Despite our best efforts to protect her, Gudgeon, like so many other dogs, has picked up a tick-borne disease.
Last weekend, we were within 24 hours of hitting the road to drive to Ohio to do a breeding when we learned that Gudgeon had tested positive for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. We were looking into a slight limp that had developed with some stiffness after resting.
Our dogs are tested annually at wellness visits and again if they seem unwell in any way. When investigating any instances of unwellness, we always want to rule out tick-borne diseases as they can cause joint pain, lethargy, inappetance, etc. The standard test for tick borne diseases used in most vet practices is the IDEXX SNAP 4Dx. It tests for Heartworm Disease, Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis. Gudgeon was all clear on the SNAP test. So, we were taking the next step to visit Dr. Sherman Canapp at Veterinary Orthopedic Sports Medicine. In addition to looking for other explanations for her limping, he ran a more sensitive tick panel which tests for additional tick-borne diseases that are not picked up with the SNAP test. And, this is how we discovered the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever infection.
And, thank goodness that we did discover it when we did. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be deadly for the infected dog and the antibiotic used to treat the infection can cause defects in puppies in utero. Of course our commitment to Gudgeon’s care comes before any hopes that we may have for a litter. So, Gudgeon started treatment right away and we postponed our breeding plans. Gudgeon is in good health and good spirits. She has an appointment for bloodwork and urinalysis to make sure that the RMSF isn’t causing any organ damage. And, today, she started physical therapy to help with the orthopedic effects.
It is important to say that our dogs are always on flea and tick preventatives. We’ve used different products over the years. Gudgeon has been on Bravecto for the last two years or so. In the past, we found Seresto collars to provide perfect protection, but we don’t like our dogs to wear collars all the time. So we tried something different. Obviously we need to change course now that we know what we know. Ticks are a big concern here in Maryland for the dogs and for us. Now, over the last decade our dogs have had Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis, and now, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. And, the humans have had a few cases of Lyme Disease. We are not about to live our lives in a bubble, so we will step up our protective measures and keep enjoying the great outdoors. Have I mentioned yet how much I hate ticks? We really wanted to raise a litter of pups this fall and welcome new folks into our extended dog family, but, instead, we will take care of our Gudgeon and make sure she’s alright.
And, so, motherhood can wait.