Meningitis is a condition in dogs that occurs when the tissues that protect the brain and spinal cord, known as meninges, become inflamed and infected. Meningitis can occur due to viral, protozoan, bacterial, blood parasite, and fungal infections.
Steroid Responsive Meningitis is a condition that involves a dog's central nervous system. Meningitis means inflammation of the meninges, the covering layer of the central nervous system. The condition is referred to as SRMA, or steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis because it affects the arteries in many body system tissues as well.
Symptoms of meningitis in dogs include fever, stiffness, painful spasms in the back, a stiff neck, and extreme sensitivity to touch. A high fever can cause decreased appetite and lethargy. Stiffness of the muscles normally occurs in the legs and neck. The dog’s gait may become very stiff and the legs may refuse to bend.
A meningitis diagnosis cannot always be based on the dog’s symptoms alone. Additional tests are needed to exclude other causes of the symptoms and reach a conclusive meningitis diagnosis. A CT scan and a spinal tap can help the veterinarian make a definitive diagnosis.
If a veterinarian suspects that your dog has meningitis the treatment program may begin with corticosteroid medications. The most common type of meningitis in dogs is termed, “steroid responsive” meningitis The disease will respond positively to steroid treatments. How well the dog recovers depends on the severity of the disease, and if the disease was treated before permanent damage to the body occurred.