This page is dedicated to the stories that are coming in from different states with their pythiosis stories.  Morgan has been able to help others in getting them the info they need for treatment.  I am going to include the stories and withhold the names and email addresses for privacy for the people writing me or calling me unless it is requested from them that I add the names and addresses.  My heart goes out to each and everyone who incounters this dreadful disease, but hopefully we can educate more people about it and it can be caught earlier for better treatment.   I am hoping for the day that a vaccine is on the market and you can rest assured that when that day comes all of my babies will be lined up to receive it.

The first call I got was almost a year ago from a very nice lady in Florida whose dog was diagnosised with pythiosis.  While researching pythiosis on the web page she found our site and was able to get the treatment for her dog.  He had had surgery and was then receiving the medication.  He was responding when we talked, but I haven't heard from her since, so I hope with all my heart and soul that they are all doing better. 

I later received a call from a gentleman in Texas with basically the same story and once again I hope that all is well. 

 November 9, 2005

Hi Becky,

I came across your website while researching pythiosis.  First, let me tell you how sorry I am for your loss of Morgan.  It's never esy to say goodbye to our dear friends, no matter what the cause.  My name is: (deleted) of Arizona.  Today, one of our rescues was diagnosed with pythiosis.  I don't have a lot of history on this dog, Arlo, but can tell you that he was rescued from within this state.  Laveen, I think.  He is under two years of age and is quite possible the sweetest Golden I have ever come across in the seven years I've been doing this.  He came into rescue about 3 months ago when I transported him to his foster.  A few weeks into his stay they noticed he was throwing up and losing weight at an alarming rate.  After many tests and finally an ultrasound, a mass was detected.  Of course initially it was thought to be lymphoma, but the biopsy was sent to LSU where it was finally diagnosed as pythiosis.  I haven't talked to the vet who performed the surgery or the vet who received the diagnosis, so I only what little information I've found online.  (your information has been very informative - I'm grateful!)  I was hoping you could fill in the gaps for me.  I'm curious about the vaccine you tried.  Can you tell me how much this cost you and what avenues you had to go down in order to obtain it?  Currently, Arlo is still under the protective umbrella of rescue.  I don't know to what end our organization will go to fight this disease.  However, I have become quite smitten with him so I would like to look at all options available, however few there may be.  By the way, everything you explained on your website was Arlo.  When he come to me he'd already gone throught the surgery to remove the mass.  He was thin beyond belief and his coat was coarse and dull.  He now has energy for walks and does play with my female golden.  Hes appetite is very good.  One other thing, he did test positive for Valley Fever (when it rains, it pours).  It's a low titer, but because of it he is on fluconazole.  Any info you can share is greatly appreciated.  Again, I'm sorry for your loss, but your information is helping others.  Thank you.  "The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andy Rooney

November 13th

I am trying a relatively new treatment - it might be the same thing you tried with Morgan.  It's Pythium Immunotherapy and is given in three doses.  My vet has to order it and then she will administer it.  It's overall effectivness is around 50% and that is if you catch it early and usually helps if surgery has been performed to remove the mass.  Arlo has had surgery, so that's a plus.  We'll start the therapy as soon as the product arrives.  I know it's a long shot, but it's worth it.  I must thank you , however because your info was very helpful and one of your links led me to a professor in Michigan who directed toward Pan Am Vet Labs and this treatment.  Thank you for your vet's name - my vet is wonderful but seems very skeptical about the treatment.  Maybe I'm reading her wrong, I don't know.  However, I'm in total agreement that we spread the word about this horrendus disease.  I wonder how many dogs have died from it but it went undiagnosed or they simply died and the cause was attributed to something else? 

January 2, 2006

Gary from Georgia writes:

Thanks so much for your web site.  I found it while researching the fungus found by the UGA vet school in my three year old lab, Molly.  Molly was unique in that she had most of her right lung removed when the fungus was found there.  She survived the surgery and we kept her on expensive drugs but to no avail.  I took her back to the Vet school three months later to put her to sleep in hopes that they might learn something from her death. 

What a cruel and devastiting disease. 

Thanks again for your site.  Its been several months and I can't bring myself to even think about another dog. 

January 2, 2006

Gary continues with:

The resident at UGA could not find a documented case where it had reached the lung.  He was in contact with Dr. Grooters who helped with the final diagnosis.  Molly had a large lump removed from under her skin when she as 1 and a half years old by my childhood friend who is our vet.  It was diagnosed by the lab as a fungus but he felt good about it.  In hind site we shold have started a drug therapy. 

Molly began to cough and a slight gag and we finally had an x-ray done and sent to UGA.  They were unclear as to what it was so they went in and found the disease.

Molly was a water dog who loved to swin in our ponds on the golf course.  That's the only wet environment we can think of where she might have contracted the disease.