Anti-Tick Warfare Part 2 - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
By: Peter Demmon
Rickettsia rickettsii is the name of the bacteria that causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Rickettsia rickettsii (from now on RR) are a form of bacteria that is actually classified somewhere between a virus and true bacteria. RR is transmitted to a dog though the bite of the American Dog Tick and the The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick. RR comes from the Rickettsia genus of bacteria that are grouped together with the label of Proteobacteria. Proteobacteria are a wide-ranging, diverse enough group to be named after Proteus, the shape-changing son of Poseidon in Greek Mythology. Proteus could tell the future, but he didn't just tell the future to anyone, he had to be captured and secured first. Capturing Proteus wasn't easy, because he was a shapeshifter. This is where the word "protean" comes from, and something that is protean is something that can easily take on different forms. This should give you some insight into the variances of the bacteria that is called Rickettsia.
RR is the most lethal of the rickettsial illnesses in the United States. Just because it is called Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever doesn't mean that it is limited to the Rocky Mountains. This is an illness that spans the entire United States, Canada, Central and South America as well. With the following information on tick carriers, tick seasons, processes for tick removal, symptoms, treatments, and preventative measures a dog owner should be better prepared for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and general anti-tick warfare. There is no absolute method for complete tick eradication, but it is good to know what symptoms may result from a Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever infection..
There are two major vectors (organisms that transfer germs to other organisms) for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (from now on RMSF). They are the American Dog Tick and The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick. If your dog does indeed get bitten by a tick, there are many different methods for removal. One older method is to light a match behind the swollen tick and have the tick back out of the wound. I have personally done this method and watched the tick explode or pop due to the heat. I don't recommend it. Also, the heat may cause the tick to release even more of its contaminated saliva into the wound before exiting. Ticks burrow into the flesh head first so the best method by far is to get a pair of tweezers and gently extract the tick by grabbing it by its head, as close to the skin as possible. Pull slowly and surely, and don't yank it out like a splinter. You also don't want to molest the tick's body too hard or the body will break off leaving the tick's head attached. If your dog has been bitten and you aren't sure about the time frame of the bite, it might be wise to schedule a visit to the vet.
Another interesting aspect of RMSF is that the disease adheres to the principles of zoonosis. This means that is can be transmitted via vector from animals to humans and vice-versa. A vector isn't always needed for the transfer of zoonotic diseases however. RMSF is dangerous because it can be transmitted though infected tick guts (hemolymph) or waste matter. This type of infection would be the result of a ruptured or crushed tick. Care should be used when removing and disposing of ticks, whether infected or not. There have been cases of simultaneous infections of RMSF between dogs and their owners. Obviously the tick bite is the most serious method of RMSF transfer, but other contact with the bacteria can produce infection as well. Interestingly enough, RMSF affects only dogs and humans, an RR infection isn't something other animals have to worry about. RMSF has been recognized officially in humans since the 1930s, but wasn't officially diagnosed in dogs until the 1970s.
RMSF is determined by blood tests. There are two stages of RMSF, subclinical and acute. Subclinical is when the dog is infected but doesn't show any outward signs. It might even show up in lab tests, but the dog has had no symptoms, has recovered, or will recover on his own quickly. The acute stage features many different symptoms that can be misdiagnosed as different diseases. Loss of appetite, blood in the urine, irregular heartbeat, discolored spots that look bruises on the skin, swelling in the limbs, pain in the eyes, blown blood vessels in the eyes, swollen lymph nodes, fever, depression, abdominal pain, pain in the muscles and joints, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, blood in the stool, nose bleeds, renal (kidney) failure, heart failure, and possibly even seizures are all symptoms of RMSF.
RR is transmitted via tick saliva to the dog. It usually takes between 5 and 20 hours of attachment and feeding for the transmission of RR to take place. Most cases of RMSF are reported between March and October, with April through November being the primary tick season. Any number of RMSF symptoms will begin happening within 2-14 days of the tick bite. If RMSF is stopped soon enough with the proper antibiotics, the effects can be reduced drastically. However, some dogs react extremely seriously to this disease and their nervous systems can be forever compromised.
There are many different over the counter preventative treatments for ticks. Flea and tick collars are good as are products like Spot On by Zodiac which is basically drops for the skin that spread out over the dog's body and prevent ticks from hitching a ride. These types of preventative maintenance are usually good for several weeks to a month before they need to be re-applied. There are also sprays that can be used outside and near where your dog likes to frolic. The key word with all of these methods of anti-tick warfare is "vigilance," especially during tick season.
If you live in an area that is heavily wooded or has a lot of untended grass and vegetation, the chances of ticks are relatively high. A dog owner whose dog frequents such areas should remain vigilant with all forms of anti-tick warfare. It is good to know that not all ticks carry RR, however, there are some serious steps that can be taken to minimize the chances of your dog being bitten. Comprehension of RMSF, the processes of tick removal, specific RMSF symptoms, and general tick preventative measures are all pieces of information that can help a dog owner with both RMSF and full-on anti-tick warfare.
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