Meningitis In Dogs

[Teebs]

Hi all,

I am posting on behalf of a friend

They have a 12 - 18 month old German Shepherd, Harvey.

A few months ago he got very sick, it turned out to be Meningitis, he was on a heap of medication and thought he would not make it, but he did.

He was ok for a few weeks, but last week has gone down hill again, they have started him on steroids, one every second day, but have not seen much of an improvement, he is not really interested in doing anything, he is not eating much and is cold all the time

I was talking to the owner the other day and they are so worried and just dont know what to do, I said i would post on here and see if i can find any more info out for them and get back to them

Has anyone's dog had this? How did you help them get over it?

Thanks

Cin

[goldchow]

Cin I,m currently nursing an older girl through what bloodwork has indicated is a type of Meningitis also. She began five days ago with a very high temp of 41.2 which took some time to lower in the hydrobath and during which she had a massive seizure becoming unconscience momentarily. The vet did bloodwork which indicated a massive infection, probably in the brain so she was given a large dose of intramuscular antibiotics and pain relief. I brought her home on Macrolin twice daily and Endofloxacin and the last two days she has shown improvement and is now eating small amounts (Of BBQ Chicken & yoghurt)

This girls son was also diagnosed with a type of Meningitis six years ago when he was only 18 months old, again with a high temp, very lethargic but also very unco-ordinated to the point he was falling over all the time. He spent 4 days in intensive care at the Albany Creek Specialist Centre where every conceivable test was done including spinal taps, all of which came back clear. The specialist treating him happened to speak to a neurologist who felt Martys symptoms indicated thiamine deficency and which blood work then proved to be correct. His mum, the girl currently being treated for meningitis is also on the borderline of thiamine deficiency.

She has never been bred from again as the B1 deficiency is genetic and not diet related.

This may have nothing to do with your friends GSD however it may give them food for thought and more questions to ask. The specialist I dealt with and who is now at the St Lucia university campus tells me vets are seeing many more dogs nowadays with thiamine deficiency due to diets containing preservatives, particularly sulphur dioxide or 220. She also said they had a great deal to learn about how to treat this problem and that many vets also are unaware of, or don't think to suspect thiamine deficiency.

[Earthdog]

No advice, just wanted to say how awful for poor Harvey and his people.

[*Lolapalooza*]

Try googling Aseptic Meningitis. It is a different disease to the 'usual' bacterial meningitis that a person would get.

I know in some breeds including mine it can be seen in families of dogs, so they should let their breeder know.

I am so sorry for your friend hope it all works out.

[Teebs]

thanks guys! I am going to email them and pass this link on for them to read so they can have some more info!

[ish]

I've got a GSD with steriod responsive meningitis - but it doesn't sound like thats the type your friends dog has, as when my boy was put on the large doses of cortisone he came good very quickly. If it does end up being the steriod responsive kind though, I'm happy to share my experiences if it helps

Hope Harvey gets better soon

[Teebs]

Ok, just been told they do not have internet at the moment, I will print this thread off and pass it on to them today!

[Jigsaw]

My toy poodle was diagnosed with meningitis by a specialist vet after confounding the local vet with his symptoms. After initially being treated with antibiotics he did not improve so we went on to the specialist. He was quite ill for a while. He was extremely uncoordinated when walking but was a little better when moving faster. Basically his front legs went at a different rythm to his back legs. It's many years ago now but he did respond to cortisone but was on it for well over a month. He did make a good recovery and he was aged around 11 or 12 at the time.