Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

[OutlineACDs]

While I was having all of this trouble with Zen and his limp a friend suggested to get a tick panel run on him.

We finally got the results back today and he is negative for everything but Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

I called my vet and he indicated that the numbers were low and were not particularly difinitive for RMSF and that we should play the "wait and see" approach right now.

Here are the results from the lab: "Negative- No antibody present at 1:25"
"Positive @ (titer); antibody present @ titer 1:400"

I did a quick google and really couldn't find anything specific about lab results, except it mentioning to recheck in 2-4 weeks and use an IgG antibody test. I'm not sure exactly what Zen's test was it just says "Rocky mountain spotted fever".

Should I go back to my vet and request and IgG antibody test? Should I just wait and see?

As an aside, Zen has never shown any symptoms of RMSF except the off and on limping that I couldn't always pin down. He did just have surgery to correct a luxating patella though, so the limp was very well warranted. I've never noticed him to act lethsrgic, or have any swelling, fever, skin conditions etc that are mentioned for RMSF.

Just looking for any guidance on where to go from here. Thanks

 

[OutlineACDs]

Nobody?

 

[Dizzy]

Never even heard of it! Sorry!

 

[OutlineACDs]

Never even heard of it! Sorry!

That's ok.

It's a tick-borne illness. Animals in areas with high tick populations are more prone to getting things like this. The actual disease process sounds quite scary with death being possible which is why I'm asking.

I also can't find much information about being a carrier of it, etc. It seems that a 30-day round of doxycycline is the treatment of choice, but thats in the acute stage. The person who told me to have a tick panel run on him, her dog has chronic RMSF. He will have flare-ups and she has to treat with doxy again.