Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with spinal fungal infection and neurologic problems
By Dallman, M J et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1992·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Disseminated aspergillosis in a dog with diskospondylitis and neurologic deficits.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A German shepherd was initially treated for a urinary tract infection but later showed signs of spinal pain and difficulty moving. Tests revealed a fungal infection called aspergillosis, which affected the spine and caused neurological issues. The dog was treated with itraconazole, an antifungal medication, which improved its ability to walk. Unfortunately, the dog passed away four weeks later due to complications related to the infection.
People also search for: dog spinal pain treatment · German shepherd urinary tract infection · aspergillosis in dogs · dog neurological problems treatment
Abstract
A German shepherd dog was treated initially for signs of urinary tract infection; subsequently, signs of spinal pain and neurologic deficits developed. Fungal hyphae were found in the urine sediment, and spinal radiography revealed changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral disks at the levels of T3 to T8, T12 to T13, L3-4, and L5-6, consistent with diskospondylitis. Fungal cultures of urine and specimens from spinal lesions yielded Aspergillus terreus. Itraconazole (5 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 24 h) was used to treat this infection, and locomotion improved. Sudden death occurred 4 weeks after treatment was initiated; this was attributed to exsanguination associated with a weakened renal artery. This dog was raised in Florida and resided in central Virginia. The disseminated aspergillosis found in this dog was not limited to the hot arid climates that some reports suggest are optimal conditions for growth.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1559889/