Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a serious and potentially fatal disease in both dogs and people. It is one of the tick-borne zoonotic diseases that can be transmitted by the bite an infected tick.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs
Your dog may become infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever if he is bitten by an infected ticks. The disease is caused by a bacteria known as Rickettsia rickettsii which is passed by the tick to your dog while the tick is feeding on your dog's blood.
Several species of ticks are known to pass the disease but most commonly involved are the Dermacentor species commonly known as the American dog tick.
The most common symptoms seen in dogs infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever include fever, platelet destruction leading to bruising and abnormal bleeding, joint swelling, muscle aches, difficulty breathing and eye problems. The disease can be fatal if not treated.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in People
Rocky Mountain spotted fever can also be passed to people through tick bites in much the same way it is passed to dogs. Less frequently, people can become infected through contact with tick excrement or blood from a tick with an open wound or break in the skin. This is the reason that ticks should never be handled with bare hands.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is not typically passed directly from a dog to a person. However, your dog or even your cat can serve as a vector for bringing ticks into your home where the ticks can then begin feeding on you or your family.
Although Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be found almost anywhere in the United States, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 60% of the cases diagnosed are from the following five states: North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri.
Some of the symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in people include:
- fever
- rash
- headaches
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- muscle pain
- lack of appetite
- eye disease
Rocky Mountain spotted fever can become fatal for infected people.
Protect Your Family and Your Dog from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Because Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a tick-borne disease, tick control remains the single most effective means of preventing the disease.
- Check both dogs and cats thoroughly for ticks and remove them promptly when found. Though dogs are at higher risk for infection with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, it has been demonstrated that cats can also become infected with the disease. Even if not infected, cats can still bring ticks into your home that can pose a threat to you and your family.
- Consider using a montly preventive medication for fleas and ticks on your dog or cat.
- Check yourself thoroughly for ticks, particularly if you have been in high risk tick areas. Remove any ticks found promptly. Do not forget to check your children thoroughly for ticks also.
- Take measures to keep your yard free of ticks. Keep your grass mowed short and remove any high grasses or brush from near your home. Do not place picnic tables, play areas, decks or patios near wooded areas or areas with high grasses.
- Remember that wild animals and birds can transplant ticks into your yard also. Do not assume your yard is completely free of ticks because you have no wooded areas or areas with high grasses.