Treatment of canine blastomycosis with amphotericin B and ketoconazole.

The treatment of 62 dogs with blastomycosis was reviewed to identify prognostic factors and response to various treatment regimens. Severity of lung involvement, as determined by radiography, and the number of nonsegmented neutrophils were useful prognostic factors. Females survived treatment better than did males, but females were more prone to relapse. Ketoconazole treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily for 60 days was not as effective as amphotericin B. The most notable adverse effect of amphotericin B treatment was nephrotoxicosis . Treatment with amphotericin B followed by ketoconazole was as effective as amphotericin B alone and resulted in less nephrotoxicosis . Most dogs that had relapses were retreated effectively with amphotericin B and/or ketoconazole. Canine blastomycosis was shown to be a treatable disease, with a cure rate of approximately 75%.