Introduction
Meningitis in cats is a condition which is normally caused by bacterial or viral infections. Meningitis infection causes swelling of the tissue layer which covers the spinal cord and brain; neurological symptoms, fever, and pain are the result. A conclusive diagnosis of meningitis cannot always be based on the cat’s symptoms alone. Additional tests are needed to exclude other causes of the symptoms and reach a conclusive meningitis diagnosis.
Diagnosing Meningitis
Meningitis symptoms are sometimes easy to spot. If a cat is displaying classic meningitis symptoms than the veterinarian may want to begin by running blood and urine tests to exclude any other possible causes of the symptoms. If these results are negative, the veterinarian may go ahead and prescribe meningitis medications. If the medications work, than it may be assumed that the cat was suffering from meningitis.
In some cases the veterinarian, or client, wishes to have a conclusive meningitis diagnosis before treatment is begun. At this stage the only tests which will help to diagnose meningitis are a CT scan and a spinal tap. These tests are expensive, and they are not widely available.
A CT scan will allow a veterinarian to see if the tissue layer on the brain and spinal cord is inflamed. A CT scan can also rule out meningitis as a cause of the symptoms and possibly find out why the cat is displaying neurological problems. A spinal tap is a procedure in which cerebrospinal fluid is collected from the lumbar vertebrae in the back. The fluid is then analyzed for evidence of meningitis. During this procedure the cat is placed under general anesthesia.
Meningitis is a potentially life threatening condition. If you notice any meningitis symptoms in your cat, make an emergency appointment with a veterinarian. Early diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and recovery.