Description: A tick-borne zoonotic disease which is prevalent in areas where the tick vectors--American Dog Tick and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Tick--are present. Being a zoonotic disease, it can affect both dogs and humans. It is caused by the Rickettsia organism Rickettsia rickettsii. After ticks feed on infected animals, it has to be attached to another host (dog or person) for a minimum of 5-20 hours in order for the transmission of Rickettsia rickettsii to take place. Most cases of the infection occur during the tick season. Affected dogs show non-specific symptoms including fever, anorexia, muscular and joint pains, edema of the face and legs, and swollen lymph nodes. Some dogs experience seizures, pneumonia, retinal hemorrhages, cardiac arrhythmias, nose bleeds and have streaks of blood in their stools. Some dogs have ulcers in the parts of the body lined by mucus membranes. Clinical signs usually appear within two weeks after the dog had been bitten by a tick carrying the causative organism. Death may occur in severe cases. Blood tests will show a low platelet count, a mild anemia, and an abnormally high liver enzymes. A serological test will demonstrate the presence of antibodies against Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Antibiotics such as enrofloxacin, tetracycline, or doxycycline are given for a period of 10-14 days. The best way to protect your dog against Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever include tick and rodent control because Dermacentor ticks spend a part of their life cycle in rodents.

Breeds Commonly Affected: no breed predisposition