Episode #61 Valley Fever + Pop Quiz For Bird Dog Owner: Nate Istrate

We sit down with Nate Istrate to talk through a real valley fever scare in a hunting dog and what finally brought the symptoms under control. We share what to watch for in your bird dog, what the common tests can miss, and how to think about treatment without panic spending.• Sam’s head tremors and the path to a valley fever diagnosis • How dogs get valley fever from desert dust and why it is not contagious • Where valley fever shows up in the body including lungs, bones, and brain • Prednisone as a short term inflammation tool versus antifungals that treat the fungus • Fluconazole basics, treatment timelines, and what “low titer” can still mean • Why a negative blood test may not fully rule it out and when to retest • Practical risk reduction for Arizona hunting dogs during dusty conditions • Vet experience and pricing notes including West Valley Animal Hospital in Peoria • Reading your dog’s behavior, energy, and tail wagging as a health signal If you like what you hear, make sure you share it with a friend, rate it, do whatever you can to knock up our algorithms and get get the word out there to help fulfill that purpose uh to educate and encourage the next generation of quail hunters in Arizona. To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates.Connect with us: Email us at [email protected] —we'd love to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday