Meningitis in Dogs: Unraveling Causes & Symptoms
Meningitis in dogs often has unknown causes that affect your dog’s central nervous system, which may result in chronic pain and severe seizures for your dog as well as bills for thousands of dollars to get MRI’s, ultrasounds and dozens of laboratory tests just to discover the treatments for meningitis to try to determine what’s wrong with your dog, which may not shed light on the cure … and even worse, you may never know how your dog got this life-threatening disease.
This news alert gives you 6 keys to unravel causes and symptoms of meningitis or inflammation in your dog’s brain and spinal cord. Puppies and older dogs with lowered immune systems are at greatest risk for catching meningitis.
6 Possible Causes of Meningitis in Dogs
Meningitis often develops as a secondary infection that may start in your dog’s ears or nose. Frequently, this disease results from a virus or irregular immune system response and can be idiopathic which means the cause is unknown.
Possible causes of your dog’s meningitis:
- Bacterial infections – Your dog may have an infection of his ears, eyes or nose. These infections can reach your dog’s brain and spinal cord through his blood.
- Parasites – Infections like distemper, parvo and rabies can spread to your dog’s central nervous system and cause inflammation that leads to neurological damage.
- Lyme disease – Another possible cause of meningitis may be lyme disease which could lead to inflammation of membranes surrounding your dog’s brain and spinal cord.
- Toxins – Drugs and vaccines can also lead to inflammation of your dog’s nervous system.
- Steroids – Steroid responsive meningitis occurs when the walls of your dog’s arteries become inflamed.
Breeds – Some dog breeds like Pugs, Beagles and Bernese Mountain Dogs are susceptible to meningitis
Symptoms of Meningitis in Dogs
Identifying the Symptoms
· Muscle spasms, seizures and weakness in his legs, neck and back
· Head tilting, unsteady walking and sensitivity to your touch
· Lethargy, weakness and depression
· Fever, vomiting and low blood pressure
Advanced cases of meningitis in dogs can result in:
- Uncontrolled movements and loss of muscle coordination or ataxia
- Blindness and paralysis
- Confusion, depression and aggression
Caring for Dogs with Meningitis
Providing Care for Dogs with Meningitis
Since meningitis is a progressive disease in dogs, the best care you can give your dog is to reduce his inflammation and keep him hydrated. Ask your veterinarian for all the options you can choose to make your dog as comfortable as possible.
Unfortunately, there are no clear-cut answers to how your dog gets meningitis. This article gives you 6 keys to help you unravel the possible causes of meningitis so you can have some tips which I hope will guide you to new ways to comfort your dog. If your dog hasn’t yet come down with meningitis, then I hope these 6 keys to help you unravel the causes of meningitis will help you prevent your dog from catching this life-threatening disease.
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