What is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

Deer ticks and lyme disease get a lot of news. But another serious tick-borne disease is called Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Although some dogs might display minor symptoms, other cases are more severe. A dog with an acute case of this disease might have a loss of appetite, fever, swollen and painful joints and even pneumonia or heart arrhythmias that can be fatal.

Although named for the Rocky Mountain region, cases of this disease are most prevalent on the East Coast and in the Midwest and plains regions.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is treatable with antibiotics, but prevention is the best medicine. So it’s important to use tick control products year round and check your pet thoroughly for ticks whenever you’ve been in a tick-infested area!

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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