Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is a serious fungal disease endemic to arid regions of the American Southwest, causing significant welfare impacts in infected dogs.
Valley Fever causes welfare compromise ranging from mild respiratory illness to severe disseminated disease affecting multiple organ systems. Dogs with disseminated Valley Fever may develop painful bone lesions causing lameness, eye inflammation causing pain and potential blindness, or neurological signs including seizures and behavioral changes. The condition requires lifelong medication in many cases, with the welfare impact of long-term azole antifungal therapy including potential hepatotoxicity requiring monitoring. Bone dissemination causes chronic pain that significantly affects mobility and quality of life. Living in endemic areas creates ongoing exposure risk that is difficult to eliminate completely. Dogs in endemic regions with unexplained illness should be tested for Valley Fever early to enable prompt treatment.