"Swamp Cancer" or Pythiosis

Pythiosis, or "Swamp Cancer" is an emerging, lethal disease affecting hunting dogs in Northern California.

Pythiosis, or "Swamp Cancer", is an emerging, lethal disease affecting hunting dogs in Northern California.

Associated with warm, wet environments and decaying vegetation, pythiosis is caused by a fungal-like organism. The symptoms usually include unexplained weight loss, and persistent, progressive vomiting and diarrhea. Affected dogs can sometimes have unexplained, non-healing skin wounds without vomiting or diarrhea.

Dogs are at risk from contact with water bearing the organism. It is not possible to test water for the presence of this organism. It is not contagious directly from dog to dog or dog to person. Ranch dogs throughout our rice-growing region are also at risk for pythiosis.

Early detection offers the only hope of successfully treating this disease. Fortunately, there is an accurate and simple blood test available through the Pythium Laboratory at Louisiana State University. Other more common causes of weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea should be ruled out by your veterinarian before testing dogs for pythiosis.