A dog owner is warning of the dangers of rotting food for animals, after his four-legged friend Baz contracted a nasty fungal infection which could prove fatal. Mike Izzard, from Hatfield, is a popular member of the Hertfordshire town after he helped renovate a formerly abandoned rail station.
Throughout the project, he was helped by his trusty station mascot Baz, a Labrador. However, life has recently taken a turn for Baz after it was revealed that he may be suffering from a nasty fungal infection due to rotten food, which is a real danger to animals and could be 'virtually impossible' to cure.
Mike told HertsLive: "His illness has come down to two possibilities - firstly, a nasty fungal infection called 'nasal aspergillosis'. This has caused all the symptoms that Baz has been suffering from over the last couple of months, such as a snotty discharge from one of his nostrils plus inflammation and bone decay.
"The problem with a fungal infection is that it's exceptionally difficult to trace and virtually impossible to cure. The bone destruction will gradually spread from his nose to his skull but I'd obviously send him off to sleep long before it got that bad.
"Fungal infections can be caught when susceptible dogs inhale airborne mould spores, usually from rotting food. Baz's town is full of regular fly tips and overflowing wheelie bins, offering the perfect opportunity for him or any of his four legged pals to become poorly if they get too close."
Most infections are localised in the nose for dogs but some will develop mild to serious lung infections, making it an important point to keep pets away from these situations. An infection that Baz may have could also be due to an object going up his nose and eating away at the dog's bone structure.
Mike continued: "An infection of this nature can also be the result of a foreign object such as a grass seed becoming pushed up inside the boney honeycomb structure deep up inside the nose. It's this honeycomb area of the nose that the infection has been eating away at.
"Baz has lost 20 per cent of this area so far. Grass seeds can cause a variety of problems from minor irritation to conditions that require surgery. They carry bacteria which can cause an infection if the skin of your pet is affected."
Mike also emphasised the importance of keeping pets away from long grass areas, as an untreated infection may spread or the seeds can cause "severe internal damage" as it travels through the body. The Hatfield resident has had experience of this, as his cat almost died after a seed travelled up into her lungs last year, resulting in £13,000 worth of veterinary bills to save her.
Mike said: "Please try and keep your pets away from long grass areas, especially when they start to release their seeds towards the end of the growing season as the local councils attempt to encourage the bee's and other wildlife species.
"This is because they let our green areas grow much longer throughout the summer months. Over the last couple of weeks, Baz has undertaken a strong dose of antibiotics and it's hoped that this will destroy the infection caused by a potential foreign object."
Subscribe here for the latest news where you live
Mike stated that initial signs are "encouraging" as the discharge has slowed substantially, however Baz does still snort heavily from time-to-time. The Hatfield man will monitor Baz daily and a CT scan in a few months will reveal whether the bone destruction process has ended.
If the bone destruction continues, it is likely that Baz is suffering from a fungal infection which will sadly shorten his life "substantially". The road ahead will be a "nervous few months" for them both, however the popular Hatfield man has received support after a generous friend set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds to help the subsequent vet bills in the future.
Harlow resident Yvonne Marrs was saddened to hear the news of Baz's ill-health and wanted to help Mike raise money after his tremendous community work. She said: "It is awful news about Baz's illness.
"I couldn't stand the idea that Mike wouldn't be able to fund the extra bills once the insurance had been maxed out. I know he depleted his savings first on the bicep operation he needed after the renovation of Nast Hyde Halt, and then more recently with his cat Lodger."
Yvonne described Mike as a "good and kind hearted man" and acknowledged that he has the respect of the Herts community. She also wanted to help as the pair are both "remarkable" and she knows that a pet is a "true member of the family".
The Harlow lady also stated that Mike was "shocked" to receive donations, messages and support from all over the county. However, Mike stated that Baz has an insurance policy to get through first and will rethink after his Labrador responds to the antibiotics.
