Valley fever is a viral disease that is caused by inhaling spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis, which lives in the soil in certain arid regions of the southwestern U.S. Mohave County is one of those regions.

 

This horrible disease is what took the life of Parker, one of our beloved Positive Paws pups. Parker came to us malnourished as many dogs do, but one day Parker's foster mom realized that he just wasn't responding well to routine care and nourishment. His weight plummeted to 34lbs and he became blind. The veterinairan at Advanced Animal Care diagnosed Parker with Valley Fever based on symptoms and preliminary tests. He was started on anti-fungal medications.

 

After a few days Parker showed encouraging signs of improvement, and we all thought he was going to beat the disease, but soon after his improvement he began to relapse and grow weak again. Despite our best efforts and care, Parker passed away on April 13th. Saying good bye was extremely difficult. Parker will be missed, but his memory will live on in our efforts to educate the public about Valley Fever and how to recognize the symptoms in time to successfully treat the disease.

 

Parker's remaining medical bills add up to $3500. This includes xrays, bloodwork, medications, and hospitialization. Positive Paws deeply appreciates all donations given to help pay for his diagnosis and treatment. We need your support so that we can continue to help other pets find their forever homes and give them the care they need to be healthy and happy.