Pythiosis in Dogs

After swimming in a new lake, my dog started vomiting, developed diarrhea and then stopped eating. She had tests, saw specialists and lost a lot of weight. Finally I was told she had something called “pythiosis”.  What is that?

Pythiosis is the result of being infected by a water mold called Pythium insidiosum. This organism can affect the gastrointestinal tract or the skin. It appears that large breed dogs under six years of age are most commonly affected. This may be because it is these dogs who are most commonly involved in hunting or field trial activities in and around water.

The most common sign of pythiosis is weight loss from gastrointestinal involvement. These dogs can become emaciated (extremely thin). Vomiting and/or diarrhea may also occur. Often, affected dogs do not seem to be very ill until they have been infected for a long time. The skin form of pythiosis is characterized by ulcerating nodules that drain and then refuse to heal. Some affected dogs develop blockages in the gastrointestinal tract.

My dog has been swimming before. How did she get this disease?

Wherever it was that she swam, there must have been infective Pythium spores. High risk areas include swamps, bayous, or ponds, and the most common geographic areas affected are those states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. That said, many other states have seen documented cases of pythiosis in dogs, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, The Carolinas, New Jersey, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, California, and Arizona. Other countries have also reported pythiosis including Australia, Brazil, Burma/Myanmar, Columbia, Thailand, and Japan.

How are dogs with pythiosis treated?

It is important to have all infected tissues in the body removed, whether in the skin or in the digestive tract. If a limb is involved, amputation may be required. Actively infected dogs may require hospitalization with intravenous fluid support and antibiotic therapy. It is important for these dogs to receive high calorie, high digestibility food to counter the weight loss that typically occurs.

Anti-fungal medication is generally given for 3 – 6 months to reduce the risk of recurrence. There is a specific blood test for pythiosis that can be used to monitor the response to treatment. Abdominal ultrasound may be useful to monitor the health of the intestines, and other blood tests may be used to monitor organ system functions (e.g. liver and kidney).

What is the long-term expectation for my dog with pythiosis?

The prognosis for dogs with pythiosis is guarded to poor, and fewer than 10% of dogs are cured with medications alone. The outlook is somewhat brighter if all affected tissues can be removed surgically.