[Biomedical Research
Foundation of Southern Arizona] [Southern
Arizona VA Healthcare System] [University
of Arizona] [Campaign Arizona]
[The University of
Arizona Foundation ] [Arizona Health
Sciences Center]
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Canine Valley Fever StudyThe Canine Valley Fever Study is sponsored by the Valley Fever Center for Excellence and the University of Arizona. The study is being performed by Drs. Lisa Shubitz and Christine Butkiewicz of the Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, Dr. Sharon Dial of the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and Drs. Carsten and Matz of Southwest Veterinary Specialty Center. The goals of the study are:
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Why should I enroll my dog?Valley Fever impacts the lives of many dog owners in Tucson. Some have suffered the heartbreak of losing their beloved friends; others have scraped and scrounged to be able to afford the expensive medications to save their lives. Some have even watched helplessly while more than one of their pets becomes ill. While we can study disease in experimental animals, it will not give us information on how many dogs living in normal home environments get sick with Valley Fever. The VA Medical Center and the University of Arizona, in conjunction with other groups, are working on developing a vaccine against Valley Fever. There are plans to license the vaccine for use in dogs. Your help is needed to study how many dogs develop disease and design the future vaccine studies. The vaccine will reduce the heartbreak of deaths due to Valley Fever and reduce or prevent the huge expenditures on antifungal drugs for sick dogs. Back to Top
Who is eligible?Puppies between 4-6 months of age who have had all or most of their puppyhood vaccinations are eligible for enrollment. Puppies must live in Pima County or Pinal County. Back to Top
What do I have to do to enroll my puppy?Call Dr. Shubitz or Dr. Butkiewicz at 626-8198 to find out more about the study and request an Owner Information Packet OR Bring your puppy to Southwest Veterinary Specialty Center, 141 E. Ft. Lowell Rd, Tucson, on one of the Thursday night study dates (see below). You must bring the puppy back for a brief visit the Saturday following to have the skin test evaluated by the veterinarian. Back to Top
What happens to my dog during the study period?Your puppy will receive a free blood test and urinalysis at the first visit, along with a Valley Fever serology test and a Valley Fever skin test. If all the tests come back negative and normal, your puppy will be enrolled in the study. You will receive a phone call telling you of your puppy’s status. You will receive a phone call from one of the study vets at 3 months asking how your puppy is doing and if he/she has had any fever, coughing, limping, etc. At 6 months, you will receive a postcard in the mail telling you it is time for your dog’s 6-month Valley Fever serology test and skin test. Bring your dog to Southwest Veterinary Specialty Center on the next convenient study night for the testing. You will receive a postcard in the mail at 12-months informing you that it is time for your dog’s final Valley Fever blood test and skin test. As above, select a convenient study date and bring your dog to Southwest. If your dog becomes sick during the study period, consult your regular veterinarian. He/she will know how to proceed with diagnosis of the illness. Back to Top
Are you giving dogs Valley Fever?No. The skin test is similar to the TB skin test routinely placed on people to detect disease or past exposure to tuberculosis. We are not making any dogs sick during the study. We are only observing the incidence of naturally occurring disease. Back to Top
Will any of this hurt my puppy or dog?There is momentary discomfort associated with the needle prick for the blood test and the skin test. Some dogs are more sensitive to this than others. Back to Top
How long will this take me?Your Thursday night will require about 10-15 minutes of time spent with the study veterinarian collecting blood and placing the skin test while you fill in a questionnaire. We will take a few moments to answer any questions you have or address your concerns. If the Thursday night is busy, since the study is run on a walk-in basis, you could spend up 10-20 minutes waiting. We normally have two veterinarians at the study site to expedite the process and minimize your time. You must bring your puppy back on Saturday to have the skin test evaluated. This takes 2-5 minutes. Back to Top
What if I forget to come back in six months?We will send you a postcard reminder for your follow-up visits. Back to Top
Will I know the results of the tests?Your veterinarian will receive a copy of all test results. If your dog has no abnormalities, we will let you know that. If anything is questionable, we will recommend you call your regular veterinarian to discuss the results. We will phone or e-mail you the results of the Valley Fever tests at each test date. Back to Top
 Copyright © 2001 Valley Fever
Center for Excellence. All rights reserved.
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