Enchephalitis in dogs...any had that?

[JackSprats_Mom]

So I put my old dog down about a month ago and went on a search for a new ‘big’ dog (my other two are little) and answered an ad off CL for a one year old doberman.

Long story short, dog was emaciated, living outside and in a huge amount of pain when I saw it, I gave her the money and took the dog mainly because I couldn’t leave him :no:

Took him to the vet and after several consultations we’re looking at possibly enchephalitis (have an appt with the neuro asap to confirm).

Would like to hear about anyone else that has had a dog like this.

Zookies symptoms are rigid body, alot of pain throughout the body, stiffness in moving (he moves like he’s 15 not 1).

I know everyone differs but feel free to share…

[LauraKY]

Did you test him for tick borne diseases…Lyme comes to mind off the top of my head.

[idlemoon]

Wobblers? Dobies are notorious for this

[Beckham03]

I work for a neurologist and see it every week. They will most likely run do a CSF tap. I do see them get better. Can you get it in any sooner?

[lovey1121]

No advice, just hugs to you for doing such a wonderful thing!! Jingling for no more pain…

[JackSprats_Mom]

Wobblers was the first thing that came to mind but his symtoms just don’t quite fit it, in that he’s body sore all over.

Haven’t tested for lymes yet, waiting to see the neuro (only one in area that I know of so have to wait till monday, vet didn;t want to start him on steriods before hand as he also has blood in his urine - not a UTI been ultra sounded and urinalysis).

Yes this poor guy has alot of problems :no:

The vet made it sound pretty treatable if it was enchephilitis so fingers crossed.

[Roxyllsk]

Not confirmed, but a ‘best guess’ for my 16 year old dog - he had seizures about 2 months ago, and he’d never had any before. Rushed him to the vet, they gave him valium to stop the seizures. We did some basic test (blood work, and xrays) thinking that he had some type of tumor. Everything came back normal. I brought him home after he was at the vets for 24 hrs, and he went off his food the next day. So I took him back - he was running a really high fever. Vet thinks he had some type of encephalitis, which would account for the seizures. We treated him with steriods and antibiotics, and he felt better within a day or 2. He’s been fine, with no further seizures, since.

I’d def get the dog tested for lymes, it’s really common …

[horsetales]

I would also suggest looking at menegitis - is this similar to your guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00L04S2TLu8

http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Health-Center/Brain-Spinal-Cord-Nerve-Disorders/Meningitis.aspx

[JackSprats_Mom]

Excuse my ignorance but I thought enchephilitis (swelling of the brain) was pretty much mengitis

Horsetales - brilliant idea don’t know why I didn’t look on youtbue earlier, yes that is very similar although Zookies doesn’t seem quite as extreme.

I will check out lymes althought its not very common here but having limited history its worth looking into

[LauraKY]

It’s Lyme not Lymes, BTW. And it can cause encephalitis…I know from personal experience.

Here’s some info about canine encephalitis: http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vhc/tc/clinical_services/neuro/encephalitis.html

[horsetales]

Encephilitis and meningitis are both part of the central nervous sytem, but are different problems

encephalitis" refers to inflammation of the brain ( encephalo- = brain and – itis = inflammation) and “myelitis” refers to inflammation of the spinal cord. If the meninges (the fibrous membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) are primarily affected, the disease is called “meningitis”.

I am familiar with meningitis, but the outcome has been mixed