Anemia and meningitis

Dogs with anemia and meningitis

My dog has been lying around for days and it seems like she may have a fever. What’s wrong?

Check her gums. If they look as though they’ve gotten paler, get her to the vet immediately. If they look all right, try to make an appointment with the veterinarian in the next few days.

Your pooch may have immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, or IMHA. This is a disease of the immune system - actually, it’s the most common disease of the immune system - and can be caused by a number of different things including vaccination, antibiotics, viruses, and previous diseases.

Whether your dog has a sudden onset or a more gradual incubation period, the quicker your vet can administer antibiotics the better. IMHA is especially common in female dogs midway through life, and it’s tricky to pin down exactly how it’ll affect your dog. It is life threatening, so you should always get to the vet as soon as possible, but some dogs experience only a single, severe flare-up while others have recurring bouts with IMHA throughout their lives. This, of course, affects the necessary treatment. Your dog may need only one rigorous round of drug therapy while others will remain on medication indefinitely. In some extreme cases, blood transfusions may be necessary.

My vet says my dog has meningitis. What does that mean?

Meningitis is an inflammation in the meninges, the membranes that coat and protect the brain and spinal cord. Typically caused by an infection and potentially life-threatening, meningitis can be either bacterial or non-bacterial. Bacterial meningitis is transmitted through the bloodstream from a secondary wound or infection. The cause of non-bacterial (or aseptic) meningitis is unknown. You can tell if your dog has meningitis by noticing signs of depression, fever, seizures, and a general loss in coordination. What is difficult about meningitis from an owner’s perspective is the diagnosis.

Your vet will have to extract fluid from your pup’s spine to properly diagnose it, which means he’ll be inserting a large needle directly into your dog’s back. This can be painful for the dog even with anesthesia, so it may be best to leave the room and allow the vet and technicians to handle the procedure… your tears and tension just make the situation more stressful for your pooch. Meningitis can usually be treated effectively with anti-inflammatory medications. In the case of bacterial meningitis or seizures as symptoms, antibiotics and anti-seizure meds may also be administered.

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