Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

[BB_TX]

We adopted a 10 yr old Golden nearly 3 yrs ago. A sweet girl who apparently did not have a great previous life. Don't know her full history but she does have a plate/screws in her right hind leg and bad arthritis in her left hip. A few weeks ago, she had to have a plate/screws in her left hind leg for surgery due to a ruptured ACL in that leg.
We were taking her to rehab twice a week. She was really having a hard time getting around. On her 3rd visit, we suddenly realized she could not see! The vision problem happened basically overnight. Fortunately there was an animal opthomologist in the same building. A quick visit to the opthomologist revealed both eyes were severly infected, blood shot, and she was basically blind. Eye tests were done and blood samples taken and lymph nodes samples taken. Vet immediately started her on medications for rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) as she was showing typical symptoms. A couple days later it was confirmed and we were instructed to continue the meds.
After about a week, the change in her condition was amazing. Her left eye is back to normal and her right eye is clearing. And she is bouncing around like a puppy seemingly pain free. Vet said RMSF can also cause joint pain. He also said the leg operation could have triggered a dormant RSMF. It can cause an auto-immune reaction that causes parts of the body to attack themselves.
She also had a spell of mini-seizures back in August. Phenobarbatol (sp?) stopped that but the neurology clinic could find no obvious reason for them. But the vet said (after the RMSF diagnosis) that the RMSF may have caused those also.
We had vacationed in Colorado but never saw any ticks on her. But vet said he had seen RSMF cases where the dog had never been out of Texas.
In any event, we caught it time to prevent any serious long term complications and are thankful for that.
Just a heads up in case any of your pets show similar symptoms.

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

So sorry for you fur baby to go through all this, thanks for the posting, and congrats on the observations that have saved her.

[exav8tr]

BB TX, Also sorry for your angst and the problems with your buddy, BUT SO GLAD TO HEAR OF THE RECOVERY, THIS IS TRULY A GREAT ENDING. Give that sweet girl a big hug from Phil & Cathy. Hope to meet her, and you guys also, on the road some day.

[Bill-N-Donna]

Sounds like they may have caught it; hopefully things will get better now for her.