Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs: Causes, Signs and Treatments (Vet Answer)

Tick-borne diseases are the plague of North America, creating big problems for dogs and people alike. While some tick-borne diseases are well known, such as Lyme Disease, others are just as dangerous but may be less well recognized. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is one such tick-borne disease.

To better understand this significant but treatable disease, we’ve collected all the details you’ll need.

 

What Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a tick-borne disease. This means that it is transmitted to animals via ticks. To do so, they must bite the animal, and transmission can occur within hours, potentially as fast as minutes.

What Causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is caused by an obligate intracellular bacteria called Rickettsia rickettsii. This bacteria is spread through tick bites from a wide range of tick species. Different species are more commonly responsible for infections in certain regions.

Once the bacteria enters a dog’s body, it lives and replicates within endothelial cells (lining) of their blood vessels, causing signs of illness known as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Where Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Found?

This disease is predominantly found across North America and also parts of South America.

In the US, the southwest, central, and mid-Atlantic regions are most affected by the tick season, and, therefore, disease transmission season is highest from March-October every year.

In the eastern part of the US, Dermacentor variabilis is the tick species most responsible for new cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs, while in the southwest Rhipicephalus sanguineus is predominant.

What Animals Can Get Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

While all mammals can be infected by Rickettsia rickettsii, the illness, which we call Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, is only seen in dogs and humans. This means that many species, like rabbits, can help spread the bacteria to more ticks and be what we call a reservoir species, and we wouldn’t know they have it without testing.

What Are the Signs of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs?

There is no one identifying sign of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs; instead, there is a host of what we call non-specific signs that a dog can present with. These signs would be some of the following:

Here are the bleeding and clotting-related signs you should be aware of:

The following are neurological signs:

Because the bacteria that causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever lives in the cells that line a dog’s vasculature, bleeding and loss of clotting is a serious issue that can cause anemias and tissue death.

How Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs Diagnosed?

Dogs showing signs of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever need to be brought to a veterinarian, who can confirm with a physical examination. When suspicious of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, veterinarians can run a blood test for confirmation, in addition to screening blood tests to check red and white blood cell and platelet levels, organ-related chemistry blood values, clotting tests, and a thorough eye examination.

Since fluid can pool in a dog’s abdomen with this disease, needle aspirates or X-rays of the abdomen may be needed. Pneumonia can develop, so some dogs may also need chest X-rays, and dogs with joint pain may need aspirates of their joint fluid assessed.

How Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs Treated?

Despite how scary some of those signs seem, the good news is that this disease is highly treatable with a great prognosis if treatment isn’t delayed. A one-month course of antibiotics will treat this disease, and dogs that finish treatment often have lifelong immunity.

The antibiotic of choice for treatment is doxycycline, though other tetracyclines, enrofloxacin, or chloramphenicol can also work (all antibiotics).

Secondary problems like anemia or lowered clotting ability can be treated with blood transfusions. When the immune system is attacking things like platelets or a dog’s joints, low-dose steroids have been shown to be safe for treatment without worsening the infection.

Most clinical signs will improve within a couple of days of starting treatment though low blood cell levels take weeks to recover. It is important for dogs to finish the entire month of antibiotics even if they seem normal again after a couple of days on the medication.

How Do I Care for a Dog With Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

The best offense is a good defense. If you live in an area with ticks, it is important to keep your dog up to date on tick-preventative medication, and you may consider treating your yard with acaricides (tick pesticides) also.

When bringing your dog home after a Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever diagnosis, be sure to give the full course of antibiotics, and if they are having any problems with appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea, let your veterinary team know so they can help with more supportive care for secondary signs.

Some dogs may suffer long-term health consequences after recovering from their illness, such as developing chronic kidney disease. Regular blood work screenings may be needed for these dogs.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

What other diseases can look like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

Many other tick-borne illnesses can cause the same signs as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, such as Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, or Anaplasmosis. Autoimmune disorders such as Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia or Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia can cause similar signs also. Leptospirosis or Distemper are other possible infectious diseases that can present similarly.

What do I do if I see a tick on my dog?

If you live in tick endemic areas, you’ll want to maintain tick-preventative medication for your dog and also perform tick checks anytime they’ve been at risk for exposure. Quick removal of ticks before they attach to a dog or immediately after significantly lowers the risk of transmission of tick-borne diseases. Tick removal tools are readily available in pet stores and online pharmacies to allow for safe, effective removal of ticks intact.

Be very careful not to remove ticks with your hands or touch them with bare hands afterward as you can also be affected by tick-borne diseases. Ticks that have been removed should be soaked in isopropyl alcohol before disposal.

Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs contagious?

No, it isn’t contagious between dogs and can only be spread through tick bites.

How long does it take for tick bite signs to show up in dogs?

Tick-borne diseases can take weeks, months, or even years to start to show signs, but signs of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever usually start to show within a couple of days of the responsible tick bite.

Can tick fever affect humans?

Yes, it can, presenting with much the same signs and prognosis.

 

Conclusion

While Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can cause numerous and significant signs, it is also very easy to treat. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for a full and uncomplicated recovery. Regular checks for ticks and veterinary visits after noting tick bites are a great way to stay on top of any risks of severe disease.

Since humans can also get Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, always be careful when removing ticks, as skin contact with tick fluids presents a chance for transmission.

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Featured Image Credit: Zozz_, Pixabay