Meningitis

Meningitis is a serious illness & can if left untreated be life threatening, it is very important that you seek veterinary attention for your dog as soon as possible.

Cause: There is currently no scientific known cause/s for the illness although there are thought to be several possible contributing factors from bacteria to fungal spores, changes in hormones allowing a susceptibility. The illness is thought to be a potential breach in the muccal wall of the nose allowing a foreign body (disease, bacteria, fungal spore) to be breathed in passing through the wall before settling in the fluids of the spinal cord. After an incubation period the body attacks this foreign body possibily resulting in Meningitis.

Inheritance:

There are currently no known hereditary factors in Meningitis.

Signs of the disease:

Lethary, neck & spinal pain, high fever.

Diagnosis:

MRI scan, spinal tap, blood evaluation & general evaluation to rule out other causes.

Treatment:

Dependant upon type but generally steroids like Prednisolone & a course of antibiotics.

General Information

There is no confirmed scientific information on how Meningitis is caught but in general it effects young puppies approx 6 months of age, they become lethargic, have neck pains & are generally not the bouncy pupsters you would expect at 6 months. An MRI scan, spinal tap & other tests are needed to confirm diagnosis & type so that treatment can begin. The Steroid Responsive Meningitis is treatable & usually recovery is very good within a few months using drugs like prednisolone.

The main problem with Meningitis really is that the terminology does not diagnose the cause its the name given the to resulting reaction in the dog - similar to the term 'lame' is given to the end result that you can see, the dog has a lame foot/leg but the cause could be from a bone defect, foreign body, etc etc.

It is not unknown but is extremely rare in Weimaraners & other breeds especially in males, for an example 15 Weimaraners were recorded in the last WCA Breed Health Survey which instigated a study with the University of Dublin to find out more information about the illness, other counts of the disease have been recorded in the UK but in very low numbers.

The occurance in puppies could be down to changes in their hormone levels making them more susceptible to chemicals in the body or other existing health problems or it could be down to a change in the weather in autumn/winter that brings out certain diseases, fungal spores or bacteria's that are breathed in which triggers the intitial infection and the bodies subsequent reaction. Being treated with a high dose steroid which comes with its own side effects on the body especially the developing body of a puppy can cause additional long term health effects which are attributed incorrectly to Meningitis.

Further scientific studies being carried out globally will hopefully shed more light on this illness in the future.