Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a tick borne disease. This means the main mode of transmission is from a tick being attached to the animal. RMSF is a condition that can cause a variety of symptoms in dogs. For this particular illness the ticks have to be attached anywhere from 5-20 hours (source) in order to transmit the disease. While there are many different types of ticks the main type that transmit RMSF is the American Dog Tick. Although it is called Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, this condition and these ticks can be found anywhere in the United States.

 

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Symptoms for RMSF can range from fever and lethargy all the way to not eating swelling of the limbs and neurological signs. These can show up as early as four to five days after the tick has attached. If your veterinarian is suspicious of this condition they will likely want to run some blood work. This could include a tick titer which can assess detect several of the tick born diseases, since many of them present the same way. Also a complete blood count along with a chemistry profile may be recommend. RMSF can lead to a decrease in albumin which can then lead to fluid or swelling in the limbs. It can also lead to decrease in platelets. This can sometimes manifest as bruising anywhere on the body.

 

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The good news is there is a treatment! If caught soon enough most dogs will make a full recovery. If the disease progresses to full neurological signs it is possible that animals can pass even with aggressive treatment. However the majority of cases are caught early and have a positive outcome. Treatment involves course of antibiotics. Many dogs will start to show improvement within a few days of starting the medication!

The best way to avoid RMSF is to prevent or reduce exposure to ticks. This means avoiding areas known to have heavy tick populations during tick season which is March-September. Also keeping dogs on monthly flea and tick prevention will help prevent the likelihood of a tick being attached long enough to transmit the disease.

 

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RMSF is consider a zoonotic risk, meaning it can be transmitted to people. However a tick attaching to the human or the dog is required for the disease to be transmitted. As always you can always contact your local veterinarian with any questions or concerns!