Help Maverick battle Blastomycosis!

Hi everyone!

My name is Issy Marquez and I am a first year PhD student in English at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Before my graduation with my Master's Degree, my partner Tobias and I worked to get my future, spotted graduation present--Maverick. Maverick is 1 and a half years old, spotted from head to toe but famous for his heart eyes, obsessed with bacon-flavored treats and any dog he meets. As a Dalmatian, Maverick is highly active. His happy place is the local dog park, and he has his favorite group of furry friends he spends every day with. He also loves to go running near the U of I farms so he can see his horse friends, and he even loves to walk around campus and chase after the famous campus squirrels.

Though an active puppy, this summer has been particularly rough for Maverick. From June to July, he suffered from an impacted upper gastrointestinal issue, and went through a series of medicines, x-rays, emergency vet visits, and specialized diets. Luckily, he bounced back well and was able to enjoy the end of summer. During the third week of August, while I was battling COVID, Maverick began to show symptoms of respiratory issues as well. Since I was contagious to other people, he was virtually diagnosed with kennel cough (canine infectious respiratory disease.) As this treatment showed unsuccessful, I rushed him over to the U of I vet emergency room last Thurday while he was in respiratory distress. From there, it was discovered that he had a worsening lung state, and there was a serious conversation about him potentially having Blastomycosis, a serious fungal infection local to the Champaign area. This would be determined by a fungal exam done at an outside lab. After a few days on a variety of medicines to treat other potential causes, Maverick's respiratory state and overall health worsened, and he has been experiencing extended labored breathing, with a respiratory rate of about 80-90 (a healthy dog has 40-50.) As this occurred within the last day, x-rays showed that his lung condition has worsened greatly since seen last Thursday. Within five days his condition worsened to the point where he is currently hospitalized. The faculty at the U of I emergency and internal medicine veterinary programs decided this was best for the next few days so he could receive fungal infection care in the intensive care unit, and be monitored for his respiratory distress.

Maverick will begin anti-fungal treatment tonight while hospitalized. Blastomycosis is a lengthy battle, as with other fungal infections. There is essential no prevention against Blastomycosis, as it is environmental and found in a variety of local soils, waters, and muds. The treatment for Blastomycosis can take months and features a lengthy recuperation of severe change in Maverick's respiratory system. But, Maverick is a young and happy puppy, so I am hopeful his strong immune system can weather this storm!

Maverick has been my spotted best friend since the day we locked eyes, and he has been my emotional support since then too. He is a very happy, healthy, sweet puppy and it really breaks my heart to see him go through such a painful experience. These last couple of months have been extremely difficult, as I am balancing graduate school and its expenses, three campus jobs, living on my own, and my other pets. Any and all funds raised will go directly to Maverick's vet bills.

For more information on Blastomycosis: https://vet.osu.edu/sites/vet.osu.edu/files/documents/preventive-medicine/Blastomycosis%20Fact%20Sheet%2020200123.pdf

Thank you so much for reading along, and I appreciate anything that can be given toward my spotted bestie's care.

Love,

Issy

Venmo: @Issy-Marquez