--- title: Valley Fever in Dogs: Solano and Yolo Risk | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/valley-fever-in-dogs/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Valley fever in dogs # Valley fever in dogs Valley fever is a fungal lung infection that dogs catch by breathing dust from soil containing the fungus, and it does not spread from dog to dog. California health officials list the Central Valley and Central Coast as higher-risk areas, so ask your vet about it if your dog has a lingering cough. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is on many owners' minds in the Central Valley. This page covers what is known and what is not. ## How dogs get it The fungus lives in soil in parts of the southwestern United States, including California. Dogs inhale spores when wind or digging stirs up dust, and dogs that dig and sniff the ground are at higher risk. The California Department of Public Health says it cannot spread between pets, or between pets and people, though a pet and owner may be exposed to the same dust. ## Where it occurs in California CDPH names the Central Valley and Central Coast as high-risk areas, with most reported human cases in the southern Central Valley and cases also rising in the northern Central Valley. Dixon is in the Sacramento-area part of the valley. The sources used here give no county rate for dogs, so the practical answer is to treat it as a possible cause of a cough that does not clear up and to tell your vet where your dog has lived and traveled. ## Signs According to the AKC many infected dogs show mild signs or none. When signs appear they can include a dry cough, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and weight loss, and if the infection spreads, limping, joint pain or swelling, and sometimes neurologic signs. Signs typically appear 7 to 21 days after exposure. ## Diagnosis and treatment A veterinarian usually runs a blood test for antibodies called a titer, and the first result may be negative, so repeat testing three to four weeks later is sometimes needed. Treatment is an antifungal medication such as fluconazole or itraconazole, often for months and sometimes up to a year or lifelong, with liver monitoring. All medications are given at no extra charge at the kennel if your dog needs them during a stay. ## Reducing exposure and boarding - Keep dogs from digging and sniffing in dirt and rodent holes in dusty places. - Avoid construction sites and windy, dusty fields where practical. - Grass, gravel or mulch ground cover cuts dust. - Cough after a stay is more often kennel cough than Valley fever; see [kennel cough symptoms](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kennel-cough-symptoms/), and call your vet if a cough lingers. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [California Department of Public Health, Valley fever in pets and other animals](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ValleyFeverPets.aspx) - [California Department of Public Health, coccidioidomycosis](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Coccidioidomycosis.aspx) - [American Kennel Club, Valley fever in dogs](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/valley-fever-in-dogs/) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Kennel cough symptoms](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kennel-cough-symptoms/) - [Foxtails and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/foxtails/) - [Bringing your dog home after boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-coming-home-after-boarding/) - [Dixon](https://happypawskennels.com/areas/dixon/) - [Vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [Boarding a dog on medication](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-on-medication/) ## Read next - [Rattlesnakes and dogs in Northern California](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/rattlesnakes-and-dogs/) - [Bloat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/bloat-in-dogs/) - [Fireworks and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/fireworks-and-dogs/) - [Road trips with a dog](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/road-trips-with-dogs/) - [Flying with a dog vs boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/flying-with-a-dog/) - [Switching dog food safely](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/switching-dog-food/) - [How much to feed a dog](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-much-to-feed-a-dog/) - [Slow feeder bowls](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/slow-feeder-bowls/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Is Valley fever contagious between dogs? No. Dogs catch it by inhaling spores from soil, not from another dog. ### Does boarding raise the risk of Valley fever? Boarding does not spread it, because it is not contagious. Any dog that digs in dusty ground is exposed. ### Is there a vaccine? Ask your veterinarian about prevention and testing for your dog.