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The dog's organism is complex and susceptible to suffering from multiple diseases, most of them shared with humans, as there are truly few diseases that affect only people.
Dog owners must be informed about those diseases that pose a greater danger to their pet, so that they recognize the symptoms in advance and act accordingly. In this article by PeritoAnimal we will tell you the symptoms and treatment of meningitis in dogs.
What is meningitis?
The term meningitis indicates a inflammation of the meninges, which are those three membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation occurs as a consequence of an infection caused by microorganisms, whether viruses, bacteria or fungi.
It is a disease that can have fateful consequences for our pet and that furthermore does not distinguish races or ages. However, the truth is that it most frequently affects the following puppies: Pug, Beagle, Maltese and Bernês Cattle.
Fortunately, it has been proven that this area of our pet's body is one of the least susceptible to getting infections compared to other organs or systems.
Symptoms of Meningitis in Dogs
It is very important to learn what the symptoms of meningitis are so that you can detect them in time, as the disease develops. diagnose in early stages the prognosis is good.
A dog affected by meningitis will manifest the following symptoms:
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Changes in behavior
- agitation and confusion
- loss of coordination
- Fever
- Stiffness in neck muscles
- loss of appetite
- Reduced mobility
If you notice any of these symptoms in your puppy, it is important to go to the vet with him right away. If meningitis is suspected, a cerebrospinal fluid puncture or a magnetic resonance to check for inflammation of the meninges.
Treatment of meningitis in dogs
the type of treatment will vary depending on the cause of meningitis, using one or more of the following medications:
- Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory drugs that are used to decrease the immune system's response and inflammation caused in the meninges.
- antibiotics: Should be used when meningitis is bacterial, they can act by eliminating the bacteria or preventing their reproduction.
- antiepileptics: Antiepileptic drugs contain numerous substances that interact with the brain to balance neuronal function and to prevent seizures.
The main goal of treatment is suppress inflammatory activity to prevent irreversible neurological damage to the animal. After the veterinarian has indicated the appropriate treatment, the puppy must carry out a follow-up to assess its response to the treatment.
Sometimes the dog may need medication on a chronic basis to prevent future episodes of meningitis.
If the meningitis is severe, a hospital treatment to prevent any complications and maintain adequate hydration levels, using intravenous fluid therapy in the most severe cases.
As mentioned at the beginning, if the diagnosis is made early and pharmacological treatment is adequate to treat the underlying cause of meningitis, the prognosis is good.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.