Valley Fever can affect many other animals besides dogs.  Most mammals can be shown to be infected with the fungus, even if they do not get sick from it very often.  Species in which Valley Fever has been found include:

• cattle and other livestock
• horses
• llamas
• apes and monkeys
• many kinds of zoo animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, tigers, bears, badgers, otters, etc.
• marine mammals - sea otters and dolphins
• occasional wildlife that lives in the endemic area - skunk, cougar, javelina

Valley Fever can be what is considered an “incidental finding” after death: the organisms are present but are not causing the disease Valley Fever in the animal.  This is very typical of cows and other ruminant livestock.  Occasionally, a livestock animal may become sick and die from the illness but it is very rare.

Clinical infections are uncommon in horses but if they manifest the disease, it is usually disseminated at the time of discovery.  Of the 20 or so cases reported in the literature, one was treated successfully.  The remainder were euthanized.  As most of the case reports are old and the medications currently available are both more efficacious and more economically feasible, treatment of horses today may be more successful.

Llamas, which are difficult to decide whether to call livestock or exotic pets, appear to be exquisitely sensitive to Valley Fever, unlike most other hoofed species.  They develop severe and fulminant disease.  Death is the usual outcome.  This author is unaware of successful treatment at this time, but your own veterinarian that treats your llamas may have experience treating the infection.

Cats have many fewer infections than dogs and information on cats is interspersed with the canine information above as diagnostic and treatment information for canines is relevant to this species as well.

Apes, monkeys, and all other smaller primates are very susceptible to Valley Fever.  Many of the animals in the Phoenix, Tucson, and San Diego zoos, as well as primates in centers and refuges that exist in the endemic area, are being treated long term for Valley Fever, and the zoos lost many of these creatures before treatments for Valley Fever were developed.  Treatments are the same as for dogs and people.

Other zoo animals, most of which are exotic to this part of the country, are variably susceptible to the disease.  The zoos are very aware of this disease and often get early testing of animals that are not feeling well.  The animals can then be medicated.

Unusual cases crop up periodically in marine mammals such as sea otters and dolphins, suggesting the spores can be blown out over the water where these animals inhale them and become sick.  An occasional case is also found in wild native animals.  Likely, these animals have become debilitated in some way, making them susceptible to the disease.  The infection is discovered after the animal has died or been euthanized for poor condition.