer when he was diagnosed with blastomycosis, a fungal infection that can be deadly.

2 PHOTO: DANIELLE R. PELLICI/BLACKFOOT LABRADORS LABRADOR RETRIEVER Update Prompt Treatment for Blastomycosis In Dogs IS KEY TO RECOVERY

“This is a special dog,” says Fred Kampo In Stinger’s case, the disease had of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, referring to the attacked several of his vertebrae, and black Labrador Retriever he calls “Stinger.” because his spinal cord was at risk, all While everyone likes to think his or off-lead activities were immediately cur - her Lab is special, Kampo’s perspective tailed. Crate confinement and walking is broader than most. A member of the on leash became the order of the day for Retriever Field Trial Hall of Fame, inducted the next five months. Recognizing Signs in 2012, Kampo is president of The Labrador Following an initial 10-day period in of Blastomycosis Retriever Club, the American Kennel Club which he received the fungicidal drug parent club of the Labrador Retriever. itraconazole (ITZ) intravenously, Stinger Clinical signs of the fungal infection Last summer, FC-AFC B Bumble was was put on a daily oral dosage of ITZ. It blastomycosis may occur as early as on a serious roll. In June, the 6-year-old had been a frighteningly swift fall from a few weeks after exposure or may take male, who had earned more points over the top of the field trial world, but it could several months to become evident. the course of his career than any retriever have been much worse. Being aware of the signs, particularly if your dog has been in an endemic his age or younger actively competing area, is important in order to start in field trials, churned through 10 gruel - Triggered by a Wet Environment treatment as soon as possible. ing series to become one of 13 finalists Blastomycosis is caused by a fungal • Coughing, labored breathing or from a starting field of 110 at the National mold, Blastomyces dermatitidis , associ - respiratory disease Amateur Retriever Championship in ated with moist, slightly acidic soil and • Fever Stowe, Vermont. A few weeks later in decomposing organic matter, such as • Depression or change in perform - mid-July, Stinger topped a field of 82 in wood and leaves. The mold releases micro - ance and drive a hotly contested open all-age stake at scopic spores into the air, and when these • Limping or lameness the Mississippi Headwaters Retriever spores are inhaled, infection can result. • Skin lesions on the nose, mouth or Club in Bemidji, Minnesota. “When the spores get way down into paw pads, with or without draining Two days after that impressive win – the lungs is when it creates a problem,” • Inflamed eyes two days — this elite canine athlete could says Alfred M. Legendre, DVM, DACVIM, • Enlarged nymph nodes • Swollen and painful joints barely walk. Stinger was diagnosed with an infectious disease specialist at the • Multiple skin lesions with or without blastomycosis, a fungal infection that University of Tennessee College of draining tracts can occur systemically or locally, laying Veterinary Medicine. even the most robustly healthy dog low The warm, moist environment of a dog’s and sometimes with devastating, even lungs triggers a transformation of the deadly, consequences. spores into a yeast that can spread via “The lameness was his first symptom,” the bloodstream or the lymphatic system says Kampo, who’s handled Stinger to the to other parts of the body. Although rare, majority of his field trial wins. “There’d blastomycosis also can occur when spores been no coughing or respiratory difficulty are introduced to an open wound. of any kind, which I’m told is typically “Blastomyces is a pretty big organism the first sign a dog may have ‘blasto.’” in yeast form,” explains Dr. Legendre. 3 Spring 2017

“The yeast is too big to get down deep such as Labradors and other hunting into the lungs to cause disease.” dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors The condition is not contagious. “It are more susceptible to blastomycosis doesn’t spread dog to dog, or dog to per - than those that are largely indoor dogs. son,” Dr. Legendre says. “When dogs Statistically, males are slightly more and their owners have simultaneously likely to develop blasto than females, developed blasto, it is because they were with peak susceptibility to the disease exposed to the spores at the same time.” occurring at 2 years of age. Although Dogs and humans are the most com - there’s some indication that dogs may be monly infected species, with dogs 10 times able to recover spontaneously without more likely to develop the disease than treatment from mild cases of the affliction, humans. Geographically, blastomycosis this has not been established as a fact, is most prevalent in the valleys of the says Dr. Legendre. Mississippi, Ohio and St. Lawrence rivers, the Great Lakes states and certain parts Early Diagnosis & Treatment Are Key of Canada. According to the Centers for A dog exhibiting clinical signs of Disease Control and blastomycosis requires immediate vet - Prevention, Wisconsin erinary attention. A confirmed diagnosis has the highest reported should be treated promptly and aggres - incidence of blastomycosis sively to increase the likelihood of a full for humans, with rates in recovery. There’s no “wait and see” with some northern counties blasto because no matter how mild the 10 to 20 times above the signs may be, the disease has life-threat - national average. ening potential and thus should be In the case of a dog like taken seriously. Stinger, who’s traveled all The first thing most owners notice in over the country to com - dogs infected with blasto is that they pete in field trials, it’s hard begin breathing “hard,” as if they’re to know precisely where having difficulty getting air into their or when he contracted the lungs. This labored respiration is typi - infection, especially since cally accompanied by dry, raspy chest signs of the disease may sounds and sometimes by intermittent not occur for weeks or coughing. Many owners also notice a months. Coincidentally, Kampo has a decline in their dog’s energy and stam - Areas endemic to blastomycosis (shown in yellow) are the valleys of the Mississippi, cottage in northern Wisconsin to which ina levels. Ohio and St. Lawrence rivers, the Great he often takes Stinger. Other clinical signs of blastomycosis Lakes states and certain parts of Canada. Exposure to areas that have been recently include limping or lameness; “oozy” Source: Alfred M. Legendre, DVM, DACVIM, excavated has been shown to increase the skin lesions on the nose, mouth or paw University of Tennessee risk of blasto in humans, presumably pads, though other areas can be affected because it liberates large quantities of as well; inflamed eyes; and enlarged spores into the air, but the real risk of lymph nodes. The challenge for veteri - blastomycosis is proximity to water or narians to diagnose the disease is that moisture. Multiple studies have shown other conditions can produce similar that dogs living within 400 meters of signs. In areas where there is not a lot water are vastly more likely to develop of blasto, the disease may not be on a blastomycosis than other dogs. Indeed, veterinarian’s radar. there’s some evidence to suggest that the “People who travel to hunt or compete shores of beaver ponds tend to be blasto with their Labrador and recognize any of “hotspots,” or what epidemiologists call these signs should tell their veterinarian “enzootic areas.” where they’ve been,” Dr. Legendre advises. Regardless, the Blastomyces organism “If you live in Kansas but you’ve hunted flourishes only under certain environmental in Wisconsin, your veterinarian needs conditions. This helps explain why dogs to know.” 4 LABRADOR RETRIEVER Update

Diagnosis of blastomycosis is made from blood testing combined with a biopsy to identify the organism. A more recently developed urine antigen test has been successful in detecting extremely low levels of an infection. Once a definitive diagnosis of blastomycosis has been made, treatment with anti-fungal drugs should start immediately. The standard fungicide used to treat blasto is itraconazole, though fluconazole can be used as well. The disadvantage of ITZ is that it ranges from $8 to $12 per tablet, with a Labrador-sized dog typically requiring two or three doses a day for at least 90 days. Fluconazole is less expensive but not as effective, requir - ing a longer period of administration to achieve the same result. If treated promptly after an infection significantly. Some dogs may have occurs, about 70 to 75 percent of dogs decreased lung capacity as the result recover. About 20 to 25 percent of dogs of scarring, however.” “Most dogs do quite well with experience a relapse, typically within six Because blastomycosis is caused by months of the completion of antifungal an organism that occurs naturally in the treatment. They can be expected therapy. Thus, periodic evaluations are environment, it is virtually impossible recommended after an infection to be sure to eliminate the risk of infection. Early to make a full recovery and the condition has resolved. diagnosis and treatment are key to success. “The actual percentage of relapse “You should keep an eye on your dog return to doing all the things could be lower,” says Dr. Legendre. “This and be aware of the signs of blastomy - is because the urine antigen test is capable cosis,” Dr. Legendre says. “If you notice they did prior to the onset of detecting much lower levels of infection anything that strikes you as suspicious, than was previously possible. Instead of be sure to take your dog to the veterinarian.” of symptoms. stopping treatment when a dog is symp - Back in Stinger’s camp, the mood is Alfred M. Legendre, DVM, DACVIM, tom-free, veterinarians now are able to upbeat. Last December, he was cleared infectious disease specialist, University of continue treatment until the patient is for limited off-lead activities. “Stinger is Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine truly infection-free. Most dogs do quite looking awfully perky these days,” well with treatment. They can be expected Kampo says. to make a full recovery and return to The retreiver’s prominent field trial doing all the things they did prior to the record makes him a valuable stud dog, onset of symptoms.” and after a temporary hiatus due to con - The exceptions, he notes, are dogs in cerns about his spinal health, he’s back which blastomycosis has spread to the brain to having his semen collected and banked — they usually succumb to the disease, on a regular basis. He’s scheduled for a unfortunately — and dogs with severe lung CT scan to evaluate his spinal condition. involvement. In these cases, the fungicide “Stinger’s veterinarians believe he can trigger an inflammatory response when can compete again, and I hope they are the blasto yeast die off, making the initial correct,” Kampo says. I days of treatment a critical period. “Most dogs with a severe lung infection Purina appreciates the support of the from blasto die within the first seven days Labrador Retriever Club Inc. and particularly Fran Smith, DVM, PhD, DACT, the LRC of treatment,” Dr. Legendre says. “If they’re health chair, in helping to identify topics able to survive long enough to get past the for the Purina Pro Plan Labrador Retriever Update newsletter. pneumonia, their prognosis improves 5 Purina Parent Club Partnership Program Advances Canine Health Research n 2016, 198 national parent clubs participated in the Purina Parent Club Partnership (PPCP) Program, raising more than $438,406. Half of the amount Iraised, $219,203, went to the parent clubs’ Donor Advised Fund at the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, and an equal amount went to the parent clubs for education, research and rescue efforts. Since it began in 2002, the PPCP Program has raised more than $6.5 million, half of which supports canine health research funded by the Foundation. Members of Purina Pro Club who have designated a breed of dog and submitted weight circles from quali - fying Purina brand dog foods have contributed to the program.

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Ann Viklund of Purina, center, presents the 2016 PPCP donation to Dr. Diane Brown, CEO, and Dr. Charles Garvin, chair, of the AKC Canine Health Foundation. An equal amount was distributed directly to the participating parent clubs.

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