Symptoms Of Mold Exposure In Dogs
Signs of mold inhalation in your dog include:
- Respiratory distress
- Nasal discharge
- Lethargy
- Bleeding from the mouth and/or nose
Some dogs will have an allergic reaction with excessive scratching, chewing or licking that can lead to fur loss and the development of painful sores.
If your dog eats mold, it can cause reduced appetite, vomiting and changes in stool.
Signs and symptoms of mold exposure can mimic other health conditions. If your dog is showing any combination of the above symptoms, take him or her to a holistic veterinarian for an evaluation. You can also use holistic formulations to help to relieve respiratory discomfort and skin irritation.
Why Does Mold Cause Vertigo
Any illness can cause you to feel lightheaded or dizzy, including mold-related infections. Infections affecting the inner ear, including ear infections and sinus infections, are particularly likely to upset your sense of balance. There is a reason for that.
There is a tube in your ear called the Eustachian tube. This tube connects the middle ear to the back of your throat. It helps equalize pressure in your ears and that helps maintain your balance. Allergies, sinus infections and ear infections can all cause the Eustachian tube to become clogged with mucus, and this affects the pressure in your ear and upsets your sense of balance.
Mold grows outdoors as well as indoors, of course, but the concentration of mold spores is much higher when mold is present indoors, creating a much greater risk.
Can Black Mold Cause Respiratory Problems
In a residential setting,; people are generally exposed to black mold through breathing in mold spores and mycotoxins. When ingested, mold spores have the potential to cause irritation and a burning sensation in air passages, such as the nasal cavity, mouth, and throat.
Some common symptoms for respiratory issues from black mold exposure include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Nose bleeds
- Runny, itchy, or stuffy nose
- Bleeding gums
- Burning sensation of the mouth
- Wheezing
- Bleeding or swelling in the lungs
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Coughing And Shortness Of Breath
The irritation and inflammation caused by mold often lead to frequent coughing that is otherwise unexplained.
The throat and lungs are irritated continuously when repeatedly exposed to mycotoxins. If the issue isnt addressed, this coughing can develop into more severe conditions such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
The same inflammation that causes irritated, constricted airways that lead to wheezing and coughing can eventually lead to shortness of breath.
This gives a feeling of tightness in the chest. It may feel like you are unable to take in a full breath.
How To Treat Black Mold Poisoning
Black mold, scientifically referred to as Stachybotrys atra or Stachybotrys chartarum, is typically black or dark green and often linked to serious health problems.
In fact, exposure to black mold can lead to black mold poisoning, or stachybotryotoxicosis a condition thats dangerous, particularly for young children and the elderly.
Even though black mold poisoning typically affects horses, cows, and pigs, humans can become infected if they inhale or ingest the spores.
Symptoms of stachybotryotoxicosis include skin rashes , throat and sinus irritation, burning eyes, and a decrease in the production of white blood cells.
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How Mold Affects Cats
Can cats develop mold sickness? Oh, yes! Mold affects cats much like it affects humans, with two significant differences.
The first difference is that of size. The average cat is about one-fifteenth the size of the average adult human. A full-grown cat might weight about the same as newborn baby, or just a little bit more. A kitten is even smaller. We know that infants are much more susceptible to mold-related illness than healthy adults and that exposure to mold can even cause life-threatening bleeding in the lungs in small babies. While we could not find any research on the subject of pulmonary hemorrhage in cats, the effect of mold in cats and kittens may be similar.
The second important difference between cats and humans when it comes to mold-related illness is simply that humans can generally communicate the fact that they feel sick and they can seek medical care when needed. Cats, like other pets, cant tell you when they feel ill. You may notice changes in your cats behavior, but cats are masters at disguising the fact that they arent feeling well. Veterinarians say this is an instinctual reaction left over from before cats were domesticated. In the wild, an animal that appears weak in any way becomes more attractive to predators. Therefore, your cat may not show signs of illness until he is very sick. For this reason, you should seek veterinary care right away if you think your cat may be suffering from mold-related illness.
Black Mold Exposure Can Damage Your Circulatory System
Black mold spores can be inhaled, consumed, or absorbed through a persons skin or eyes. When mycotoxins find their way into the bloodstream, mycotoxins have the potential to cause serious damage.
Symptoms of circulatory system damage from black mold include:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Bleeding in the brain
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Who Is At Risk For Mold Toxicity
While anyone can become ill from exposure to mold and its mycotoxins, some are more susceptible than others.
People who already have allergies or asthma can be more severely affected by mold toxicity than those who do not have allergies.
Also, people who are already ill, have immune suppression, or who have respiratory illnesses are more likely to have noticeable and intense symptoms resulting from mold exposure.
Symptoms of mold toxicity are relatively persistent and should not be ignored.
Mold: The Silent Home Toxin Sickening Your Dog
More than 50% of the nations;homes have a mold problem, according to This Country House. While the impact of mold in humans is well-documented, the effect that it can have on pets is less understood. But its important to know that mold in the home can be toxic to dogs, and could be the;cause of ongoing health problems.
Identifying and treating mold symptoms in your dog
Some dogs will exhibit allergy-like symptoms when there is mold lurking in your home. Respiratory symptoms are common, including breathing difficulties, sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, and coughing. Other signs that mold is having a negative impact on your hounds health is a lack of energy, excessive licking, excessive scratching, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological concerns. Regardless of which symptoms your dog has, he or she will require treatment. Rather than giving multiple medications to your pooch to control his symptoms, opt for holistic ones instead. Topical treatments, including lavender, aloe and green tea can be used to relieve itchy skin and sore spots. Meanwhile, acupuncture and homeopathy can restore the immune system, manage allergy-like symptoms, and improve your dogs overall health and well-being following exposure to mold.
Removing mold
Risks of ignoring mold in the home
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Symptoms Of Black Mold
What Does Black Mold Look Like?
Stachybotrys is commonly known as black mold because its black in color.; We see black mold most often when there is flooding or water damage, such as attics, basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.What does black mold look like?; Check out these photos of black mold in basements that experienced flooding:
Is black mold dangerous?
The answer to the above question is It can be, but the vast majority of black mold situations we see are nothing to panic about.If you search black mold youll be sure to find plenty of websites and articles that tout the dangers of it.; Weve seen quite the long, sensational list everything from seizures to cancer to death.; But the truth is that it most situations are nothing to panic about because:It has never been scientifically proven that black mold is any more harmful than other types and colors of mold.Only a small percentage of people are especially sensitive to mold .Most horror stories come from people with severe, prolonged exposure to mold while most situations are small areas of mold growth that get cleaned up rather quickly.So why does black mold get so much hype? Well, a lot of it has to do with a general lack of information about a strange substance that looks especially ugly and threatening.
What are mycotoxins?Can black mold make you sick, cause cancer, or kill you?
What Causes Black Mold To Grow
Black mold requires specific ideal conditions in order to grow and thrive in your home. Initially, mold spores must be present in your home. Black mold also requires a food source , darkness, warmth, oxygen, and moisture. When the conditions align, black mold can grow within 24-48 hours. Other contributing factors can cause black mold to develop, such as leaking pipes and roofs, floods, and poor ventilation which leaves pockets of trapped moisture-rich air. Black mold does not always require warmth, as it can develop when condensation collects on cold pipes or concrete.
symptoms of toxic black mold
The symptoms of toxic black mold vary greatly depending on the duration of the exposure and the species of the mold. Toxic black mold is highly dangerous. Immunocompromised individuals such as babies, pregnant women, and the elderly may have intensified symptoms. Exposure to toxic black mold can affect several body systems including the nervous system, respiratory system, circulatory system, immune system, reproductive system, and the muscular system.
professional help
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See Your Doctor If You Feel Dizzy
If you begin feeling lightheaded or dizzy, you should see your doctor.
Many different things can make you dizzy, most of them unrelated to mold, including:
- Bacterial or viral ear infections
- Bacterial or viral respiratory infections
- Environment allergies
- Low blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Some medications
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo , a condition in which tiny particles of calcium in the inner ear are displaced, sending the body confusing messages about where it is in space, causing a dizzy sensation;
- Menieres disease, a condition in which fluid builds up in the inner ear, causing a dizzy sensation, ringing in the ears and hearing loss
- Migraine headaches
Your doctor will do a complete history and physical, asking you about all your symptoms and checking your vital signs. Your doctor may order some tests, including blood tests and an echocardiogram. Audiologists sometimes perform tests for certain conditions that can make you dizzy, too. Your doctor may also recommend having your hearing tested.
You may be referred to one or more specialists, including an infectious disease specialist, a cardiologist, and/or an otolaryngologist . Since problems with the inner and middle ear often contribute to feeling dizzy, ENT specialists often treat vertigo. Sometimes hearing is also affected by the condition, but not always. You can read more about hearing loss related to mold. It can take a while to determine the cause of dizziness and to find a treatment that works.
What Is Toxic Black Mold
Black mold grows in damp areas of homes and other buildings. It appears as black splotches on floors, walls, or ceilings. A small patch of mold in or near a bathtub or a shower is not usually something a homeowner should be concerned about; a large patch of black mold is a more serious problem.
Black mold can cause health problems in humans because it releases toxic spores into the air. When these spores are inhaled, they can cause health problems in humans.
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What Can I Give My Dog If He Ate Moldy Food
There are a few things that you can do for your dog if you suspect they are sick after eating moldy food. Wait a few hours after their last meal, then give them something bland such as boiled rice and chicken. You may also put a bit of yogurt into the mix. This ought to be enough to sooth their stomach and tamp down any mold infection.
If your dog doesnt seem to respond to this treatment, the best thing to do will be to get them to a vet as soon as possible. The vet can give them a course of antibacterial treatment that should be enough to save their life. The key is to get treatment once you recognize the symptoms and before they become more intense.
How Black Mold Effects Cats And Dogs
Black mold may cause similar symptoms in dogs and cats as it does us. Some pets will be more affected than others, just like it is in humans. Symptoms generally fall under three categories and include respiratory distress, an allergic reaction, and toxic reactions. ;Some pets will be more affected than others, just like it is with humans.
Respiratory distress symptoms could include:
- Constant sneezing or coughing
- Neurological problems which could include odd behavior or loss of function
Black mold exposure could be life-threatening to our cats and dogs, if not addressed quickly. One case study;from 2007 describes a pair of cats that died of a pulmonary hemorrhage following exposure to black mold in their home. While this is unlikely to be a normal situation for most pet owners, it does reiterate the need to be aware of potential exposure to pets and correct underlying issues as quickly as possible.
If your four-legged family member is showing signs of illness, take them to your family vet or find a veterinarian near you. If the Veterinarian diagnoses your pet with black mold poisoning or exposure, the first thing to do is correct or remove underlying mold problems in your home and treat your pet. Exposure to other family members is likely happening as well, so addressing any potential concerns within the home should be made a top priority.
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Prevention Is The Best Cure
To keep your dog and your family safe from mold, its important to remove existing mold and take steps to prevent mold growth.
- Check the underside of hidden areas such as ceiling tiles, drywall, carpets, and wallpaper for mold, since these places can attract and retain moisture. You may be able to remove small areas of mold from solid surfaces with vinegar or baking soda. Be sure to wear gloves and goggles and avoid breathing in mold or mold spores.
- Keep your homes interior as dry as possible. Repair your leaky basement, roof, pipes, windows, and other areas where water is getting in or accumulates from drips or condensation.
- Ensure that your bathroom and kitchen fans and all ventilation systems are working as they should.
- If water does get in, clean and thoroughly dry the area as soon as possible.
- If you find large areas of mold, you may want to hire professional help to take care of the clean up.
Mold Poisoning In Dogs: 15 Symptoms To Be Aware Of
Youve probably heard about people experiencing health problems because of mold, but have you heard about how mold exposure can affect our four-legged friends? If your home, doghouse, or other places where your dog frequents, are affected by mold, then the chances of mold poisoning or mold allergies in your dog increase drastically.
We typically know when someone around us is sick, but with pets, its not always as obvious. We can tell somethings wrong with them by observing and noticing changes in their regular behavior, eating habits, and other factors.
In this article, we will describe how to quickly detect mold poisoning symptoms and how to address mold exposure in dogs.
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Leading Neurologist Opines On Nerve Damage From Toxic Mold Exposure
This case involves a man who suffered a number of neurological symptoms after he was exposed to toxic mold in his apartment, which was already plagued with issues of pest infestation and mismanagement. Unbeknownst;to the Plaintiff, the apartment he had lived in for several years was heavily infested with black mold after a pipe break incident caused serious water damage to the walls and floor. During his time in the apartment, the man began experiencing progressively worsening neurological symptoms, including memory loss, headaches, and eventually;seizures. On one occasion, the man suffered a major seizure while at home, causing him to fall down the stairs and suffer serious injuries. It was alleged that the damage to the mans nervous system was caused by exposure to neurotoxins released by the mold infestation.
Can Dogs Eat Moldy Bread
Dogs can find bits of moldy bread that you may have left in a trash can without thinking. They may also find bread outside on the ground while on their walk with you. You should do all in your power to avoid letting your dog eat anything that they find outside or on the ground. Moldy bread can cause your dog to get sick or even die.
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Mycotoxins And Your Health
It is no secret that toxic mold can have a negative health effects. Long term exposure can potentially have life long medical effects. If you suspect mold in your home or apartment it is important to test your family and environment right away.
If the test come back positive it is important to act fast and seek expert medical help and professional remediation for your house. Mold exposure is no laughing matter! Indoor air quality can decrease your quality of life by causing on going headaches, severe fatigue as well as other respiratory symptoms.
What Are Black Mold Health Symptoms
We all know mold isnt welcomed in the home, but did you know too that breathing in the presence of mold can harm your health? There are over 2,000 different species of mold and the most dangerous of all is called Stachybotrys Chartarum, also known as black mold or the invisible killer.
Why is black mold so dangerous? Black mold releases toxic spores that linger in the air and attack your respiratory health. The potency of these toxic spores has proved to be the most detrimental to human health.
Black mold often appears as slimy and greenish-black. If its water source runs out, black mold can also appear as dry and powdery. Black mold is also dangerous because its sometimes difficult to distinguish from other species of mold.
