Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Its symptoms vary greatly, but the disease primarily affect the lungs. Occasionally, other organs are affected. This form of the disease is called disseminated histoplasmosis, and it can be fatal if untreated.
Once the histplasmosis fungus enters the dog’s respiratory tract or stomach, the fungus moves into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. The most common symptoms of histoplasmosis that pet owners may notice in their dogs include: increasing weight loss, a chronic cough, problems breathing, depression, lameness, and diarrhea which won’t go away.
In cases where the fungus has spread throughout the dog's body, also known as disseminated histoplasmosis, the standard treatment is the antifungal medication itraconazole. The medication is given orally twice a day, often for many months. In mild cases of histoplasmosis, the anti-fungal medication ketoconazole is normally prescribed. This medication is given orally twice a day for 4-6 months.