The dog's body is complex and susceptible to multiple diseases, most of which it shares with humans, since there are truly very few pathologies that exclusively affect people.
The owner must be informed about those diseases that pose a greater danger to our pet, in order to recognize the symptoms early and act appropriately.
In this article on our site we talk about the symptoms and treatment of meningitis in dogs.
What is meningitis?
The term meningitis indicates an inflammation of the meninges, which are the three membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation occurs as a result of an infection caused by microorganisms, whether viruses, bacteria or fungi.
This is a disease that can have fatal consequences for our pet and also does not distinguish between breeds or ages, however, it is true that it affects the following dogs more frequently: Pug, M altese Terrier, Beagle and Bernese Mountain Dog.
Fortunately, it has been proven that this area of our pet's body is one of the least susceptible to infection when compared to other organs or systems.
Symptoms of meningitis in dogs
It is very important to learn what the symptoms of meningitis are in order to be able to detect them early, because if the disease is diagnosed in the early stagesthe prognosis is good.
A dog affected by meningitis will show the following symptoms:
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Changes in behavior
- Agitation and confusion
- Coordination loss
- Fever
- Stiff neck muscles
- Loss of appetite
- Reduced mobility
If we observe some of these symptoms in our dog, it is important that we go to the vet urgently. If meningitis is suspected, a cerebrospinal fluid puncture or a magnetic resonance will be performed to thus check the inflammation of the meninges.
Treatment of meningitis in dogs
The type of treatment will vary depending on the cause of the meningitis, and one or more of the drugs exposed to continuation:
- Corticoids: Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that are used to reduce the response of the immune system and the inflammation produced in the meninges.
- Antibiotics: They will be used when the meningitis is bacterial, they can act by eliminating bacteria or by preventing their reproduction.
- Antiepileptics: Antiepileptic drugs encompass numerous substances that interact with the brain to balance nerve function and prevent seizures.
The priority objective of the treatment is to suppress the inflammatory activity to avoid irreversible neurological damage in the animal. After the veterinarian has prescribed the most appropriate treatment, the dog must undergo a follow-up to assess its response to treatment.
Sometimes the dog may need chronic medication to prevent future episodes of meningitis.
If the meningitis is severe, hospital treatment will be opted for to prevent any complications and maintain adequate hydration levels, using a therapy of intravenous fluids in the most severe cases.
As we mentioned at the beginning, if the diagnosis is made early and the pharmacological treatment is adequate to treat the underlying cause of the meningitis, the prognosis is good.
