Temporary remission of disseminated paecilomycosis in a German shepherd dog treated with ketoconazole

Disseminated mycosis caused by Paecilomyces varioti in a female German shep herd dog presented with chronic forelimb lameness is described. Radiographs of the swollen carpal joint revealed geographic lysis of the radial epiphy sis. Diagnosis was based on cytological demonstration of fungal hyphae and chlamydiospores, as well as fungal culture of fluid obtained by arthrocente sis. Temporary remission was characterised by markedly improved clinical si gns and laboratory parameters, following treatment with ketoconazole. The d og was euthanased 9 months after the initial diagnosis, following the diagn osis of multifocal discospondylitis. This appears to be the longest describ ed period of temporary remission obtained with treatment in dogs with paeci lomycosis. Clinical, clinicopathological and necropsy findings of this dise ase in another German shepherd dog are briefly described.