Watch out for RMSF

[osprey]

Hey guys, just a heads up to keep your eyes open for signs of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever with your dogs. My lab Evy is battling through a case of it right now and my vet said she's seen lots of cases of it this year. Meds like Frontline we use for ticks and fleas won't do much against it, as the ticks carrying it only have to bite, not stay on and feed for a day like with Lymes.

I noticed my dog just didn't seem her perky self a week ago, and she had a swelled spot on her side. She never perked up, then a few days ago her legs and joints got real bad - she went from acting like a puppy to acting like a 15 year old with hip dysplasia in less than a week. Also was running a fever. She's gotten IV antibiotics and is on pill antibiotics for 30 days, plus pain meds. Broke my heart to see her with it, especially until I knew what it was.

I had RMSF about 6 years ago, and can assure you it's nasty stuff. Had me in the hospital for a week with a 104 degree fever and I could barely walk my knees and ankles hurt so bad.

[bowhntrtom]

Osprey is right be very careful i was bowfishing on the banks a few years back and noticed a bunch of the very small ticks all ove my legs. Well two weeks later I spent a week in the hospital because of it with the worst joint pains I had every felt. But beware RMSF and Lyme or just two of hundreds of things you can get from the little bastards. be carefull out there.

[THE DEER HUNTER]

Hope she feels better soon. My dog has swelling in its eye that was "glaucoma" according to a test. Maybe I'll get a 2nd opinion.

[osprey]

Well it's almost a month later, still 5 days left of antibiotics for her to take, and just these last few days can I say she's back to normal! RMSF is nasty, nasty stuff.

[Bartman]

Dave, funny I just saw this post. My beagle got it too. I knew something was wrong with her last weekend when I went home. She didn't seem herself and her joints were bothering her. Lab tests, just came back today. Vet, said it is a mild case, but I don't necessarily buy it. I told my father to call them back and try to get her on some antibiotics.

[osprey]

With RMST if it's ANY case they should be on antibiotics. It's only going to get worse if left untreated. Watch for fever and a cough, was a week and a half to two weeks before it got really bad with mine so I knew it was something serious...