This information I culled from googling. I am not a vet.
Aspergillus fungal infection and nasal neoplasia are the 2 most common diagnoses in dogs referred with signs of chronic rhino-sinusitis. Dolichocephalic and mesocephalic large breeds dogs are most commonly affected. Sinonasal tumors are diagnosed in 33% of middle- to old-aged dogs, while aspergillosis is diagnosed in 12% to 34% of young to middle-aged dogs. Several systemic and topical antimycotic agents have been evaluated for treatment of canine sinonasal aspergillosis. Different techniques for the administration of clotrimazole solution or enilconazole emulsion have been successfully used for the treatment of sinonasal aspergillosis .
"Diagnosis of nasal aspergillosis and nasal tumor should be based on history and physical examination, imaging, endoscopy, and histopathological examination.
Most frequent clinical signs in dogs affected by sinonasal aspergillosis and sinonasal tumor are nasal discharge, epistaxis, reverse sneezing, and sneezing. However, profuse purulent-hemorrhagic discharge, nasal planum alterations such as discoloration of the nostrils, crusts, erosion, ulcers and hyperkeratosis, and nasal pain are considered landmarks of nasal aspergillosis. Conversely, these clinical signs in the presence of decreased air passage through the nostril and snoring but absence of nasal planum alteration are more suggestive of nasal tumor.
When the Clotrimazole is given through the nares, foley catheters are normally used to instill 0.5 g of Clotrimazole in each side of the dog's nasal cavity. The infusion is then left there for 60 minutes, during which the veterinarian will turn the dog around once in a while to increase penetration and make sure that the drug spreads out as much as possible.
Enilconazole is an alternative to Clotrimazole treatment and have a similar success rate. When Enilconazole is used, tubes are implanted surgically into the frontal sinuses of the dog. Enilconazole is then used in the form of instilled bid for 1-2 weeks. The normal dose is 10mg per kilogram body weight.
Aspergillosis Symptoms
If the aspergillosis infection spreads into other parts of your dog’s body, these additional symptoms may appear:
Nasal aspergillosis Nasal aspergillosis is the most commonly diagnosed form of aspergillosis in dogs. Most cases of nasal aspergillosis are invasive meaning that the fungus destroys the delicate bones of the sinuses. The less common and less invasive forms of nasal aspergillosis create an accumulation of mucous and fungus commonly referred to as a "fungal ball" or "aspergilloma." What the pet owner observes is a chronic nasal discharge ("snotty nose") that often has a strong odor, lasts for weeks to months, does not respond to antibiotics or other common therapies and typically involves only one nostril. Nosebleeds may occur intermittently and the edges of the nostrils are often rough, inflamed and ulcerated (the tissue ulcerates because of the discharge, which is very irritating). Many times the affected dog is of a breed with a long nose (collie, greyhound, dachshund, etc.) although one recent study revealed retrievers and Rottweilers to have the highest incidence of infection; it is possible that the affected dogs lived in an area with high levels of pathogenic Aspergillus. However, it is important to note that any dog can develop nasal aspergillosis."
Probiotics have
been shown to have a stimulatory effect on the
immune system, with some strains showing the
capability to alleviate or prevent bacterial, fungal,
and viral infections in organs other than the
gastrointestinal tract. In the upper respiratory tract,
probiotics have been shown to reduce the incidence
of disease, as well as the occurrence of potentially
pathogenic bacteria. In addition, probiotics have a
protective effect in preventing antibiotic-associated
disorders.
Aspergillosis treatment for dogs
As long as the disease is limited to nasal and paranasal parts of the dog, topical treatment is preferred in most situations. Most veterinarians opt for Clotrimazole to begin with. This drug can either be administered as a single infusion through the nares or via the frontal sinuses of the dog. Local infusions normally cure 4 out of 5 dogs with nasal and paranasal Aspergillosis.When the Clotrimazole is given through the nares, foley catheters are normally used to instill 0.5 g of Clotrimazole in each side of the dog's nasal cavity. The infusion is then left there for 60 minutes, during which the veterinarian will turn the dog around once in a while to increase penetration and make sure that the drug spreads out as much as possible.
Enilconazole is an alternative to Clotrimazole treatment and have a similar success rate. When Enilconazole is used, tubes are implanted surgically into the frontal sinuses of the dog. Enilconazole is then used in the form of instilled bid for 1-2 weeks. The normal dose is 10mg per kilogram body weight.
If local treatment is not enough, anti- Aspergillosis drugs can be given systemically. Examples of drugs that work in such treatments are Itraconazole, Fluconazole and Ketoconazole. Itraconazole and Fluconazole tend to be more effective than Ketoconazole. The standard dose for Itraconazole is 5-10 mg per kg bodyweight given once a day, while the dose for Fluconazole varies from 2.5 to 10 mg/kg and should be divided into several servings per day. If Ketoconazole is used, 5-10 mg/kg bodyweight should be given once a day for 6-8 week"
Aspergillosis Symptoms
YOU NEED TO USE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSING
A fungal infection of your dog’s nasal and respiratory tract may involve the following symptoms:- Sneezing
- Nasal pain
- Bleeding from the nose
- Visibly swollen nose
- Nasal discharge which may contain mucus, blood and/or pus
- Loss of pigment or tissue on the nose DOES DOG HAVE THIS ON HER NOSE?
If the aspergillosis infection spreads into other parts of your dog’s body, these additional symptoms may appear:
Nasal cancer from what I read stays pretty localized in general.
- Fever?
- Spinal pain
- Lameness
- Weight Loss
- Vomiting WHEN DID THIS START?
- Paralysis
- Symptoms of nasal aspergillosis include sneezing, nasal pain, bleeding from the nose, reduced appetite, visibly swollen nose, and long-term nasal discharge from the nostril(s), which may contain mucus, pus and/or blood. In some cases, loss of pigment or tissue on the surface of the skin nose may also occur.
Symptoms of disseminated aspergillosis in dogs may develop suddenly or slowly over a period of several months, and include spinal pain or lameness due to infection, and cause inflammation of the animal’s bone marrow and bones. Other signs which aren’t specific to the disease include fever, weight loss, vomiting, and anorexia.
Your veterinarian can determine nasal aspergillosis through a nasal swab or x-rays and/or a cat scan of the nose and sinuses. If the fungus has spread, spinal or other orthopedic x-rays or further blood testing may be required.
- A profuse, clear to opaque discharge from the nostrils that may alternate with episodes of nose bleeding.
- Ulcerations on the external part of the nose.
- Pain or discomfort in the nose or facial area.
BUT......
Aspergillosis can be quite difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are common to many respiratory disorders. But examining a tissue sample (biopsy) is the most reliable diagnostic tool. Researchers are currently attempting to develop a practical, specific, and rapid blood test that would confirm Aspergillus infection.
Diagnostic procedures vary depending on whether the case is nasal or disseminated. For suspected nasal aspergillosis, analysis of nasal swabs, fungal cultures of nasal discharge, and a rhinoscopy -- inserting a small fiber-optic scope into the nose in order to examine the inside of the nose and its mucus linings -- can be expected. The symptoms for disseminated aspergillosis are mostly nonspecific and therefore more difficult to diagnose. Tests may include a urine analysis and X-rays to examine the spine.
There are three symptoms that are characteristic of aspergillosis:
How is aspergillosis diagnosed?
There are several ways to obtain a positive diagnosis of aspergillosis. Swabs of the nasal area that are examined under the microscope are sometimes diagnostic, as are fungal cultures of the area. However, many times these fail to identify the organisms and could also be positive in a dog whose symptoms are not due to the Aspergillus; i.e., many normal animals may have Aspergillus in their nasal passages. Therefore, their use in detecting aspergillosis usually is not recommended. Radiographs (x-rays) of the sinuses and nasal areas often reveal a destruction of the bones in the sinuses. Nasal cancer also does this to bone, however.
The use of a small flexible bronchoscope to examine and obtain a biopsy of an infected area inside the nasal cavity or sinus is another effective diagnostic technique. There are also several blood tests including the AGID and ELISA tests that have given fairly accurate results and are a useful diagnostic tool.
Diagnosis is generally made through use of several of these diagnostic techniques. When a dog presents with nasal bleeding and discharge, it is important to differentiate between a tumor and aspergillosis. With a tumor, we rarely see ulcerations on the nose or nasal pain which are trademarks of aspergillosis."{
http://130.88.242.202/medicine/Aspergillus/Dropbox/Aspergillus_Website/aspergillus-web/articlesoverflow/16711614.pdf vet written pdf of very detailed info
http://www.veterinarypartner.
picture.
Here is a person who says cured the dog of Aspergillus fungal infection with some supplements
http://www.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=
here is some more
"How is aspergillosis diagnosed?
To diagnose nasal aspergillosis, at least two of the following four criteria must be met:- Radiographs or a CT scan (Computed Tomography is the method of choice) are consistent with a fungal infection.
- Fungal plaques or aspergillomas are visible with rhinoscopy (a technique where a narrow needlelike camera is inserted into the nose).
- Aspergillus organisms are seen in or cultured from either a tissue biopsy or nasal discharge.
- A blood test is positive for antibodies against an Aspergillus species.
Nasal aspergillosis Nasal aspergillosis is the most commonly diagnosed form of aspergillosis in dogs. Most cases of nasal aspergillosis are invasive meaning that the fungus destroys the delicate bones of the sinuses. The less common and less invasive forms of nasal aspergillosis create an accumulation of mucous and fungus commonly referred to as a "fungal ball" or "aspergilloma." What the pet owner observes is a chronic nasal discharge ("snotty nose") that often has a strong odor, lasts for weeks to months, does not respond to antibiotics or other common therapies and typically involves only one nostril. Nosebleeds may occur intermittently and the edges of the nostrils are often rough, inflamed and ulcerated (the tissue ulcerates because of the discharge, which is very irritating). Many times the affected dog is of a breed with a long nose (collie, greyhound, dachshund, etc.) although one recent study revealed retrievers and Rottweilers to have the highest incidence of infection; it is possible that the affected dogs lived in an area with high levels of pathogenic Aspergillus. However, it is important to note that any dog can develop nasal aspergillosis."
Probiotics have
been shown to have a stimulatory effect on the
immune system, with some strains showing the
capability to alleviate or prevent bacterial, fungal,
and viral infections in organs other than the
gastrointestinal tract. In the upper respiratory tract,
probiotics have been shown to reduce the incidence
of disease, as well as the occurrence of potentially
pathogenic bacteria. In addition, probiotics have a
protective effect in preventing antibiotic-associated
disorders.
