Valley Fever is a chronic disease and usually requires months to years of treatment.  In addition periodic blood tests and radiographs are necessary to monitor response to treatment.  Depending on the severity of the disease, blood tests and radiographs are repeated every four to six months.  The clinical signs of Valley Fever disappear long before the fungus which causes the disease leaves the body.  If treatment is discontinued too soon, relapse does occur.  Treatment should only be discontinued on the advice of the veterinarian based upon negative blood titers.

Treatment:

Several drugs and combinations of drugs are used to treat Valley Fever depending upon severity of disease and size of the patient.  All of the drugs used to treat Valley Fever are expensive and are available from several sources.

ยง                           Nizoral (ketoconazole) is the most common drug used to treat Valley Fever.  Nizoral is always given twice per day, approximately twelve hours apart.  The   most common side effect related to Nizoral is decreased appetite and upset   stomach.  If these signs occur contact the veterinarian.

ยง                           Sporinox (itraconazole) comes in a 100 mg capsule.  It is used in certain   sized dogs and in more severe infections.  Because it does not cause   decreased appetite and stomach upset, it is used in dogs which do not tolerate   Nizoral. Sporinox is either given once or twice per day.

ยง                           Diflucan (fluconazole) is the most expensive (and most effective) drug used to   treat Valley Fever.  Due to cost, its use is reserved for the most severe   infections,  for very small dogs and all cats infected with Valley Fever. Diflucan  is given either two or three times per day.

ยง                           Program (lufenuron) is a drug used to prevent Flea infestation.  It is being tested as a Valley Fever treatment.  Since it is a very safe drug and may   improve treatment results, we often recommend that dogs take Program once per week in addition to one of the above drugs.

Monitoring:

1)            Valley Fever Blood tests are used to chart progression of the disease.  Levels of antibody (specific proteins which fight infection) are measured.  In general, increasing titers are bad and decreasing titers are good.  The Valley Fever titer is used to determine when and if it is safe to discontinue therapy.

2)            Blood levels of the drugs used to treat Valley Fever are necessary if response to treatment are not satisfactory.

3)                  Radiographs allow us to monitor the progress of specific Valley Fever lesions in the lungs or bones.