Luken’s Blastomycosis Treatment Fundraiser

Our friends, Pat and Angi, really need your help in saving their sweet yellow Labrador Retriever, Luken! Approximately three weeks ago, Luken started to exhibit symptoms very similar to the mystery respiratory illness that is plaguing many dogs across the country. Upon several tests/x-rays/examinations and visits to several specialists and animal emergency clinics - sometimes up to two hours away - Luken has been diagnosed with Blastomycosis, sometimes called “Blasto”. This is a systemic disease (a disease that can affect the entire body) caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. The fungus is found in soil, where moisture and decomposing matter—such as leaves, feces, and other organic material—are commonly found. The fungus starts as mold in the environment and creates spores—tiny reproductive cells that can spread into the air. Spores release in the air whenever the soil they live in is disturbed. Spores can then be inhaled into a dog’s airways or embedded in the skin, where it can develop into blastomycosis. The warmth of the host’s body allows the spores to transform into a budding yeast. The yeast colonizes the lungs or skin, and from there can spread to the bloodstream and infect other organs. The organs most likely to be affected are:

• Lungs/respiratory system

• Skin and subcutaneous tissue

• Eyes

• Bones

• Lymph nodes 

• Brain

• Testes

Less common targets are the prostate, liver, mammary glands, and heart. As the disease progresses, the yeast colonizes and infects additional organs. Once three or more organs are involved, the dog’s prognosis is typically poor. If the disease is caught early and symptoms are mild, most dogs respond well to treatment.

Luken’s care has developed into a very large expense that, to date, is already at $8,000, largely due to his ICU visits to stabilize him after some scary declines. He faces much more hefty costs as Luken will need several months of continued expensive Blasto meds, tests and vet visits. “He will get worse before he gets better” is how the vet puts it. It will be a scary road ahead for his family and he has a couple weeks before a prognosis can even be determined. There is also the very real possibility of IVs to keep him hydrated should be not eat and drink enough. Currently, his appetite is touch and go as he is nauseous from the medications and feeling lethargic or in pain at times during the day and night. His family is not sleeping well as they need to keep an eye on his breathing and fluid intake and output.

Those of us who bring a dog into our family know that they quickly become as important to us as all other family members. They become our child/brother/sister and best friend. Luken has a very loving Mom (Angi) and Dad (Pat) and an older brother, another yellow lab, named Drifter. These two precious pups bring so much joy to their humans and each other. They love to run, hunt, play and snuggle together but this disease is threatening the future well-being and life of Luken, who is a very beautiful member of this wonderful family.

No donation is too small and every single one is appreciated more than you can imagine to help Luken live the life he is meant to live. Please, oh please, help in any way you can! There’s no better way to honor the giving season than to save the life of someone loved by so many. Thank you so very much for all of your support!