Recurrence of Canine Valley Fever

I have moved away from his primary vet, and the vet I took him to said he knew about Valley Fever and took some X-rays. Afterward, this same vet admitted to me that he didn't know anything about Valley Fever, and he wants me to put my dog through a surgery.

How do I find a vet that will listen to me about my dog's health history? I think he needs to be put back on his medication, and the vets around here think I am crazy. I gave the new vet the number of my dog's prior vet, but he will not call to verify the Valley Fever.

~~ Kathy

Expert Reply

Hi Kathy,

This is a perfect example of why it's so hard to find a really good vet you can build a trusting relationship with. I cannot say for sure that your dog's case of Canine Valley Fever has recurred or if the initial infection caused deterioration of the joint that now requires a surgical repair. However, I am greatly concerned that this new vet refuses to listen to your concerns and make a simple phone call to your former vet.

You're free to start over with yet another vet, or you can make one last attempt to get some cooperation from your current vet before you spend more money on a diagnosis, considering the work that has already been done.

• First, if your current vet truly has never heard of Canine Valley Fever, ask him to visit our site to read about it. This will give him enough basic knowledge to delve into the topic in greater depth.
• Second, insist that he makes the call to your former vet or that you will take your business elsewhere. This is the very least he can do to assure that he is exhausting all the options before jumping into a surgery.
• Third, he should test your dog's blood for levels of the CVF antibodies.
• Finally, there is a possibility that your dog now requires surgical intervention to heal his leg, so keep an open mind about it. I don't blame you for being cautious, just realize surgery may be necessary in the end.

Thank you for your question, and please let us know what happens next.

~~ Kelly