Amy Shojai's Blog, page 75
April 13, 2017
Scared Cats? Here’s How to Solve Feline Stranger Danger!
Scared Cats? Here’s How to Solve Feline Stranger Danger!
Does your new kitten hide under the bed? Do your adult cats disappear when visitors ring the doorbell? Does the new puppy send kitty into hiss-terics? Learning why scared cats act that way helps you know how to avoid “fright … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
Thriller Thursday: Sherry Knowlton Releases DEAD OF SPRING #ITWBLOG
Thriller Thursday: Sherry Knowlton Releases DEAD OF SPRING #ITWBLOG
THRILLER THURSDAY is a new occasional feature of Bling, Bitches & Blood. As a member of International Thriller Writers and alumni of the ITW Debut Author Program, it is my honor to showcase select ITW authors and books participating in … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
April 8, 2017
Thriller Thursday-on Saturday! Michael Niemann Releases ILLICIT TRADE #ITWBLOG
Thriller Thursday-on Saturday! Michael Niemann Releases ILLICIT TRADE #ITWBLOG
THRILLER THURSDAY is a new occasional feature of Bling, Bitches & Blood. As a member of International Thriller Writers and alumni of the ITW Debut Author Program, it is my honor to showcase select ITW authors and books participating in … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
Spay-Neuter Pets & Feline Fix By Five Months
Spay-Neuter Pets & Feline Fix By Five Months
Spay neuter pets? Kittens and puppies and litters, oh my! Yes, it’s that time of year when a feline fix by five months (puppies, too!) will save you and your pets a LOT of headaches. It’s all about spay and … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
5 Kinds of Dog Aggression: #GetTough on Dog Fighting
5 Kinds of Dog Aggression: #GetTough on Dog Fighting
April 8th is DOG FIGHTING AWARENESS DAY, and I’ve written about this before. It’s a good time to review the 5 common kinds of dog aggression and what to do. According to the ASPCA, dog fighting happens all over the … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
April 6, 2017
Dog Allergies & Soothing Itchy Dogs
Dog Allergies & Soothing Itchy Dogs
Spring is the SNEEZE season for humans, complete with runny eyes and sinus issues. For dog allergies, itchy skin is the more common sign of discomfort. It’s less common, but runny eyes also may develop–and of course, my Magical-Dawg has … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
March 22, 2017
Top 10 Puppy Proofing Tips to Save Dog Lives for National Puppy Day!
Top 10 Puppy Proofing Tips to Save Dog Lives for National Puppy Day!
March 23 is National Puppy Day! Whether you plan to adopt a puppy, or already live with a cute puppy-kid, it’s important to know the top puppy proofing tips to save dog lives. I’m also formally announcing the re-issue of … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
March 15, 2017
Have You Howled Today? Why Dogs Howl & What it Means
Have You Howled Today? Why Dogs Howl & What it Means
Do your dogs howl? Lately, Magical-Dawg has begun howling more often. For northern breeds, dog howling comes very naturally, but for my aging German Shepherd, his howls are more unusual. Oh, he’s always howled when I sing certain notes (everyone’s a … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
Ringworm: The Naked Truth & What to Do
Ringworm: The Naked Truth & What to Do
Many years ago, I had my first run-in with ringworm when my German shepherd (age 12 at the time) developed ball patches. A dozen years later, my second personal experience happened when I adopted a stray kitten I named Seren. … Continue reading →
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
March 3, 2017
Dog Ticks & Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Dog Ticks & Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
I’ve written about dog ticks and tick diseases before, including ehrlichiosis. Another devastating condition transmitted by ticks is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Ticks attach themselves and may be hidden by fur.
I’m sharing this entry about ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER, an excerpt from Dog Facts, The Series 18 (Chapter R) This chapter covers a lot of ground, and here’s the topic list:
Rabies, Reading Food Labels, Reproduction, Respiration, Respiratory Distress, Restraint, Ringworm, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Rolling, and Roundworms.
I’ve broken the massive book into discounted treat-size alpha-chapter sections. Folks can choose which ones they most need. Each chapter will release every other week. Of course, you can still get the entire book either in Kindle or 630+ pages of print.
Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial
WHAT IS ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a rickettsial disease caused by the organism Rickettsia rickettsii. Rickettsiae are tiny bacteria-sized parasites that live inside cells, and most spend a portion of their life cycle in an insect vector which then transmits them to an animal host, or reservoir. People and dogs are not the natural host for most of these agents, but can become ill when infected.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be transmitted by several different kinds of ticks, particularly the wood tick and the American dog tick. The illness affects both people and dogs.
A young Magic loved wandering the fields…and easily picked up ticks.
HOW DO DOGS GET
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER
The disease is seasonal, with most cases occurring from spring to early fall. It has been reported in nearly every state, but is most prevalent in the central states from Colorado west to the coast. Most infected dogs may not show any signs at all, but others can suffer severe illness and rapid death. For unknown reasons, Siberian Huskies appear to be most severely affected.
The agent is transmitted to the dog from the bite of an infected tick, and the rickettsiae travel from the tissues to the lymphatic system. They proliferate in the cells found in the walls of small blood vessels throughout the body. This prompts an inflammatory response that results in blood clotting and bleeding disorders, and organ damage.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER?
Signs begin with vague illness and continue to get worse. Watch for :
fever of up to 105 degrees
loss of appetite
signs of arthritis
coughing or labored breathing
abdominal pain
vomiting and diarrhea
swelling of the face or extremities
thick mucoid discharge from the eyes and nose.
Neurologic signs are also common, and may include altered mental states, poor balance, and a rigid neck. Many of these acute signs are similar to canine distemper.
A week or two following initial signs, the dog develops bleeding disorders similar to ehrlichiosis. Nosebleeds, bleeding beneath the skin, or in the urine or feces may result in shock and multiple organ failure. Loss of blood circulation may lead to gangrene and death of affected tissue. Ultimately, kidney failure causes death.
HOW IS ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER DIAGNOSED & TREATED?
Diagnosis is sometimes difficult to make, but Rocky Mountain spotted fever should be suspected when these signs appear in a tick-infested dog during spring to fall. The diagnosis is best confirmed with tests, which are available in veterinary laboratories or schools.
When the disease is suspected, dogs should be treated immediately with tetracycline even before blood tests confirm the diagnosis. Dogs suffering from acute disease will respond with a reversal of symptoms within only a day or two of antibiotic therapy, which should be continued for two to three weeks. They may also require other supportive therapy, such as fluid replacement to combat shock and clotting disorders. Once they recover from infection, dogs appear to become resistant to reinfection.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MY DOG?
To prevent the disease, practice tick control with appropriate insecticides. In most instances, the tick vector must be attached and feeding for 12 to 48 hours before a rickettsial agent can be transmitted. Therefore, prompt removal of any ticks found on your dog will virtually eliminate chance of the disease.
However, the crushed tick that contaminates your skin may result in infection, s
o wear gloves and/or use tweezers to remove ticks from your pet, to protect yourself from exposure. Human signs of the disease include flu-like symptoms, and a rash on the hands, wrists, ankles and feet. See your doctor immediately if you suspect you’ve been exposed, because the disease causes death in 15 to 20 percent of untreated human cases.
Find out more details about digging and other “R” topics in Dog Facts, The Series 18 (Chapter R).
Does your dog get ticks? Are you using tick treatment to protect him? Has your dog ever suffered from a tick-borne disease–or have YOU? Someone I know currently is going through long-term debilitating treatment to get rid of a tick-borne illness.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Note: Upon occasion, affiliate links to books or other products may be included in posts, from which I earn a small amount with each purchase from the blog. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
