Signs and Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a tick-borne disease that can strike dogs as well as humans. The tick's bite transmits a specialized bacteria, Rickettsia rickettsi, to the dog's bloodstream. Infected dogs will show a variety of signs as the bacteria invade and kill blood cells and cause blood vessels to swell and bleed. Between 1 percent and 5 percent of infected dogs die from the disease.
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Early Signs and Symptoms
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Initial signs that your dog may be infected include fever, appetite loss, coughing and swelling of the limbs, face or lymph nodes. Your dog also might suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing or abdominal pain.
External Signs
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Infected dogs may have nosebleeds, blood in the urine, or bruises. In more severe cases, dogs develop flat, reddish-purple spots inside their eyelids and mouths.
The disease may affect your dog's nervous system, as well, causing a head tilt, unsteady gait, circling or behavioral changes. -
Internal Signs
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Dogs suffering from Rocky Mountain spotted fever also may have bleeding into the bowel or into the retina. Severely infected dogs can develop a condition called "disseminated intravascular coagulation" (DIC), which causes small blood clots and destroys platelets and clotting factors.
Treatment
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Veterinarians who suspect Rocky Mountain spotted fever will prescribe antibiotics for your dog. Some dogs also may require treatment for dehydration and hemorrhaging. A blood test can confirm that your dog has the disease.
Prevention/Solution
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Use a tick collar or anti-tick medication to protect your dog from tick bites. Keep your dog out of tick-infested areas, especially in the spring and summer, when ticks are most active. If you do find a tick on your dog, remove it as promptly as possible; the longer the tick remains in place, the greater the chances of infection.
Geography
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Rocky Mountain spotted fever occurs in North, Central and South America. Despite its name, however, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is more common in the southeastern portions of the United States.
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Comments
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If you even THINK you've been bitten by a tick PLEASE see a Dr., ASAP. I had it about 15 years ago and believe me it's nothing to mess with. By the time I got to the Dr. she said had my son not taken me to the ER he would have been planning a funeral. Not a good thing for a 16 year old to deal with.
