Jacksonville Rescue Dog's Survival Raises Awareness of Rare Pythiosis Disease in Florida Waters
A Jacksonville family's rescued Golden Retriever, Trout, has survived a rare and potentially deadly fungal disorder called Pythiosis, which thrives in warm, stagnant, or slow-moving water. Trout's owner, Shayna Rogers, found him malnourished and unwell, and after months of testing, he was diagnosed with Pythiosis. This disease can attack the gastrointestinal tract or cause skin lesions in dogs and is often difficult to treat, sometimes proving fatal. Florida's warm climate creates an ideal environment for the organism, making ponds, swamps, and wetlands prime areas for exposure. Dogs can contract Pythiosis by drinking or swimming in contaminated water. Trout underwent extensive treatment, including exploratory stomach surgery, multiple medications, immunotherapy, and blood transfusions, ultimately leading to a positive outcome with his Pythiosis numbers falling to negative levels. 
