Dog Not Eating/Constipated

11 year old ridgeback. Older but very healthy until a month ago, developed some sort of infection. Vet wasn’t sure what it was, tried antibiotics, a generic antifungal, and a steroid. Infection spread, and x ray showed apparent buildup of fluid in right nostril (thought there might be tumors in nose). Symptoms are extremely swollen right side of face, fluid buildup in right eye and moving its way towards left side, trouble breathing - sounds congested and breathes through mouth, bloody noses. Symptoms have worsened quickly over the past 2 days. We are waiting for a valley fever test to come back and we’re given valley fever meds but he hasn’t eaten in 2 going on 3 days now. He won’t even take a valley fever pill in any sort of treat/cheese or anything. Running a fever, drinks a ton and is constipated. Tried giving him olive oil to ease the constipation. Any ideas/help is appreciated, not sure where to go from here and not sure if he’s going to make it all the way to seeing the results of the blood work.

Hello - and I'm sorry to hear about all the pain and stress of this situation.  I assume that you must be in the States.  I am a UK vet and have seen Valley Fever very rarely (we don't call it that - but we do see similar fungal respiratory infections).  The common listed symptoms tend to be respiratory problems (markedly coughing), weight-loss, lethargy and swollen joints, as well as seizures, swollen lymph nodes as well as back pain and inflammation of the eyes.  Fungal infection can, however, carry a range of presentations - most patients won't show all of these signs - so it makes sense for your vet to try to rule it out.  The discharge down only one side of the face does, as you say, suggest swelling within the head / nasal cavity.  As well as potentially Valley Fever, could this be caused by a tumour, by more local fungal infection, by polypoid masses (polyps), a foreign body or neurological damage affecting the head?  In the UK, steroids and antibiotics before a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis are strongly frowned upon except in rare circumstances, and I have insufficient details even to know whether I would have done the same.  However, good questions to get to the bottom of the case are:  1) What could (still) be causing this, that you haven't ruled out, at the moment?   2)  How can we rule some of these possibilities out?   3) Meanwhile, what are you doing to look after my dog and the people around him in the immediate term?  Is there any way we can be doing this better?   4) Is a referral a good idea?    I hope that something here helps.

Most vets are taught to approach complex presentations by creating a lit of problems, and then a list of 'differentials' (possible causes) that would explain what they are seeing.  They then try to 'rule out' differentials in order to get to the correct cause in this case.   I find that involving owners in this process can help you to understand what is going on; if it feels that you don't understand, always ask your vets to explain.