Hi there, My five month old border collie was diagnosed with meningitis on friday after a very sudden onset. At first he couldnt stand and had a temperature of 105.  he is now eating better and temperature has returned to normal.  He still cannot hold up his body as his back legs give way.  He is due to see a neurologist on wed of this week but i am at my wits end as my vet simply makes it sound so terminal yet he also says that it is rare and he really doesnt know whats wrong.  in my opinion he is improving very slowly each day.  He has been sick for 4 days now?? can anyone pass on similar experience stories and advise on what to do????

many thanks

my litter which had kennel cough two year ago ,2 out of the 9 end up with meningits,the rest with pnemoia,the reason was that the virus of the kc infected their little lungs given them a high temerature which resulted them to fit as well,i lost 6 out of the 9 at 4 weeks old,

but hopfully your dog a bit older to fight it off,

good luck,it will not be easy.

Hi Sheryl,

I'm afraid I can't be of any help, but wanted to let you know that a pup I bred also contracted meningitis.
He was around 5 months at the time, and exactly the same happened to him as you've described with your pup.
His owner and vet were very good - owner getting him to the vet straight away, and vet knowing exactly what he was dealing with.  It was touch and go for a while, and the pup was on steroids and antibiotics....but he went on to make a full recovery.

Wishing you all the best, I know how frightening it is.

It's good that your baby is eating and that in your opinion he's getting better every day.  Keeping everything crossed for you both.

Lisa

Thanks Lisa, that helps a great deal.  My pups brother died last month we just found out.  His symptoms were far worse and he made a recovery for a very short period of time so we might be looking at a familial condition instead my own internet scavanging has came up with Polyarteritis Nodosa, but im not a vet!!!

im just getting a bit desperate as my vet doesnt seem to have put him on any medication yet as hes waiting on the neurologist!

aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

but many thanks

My Dogue de Bordeaux puppy had the exact same thing, you can read the posts about it if you click on my name:) Thankfully she made a full recovery after 12weeks of very strong anti biotics. We saw the neurologist at Cambridge University, they have the best in the country there (anyone can go with a referal from their vet) Shes been off her tablets for four weeks now and there is no sign of the infection returning. We were worried as she was very wobbly when walking for months after, and her onset was so sudden and debilitating we feared permanent damage. Happily she is fine now, but we will never know what caused this infection. Hope your puppy recovers quickly, its sounds like you got him help in time and your vets knew what to do :)

Click my name, the posts that say '19week old pup with virus' describe what happened to Izzy. Dont worry she's fine now!

thanks kerry i know exactly what you went through this is hell.  We have decided that if hes not on any medication we are bringing him home tonight untill he at the neurologist tomorrow, get a bit of tlc. Hopefully the vet will ok it hes only getting monitered so far and everything points to steroid and antibiotic treat. Bring on wednesday!!!!!

thanks all.  Some good news is that hes coming home for the night before his visit to neurologist, hes off the drip and on antibiotic shots.  The vet sees no harm in bringing him home which is a good sign, hes much brighter and eating well, just cant walk( small issue!!!!!!).  Hopefully the neurologist can sort that small problem out.  ;-)

I just got back from the vet today cus my little Roxy got it also. I was told that here in Hawaii it is mostly caused by a slug.  She could have ate it or just came in contact with one.  She was in such pain and had no use ofher back legs at all.  My vet made it sound serious but not fatel and told me she should make a full recovery. Good luck and I hope the slug info might help you where you are too.