Do Dogs Get Valley Fever?
Yes, dogs get Valley Fever! Like people, dogs are very susceptible to Valley Fever. Dogs primarily contract Valley Fever in the low desert regions of Arizona, New Mexico and southwestern Texas and the central deserts of California. Dogs accompanying people traveling through these areas or wintering in these warm climates have about the same chance as their owners of being infected. Dogs comprise the majority of Valley Fever cases in animals. However, other animals can get the disease as well. Cats, llamas, non-human primates, horses, zoo animals, and even wild animals have been reported with Valley Fever. For more information on Valley Fever in other species, go to Valley Fever in Other Animal Species. Valley Fever is caused by a fungus that lives in the desert soil in the areas described above. As part of its life cycle, the fungus grows in the soil (saprophytic cycle) and matures, drying into fragile strands of cells. The strands are very delicate, and when the soil is disturbed – by
