What are Meningoencephalitis?
Meningoencephalitis is a painful and debilitating disease that can be caused by anything that precipitates inflammation anywhere in the body. Some of these are infected wounds, sinuses, or ears that migrate to the brain, toxic chemical exposure, insect bites (ticks or mosquitos usually), untreated streptococcus, E. coli infection, and staphylococcus infections, and sometimes it is just spontaneous, although that is rare. Some of the first signs of meningoencephalitis are extreme sensitivity to touch, stiff muscles, and stumbling.
Meningoencephalitis is actually a merging of two illnesses that often occur together in dogs. Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, which is the outer layer of the brain and spinal cord. Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain. These are dangerous disorders when they occur separately, so they are twice as serious when they occur together. This disease affects the central nervous system (CNS) which affects all the vital parts of the body. Unfortunately, by the time your dog starts showing obvious symptoms, such as fever, confusion, and convulsions, it may have already done irreparable damage. But, if the source of the meningoencephalitis is one of the curable causes, with aggressive treatment your dog has a chance if you get to a veterinary professional right away.
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Symptoms of Meningoencephalitis in Dogs
The symptoms are usually pretty extreme by the time you notice them which is what makes meningoencephalitis such a dangerous illness. Once the main CNS symptoms are evident, the disease has already done some damage to the nervous system and it may be too late for treatment. However, with aggressive treatment, it is always possible. Watch for these signs of illness:
- Increased body temperature
- Rigid stance
- Neck pain (holding the head very stiff)
- Depression
- Loss of balance
- Lack of motor control
- Disorientation
- Weakness
- Abnormal behavior
- Irritation and nervousness
- Tilting the head
- Sensitivity to touch
- Lethargy
- Muscle spasms
- Walking in circles
- Loss of appetite
- Blindness
- Partial paralysis (usually in the legs or face)
- Seizures
- Fainting
- Coma
- Death (common mortality rate between 60% and 100%, depending on the source)
Types
The different types of meningoencephalitis are similar to the causes of the disease, which are:
- Immune system meningoencephalitis – The body attacks its own cells, which causes inflammation of the nerves
- Bacterial – Eye, ear, or sinus infection, infected wound
- Viral – Rabies, distemper
- Fungal - Blastomycosis
- Parasitic - Trichinosis
- Rickettsial – Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, lyme disease
- Protozoan - Toxoplasmosis
- Idiopathic – Unknown
Causes of Meningoencephalitis in Dogs
All dogs of any age and gender are susceptible to meningoencephalitis, but there are certainly some groups of animals that are higher risk. These are:
- Puppies under three months of age and dogs above eight years old because of their low immune system
- Certain breeds (Pug, Maltese, Bernese Mountain dog, and Beagle)
- Dogs with chronic diseases because of their lowered immune system
Diagnosis of Meningoencephalitis in Dogs
If you believe your dog could have meningoencephalitis, you need to go to the nearest animal hospital or emergency clinic. Be sure to call ahead to let the staff know that your dog may have a contagious form of meningoencephalitis, just in case. That way, they can make arrangements for you to take your pet directly to a private room so as not to infect the other animals. The veterinarian on duty will talk to you at length about your dog’s medical history and immunization records and why you believe your dog has meningoencephalitis. Be sure to let the veterinarian know if your dog is on any kind of medication, whether it is a prescription or not. This is important because it may affect the diagnosis and the treatment plan.
A comprehensive medical examination will be done to assess your dog’s overall health, body temperature, weight, height, reflexes, pupil reaction time, respiration and heart rate, blood pressure, and breath sounds. The most important test in this case is the spinal tap, in which the veterinarian will place your dog under anesthesia and take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid to analyze. The results of the test will likely show an increase in protein, globulin, and white blood cells if your dog has meningoencephalitis. Other tests that may be needed are a complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemical analysis, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and packed cell volume (PCV). Imaging, such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI may be necessary as well.
Treatment of Meningoencephalitis in Dogs
To treat your dog for meningoencephalitis, the cause has to be determined. There are different procedures and types of medications for each cause.
Fluids and Oxygen
Your pet will be given intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes for dehydration and to boost the metabolism.
Medication
Some of the medicines the veterinarian may give your dog are corticosteroids, antibiotics (cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, metronidazole, tetracyclines, and ampicillin), antifungal medication, pain medication for discomfort, itraconazole or fluconazole for mycotic infection, clindamycin and anticonvulsants to control seizures.
Hospitalization
Your dog will be kept for at least 24 hours for treatment and observation. Since the mortality rate is so high, the veterinarian may let you take your pet home right away and just give you medication for pain. If your dog is obviously suffering, though, your veterinarian may suggest euthanizing your dog.
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Recovery of Meningoencephalitis in Dogs
The prognosis for meningoencephalitis is not promising. In fact, this is usually fatal within just a few days or weeks because once your dog shows symptoms it is already affecting the CNS. However, this depends on the cause of the meningoencephalitis. If the cause is immune-related or bacterial, the chances for successful recovery are not good, but possible with continued aggressive treatment. Viral infections show a high mortality rate at 60% to 85%, but if your dog can handle the treatment, the disease may be beaten. No matter what the cause, if your dog is in severe pain and no chance of recovery, euthanasia may be the only choice.
Meningoencephalitis Average Cost
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Meningoencephalitis Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
English Mastiff
Ajax the Great
3 Years
10 found this helpful
10 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Lethargy, Anorexia
3 year old English Mastiff male dx with Meningitis spinal nerve weakness R side greater then left side, no abnormal cranial nerve exam, at on set, ataxia, confusion, falling initial symptoms, dx with elevated WBC in spinal fluid and fluid not clear but no pus, normal CTw/wo scan , brain, cervical spine normal, in hospital 3 days tx with doxycycline, and s 40mg daily steroid, normal serum chemistry and cell counts, over last 9 days he has lost 20 pounds, seen Saturday because of diarrhea so bad it was explosive, DX with bacterial enteritis including giardiea , had slightly elevated liver enzymes but WBC normal and after platelets looked at under scope determined they were adequate. WE live where deers, raccoons and opossums reside ( Austin tx). A second dog 3 houses down also got DX with Meningitis 2 weeks before my dog did. He is now 4 weeks out with same symptoms. Both the dogs were DX with steroid responsive meningitis.
My dog got a big shot of PCN on Saturday and sent home on Metronidazole. He was taken off Doxy after d days because negative Tick
titers . He is on 10mg of prednisone now daily.
His best day was Saturday, after getting the PCN injection. I am feeding him soft food with spoon, because he seems to have difficulty getting hard food in his mouth.
I am worried both dogs have an infection from one of these wild animals.
Nov. 27, 2017
10 Recommendations
The most common causes of meningitis in dogs include viruses, protozoan parasites, other parasites, fungal infections or rickettsia; sources of infection may include other dogs or wild animals. Treatment will be aggressive and long term, but identification of the specific pathogen is important to understand the origin of the infection; your Veterinarian may take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for examination to identify the cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.msdvetmanual.com/dog-owners/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders-of-dogs/meningitis-and-encephalitis-in-dogs
Nov. 27, 2017
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French Bulldog
Marty
5 Years
6 found this helpful
6 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Pain
Loss Of Balance
Muscle Tremor
Loss Of Mass
Neck Pain (Holding The Head Very Stif
My dogs had a meningoencephalitis,unknown type.We give him antibiotics(ryfampicin), corticosteroids about 2 weeks, but we dont see a result
What we can do? What treatment is still available?
Sept. 28, 2017
6 Recommendations
Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin can be difficult to treat and generally carries and unfavourable prognosis; if not performed already, an examination of cerebrospinal fluid would be a good diagnostic test to perform next. If the case is a true case of meningoencephalitis of unknown origin it would be best to visit a Neurologist for a second opinion and for Marty to receive immunosuppressive therapy (as long as your Veterinarian is sure there is no infection). Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/attachments/ASK_Canine%20Meningoencephalomyelitis.pdf
Sept. 29, 2017
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Boston Terrier
Ernest
4 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Weakness
Head Tilt
Loss Of Balance
Muscle Tremor
Ernest showed symptoms of muscle tremors and shaking 7 days ago. Has been taken to vet immediately who ran MRI and prescribed steroid and pain killer, as they believed it was a disc issue and sent him home. Over the past 7 days he has had increased issues with balance, lethargic and not settled but stil mobile. MRI was non conclusive but showed something near C3 and C4 which they thought it was a compression lesion. Ernest went in again for CT scan with dye test which concluded issue is in spine but not a compression lesion. A spinal tap was taken and we are awaiting results.
The vet is very uncertain what the issue is and believes it is a tumour or meningitis. After this test we hope we get a definitive answer as we do not know what else to do. The vet has consulted with surgical, medical and neurological team.
He does not appear in any pain besides when the vet originally examed and stretched his next up. Do you have any other advise?
Meningoencephalitis Average Cost
From 430 quotes ranging from $2,000 - $4,000
Average Cost
$3,000
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