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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever |
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Diagnosis
and treatment of RMSF in dogs |
Diagnosis of RMSF in dogs:
- Diagnosis is initially made based on clinical signs.
- serology
- But caution: sero [+] rates are higher than the prevalence
of actual disease, suggesting exposure to other, nonpathogenic
Rickettsia or the occurrence of subclinical RMSF.
- Acute and convalescent titers and IgM assays can be used
to confirm recent infections more consistently in the case of
RMSF than Lyme disease.
- response to therapy (see below)
Treatment of RMSF in dogs:
- tetracycline (20-30 mg/kg, q8h)
- doxycycline (10-20 mg/kg, g12h)
- In cases not complicated by extensive coagulopathy, the response
to therapy is often dramatic and almost diagnostic.
- Fever and depression are usually vastly improved by 8-12
hours after a single oral dose of tetracycline, and all clinical
signs are generally abated within 24-36 hours.
- This response of RMSF to tetracyclines is much more dramatic
and rapid than the response of Lyme disease to antibiotics.
- Chloramphenicol is also very effective and can be used in
pregnant dogs or young puppies to prevent tetracycline-induced
dental staining.
