Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) in Dogs

Overview of Canine Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the organism Rickettsia rickettsii. Ticks infected with Rickettsia rickettsii transmit the disease when they feed on a host (dog, human, other large mammal). A tick must be attached to the host for 5 to 20 hours before it can transmit the disease.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever occurs most often in the spring and summer when ticks are most active. Dogs at increased risk include those younger than four years of age and large breed dogs primarily because these dogs are more likely to be outdoors. Purebred dogs are more likely to develop the symptoms of RMSF after infection than are non-purebred dogs and German shepherd dogs may be at higher risk than other breeds.

With an active RMSF infection, any organ in the body may be affected.

What To Watch For

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs may include:

Diagnosis of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause and help guide subsequent treatment recommendations. These tests may include:

Treatment of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs

Home Care and Prevention

Administer antibiotics as directed by your veterinarian. Antibiotic therapy is usually continued for a 2 to 3 week period. It is important to finish all medications as directed because infection may reoccur if therapy is discontinued too soon.

If you are having difficulty administering the medication, or the antibiotic causes nausea or vomiting in your pet, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

There is no vaccine available for protection against RMSF. Pets that have been infected are immune to re-infection for 9 to 12 months. You should inspect your pet for ticks regularly when the pet comes in from outdoors, particularly in the spring and summer when ticks are most active. Remove ticks from pets as soon as they are detected. Ticks infected with Rickettsia rickettsii must be attached for 5 to 20 hours before they can transmit the organism to your pet. If the tick is removed before this time, transmission cannot occur.

Take care to prevent your own exposure when removing ticks from your pet. Wear gloves or use tweezers to prevent fluid from crushed ticks from contacting abraded areas on your skin. If your yard is heavily infested with ticks, consider an environmental spray to control tick numbers.

Use oral or topically applied tick preventative medication to deter and kill ticks before they can harm your pet.

In-depth Information on Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs

Rocky Mountain spotted fever was first identified in the Rocky Mountain states; however, it is found throughout the United States and parts of Canada, Mexico and Central and South America. Within the United States, most cases (67 percent) are reported along the East Coast and particularly south of Virginia.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a disease carried and transmitted by infected ticks. The ticks responsible for carrying RMSF are Dermatocentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermatocentor andersoni (Rocky mountain wood tick). These ticks serve as the natural host, reservoir and vector for RMSF. Most infections occur in the spring and summer, as this is when the ticks are at their peak activity.

Human exposure occurs when an infected tick is removed from the pet using bare hands and infected blood from the crushed tick contacts and enters the body through abraded skin.

Ticks transmit the rickettsial organism responsible for RMSF to the dog during feeding. The tick must be attached for a minimum of 5 to 20 hours before the disease can be transmitted. Ticks that are removed prior to feeding cannot transmit the disease. Once the organism penetrates the pet’s skin, it enters the blood and lymph and spreads throughout the system to other organs. Fever usually develops within 2 to 3 days of infection and the temperature is commonly over 104 F. The fever is usually accompanied by generalized, non-specific aches and pains, shifting leg lameness, swollen joints, stiff gait, depression, and decreased appetite.

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs

Because Rocky Mountain spotted fever affects so many body systems, it can be confused with many other diseases that cause similar symptoms. Fortunately, the finding of high titers for RMSF make this disease distinguishable from those listed below.

Diagnosis In-depth of Canine Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

In addition to taking an extensive medical history including questions regarding travel and exposure to ticks, your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam and may recommend the following diagnostic tests.

Treatment In-depth of Canine Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Follow-up of Dogs with RMSF

At home, administer all medication prescribed by your veterinarian. Treatment of RMSF often requires a two to three week course of doxycycline. Do not stop medication before instructed or infection may reoccur.

Doxycycline may cause stomach upset in some pets. If you have trouble administering the medication or your pet is nauseated or vomiting as a result of the doxycycline, call your veterinarian as soon as possible.