Meningitis is a neurological emergency involving the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Anything that could affect the brain or spinal cord is fatal and debilitating. Understanding how this comes about, its symptoms and treatment will help you as a dog owner keep your pet safe from meningitis.
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Content:
- How to Keep Dogs Warm Outside During the Winter
- How to Protect Dog Paws and Nose in Winter
- Tips for Walking Dogs in the Winter
- How to Exercise Your Dog in the Winter
- Other Things to Do with Your Dog in the Winter
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Meningitis in Dogs Symptoms
Meningitis is a neurological condition that presents as an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Its symptoms may involve a dysfunction of the brain or spinal cord function such as incoordination. Report shows that dogs with meningitis experience pain on opening the mouth as one of the most common symptoms of meningitis.
Having the Petcube Camera set up in your home makes it easy to notice the consistent pattern of these neurological symptoms. Even if your dog is not close by, you can observe some of the symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Incoordination
- Paralysis
- Neck Pain
- Seizure/Stiffness
- Circling
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
“Common signs of meningitis include; painful muscle spasm, rigidity and neck pain which may or may not come with CNS dysfunction”, - Dr. MaureenT. Long
A friend of mine had a dog who suffered from meningitis, symptoms like circling were obvious but were not taken seriously because she thought the dog was just goofing around not until it developed episodes of seizures. She took it to the Vet and the results came back positive with meningitis.
How Do Dogs Get Meningitis
There are several ways dogs could get meningitis, which could be infectious or noninfectious. Infectious meningitis could occur in any dog irrespective of breed or age while the non-infectious type may have some preferences in some dog age group or breed. Research shows that sporting, hounds and brachycephalic dogs are mostly predisposed to non-infectious meningitis.
Infectious Meningitis
Infections in the form of bacteria, viruses, protozoans or parasites like heartworms could lead to meningitis in dogs. They come into the body through open wounds, the inner ear, sinuses or the nasal cavity and spread to the brain and spinal cord through the bloodstream.
Non-Infectious Meningitis
Non-infectious meningitis in dogs is caused by an autoimmune response whereby the body attacks its tissues or the central nervous system leading to encephalitis alongside meningitis, also known as meningoencephalitis. Much research has been going into the cause of meningoencephalitis but most conclusions come back as immune-mediated.
This form of meningitis takes several forms depending on the age and breed of the dog. They include; Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA), necrotising meningoencephalitis (NME), granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME) and necrotizing leucoencephalitis (NLE). Young and middle-aged female small-breed dogs like Pugs and Chihuahuas are mostly predisposed to these types of meningitis.
Meningitis in Dogs Treatment
After several neurological examinations, the Veterinarian would determine the therapy for a meningitis case according to the type of meningitis and its cause. Fluid analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid alongside clinical signs, blood work, MRI and X-ray correlations are used for diagnosis of meningitis.
Meningitis is a delicate condition of the central nervous system that needs aggressive immunosuppressive treatments involving steroids and anti-inflammatory therapy. This will help curtail inflammation or suppress the immune system and control autoimmune response, especially in cases of auto-mediated meningitis.
“My 8-year old dog was diagnosed with meningitis and his therapy included immunosuppressant (2-3 weeks) and prednisone steroids”, - Reddit User
Meningitis caused by a viral or bacterial infection would most likely include antibiotics, fluid therapy and anti-inflammatory medications. This will help reduce bacterial proliferation, replenish fluid loss and reduce pain or inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Once the cause of meningitis is known, it becomes easy to choose the right therapy.
Managing a dog with a meningitis is costly, and having the Petcube Emergency Fund helps. It offers $3,000 for emergency vet bills and access to online vets. Use this link to get the fund with a 27% discount.
FAQs
What is meningitis in dogs?
Meningitis in dogs simply means inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord which makes up the central nervous system.
What to test for meningitis in dogs?
To test for meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid analysis is carried out alongside brain and spinal cord imaging.
Conclusion
Meningitis in dogs is a delicate condition that should be treated as an emergency when noticed. If reported and managed on time, then a good prognosis is possible. To prevent this, dog owners should visit the Vet for routine checkup and vaccinate their dogs against infections that could possibly lead to meningitis.