Steroid responsive meningitis

[avaloniaboerboele]

One of my young dogs, Vesuvius, contracted this illness about 3 months ago. He was unrestless permanently and one afternoon started walking in circles and banging into walls. He was put on a steroid drip for 3 days and recovered 100% (Luckily my vet is soooo clever hediagnosed it immediately - the dogs blindness the primary reason). The vet working with him scared me because he said it could be distemper and they cant be cured!!!
Here is the bad part - Vesuvius health started to deteriorate again - we brushed it off as being his way, to such a point that his vision was impaired again. :( Off to the vet and on drips again - 24 hrs 100%!!!!!!!!!!???????? Studied on the internet and found out he should be put on a 6 weeks steroid program. The vet agreed (treated with PREDNIZONE) and last Tuesday he got his last pill.

Compared to his sister, the sickness definately stumped his growth :(

Now my questions are: Will he grow to be a normal adult - will the groth genes 'kick' in, will he have brain damage - he looks ok to me, will the steroids have made him sterile and how the hell did he get the disease - none of my other dogs were affected (2 are his age)????

[Guest Anonymous]

[quote name='avaloniaboerboele']One of my young dogs, Vesuvius, contracted this illness about 3 months ago. He was unrestless permanently and one afternoon started walking in circles and banging into walls. He was put on a steroid drip for 3 days and recovered 100% (Luckily my vet is soooo clever hediagnosed it immediately - the dogs blindness the primary reason). The vet working with him scared me because he said it could be distemper and they cant be cured!!!
Here is the bad part - Vesuvius health started to deteriorate again - we brushed it off as being his way, to such a point that his vision was impaired again. :( Off to the vet and on drips again - 24 hrs 100%!!!!!!!!!!???????? Studied on the internet and found out he should be put on a 6 weeks steroid program. The vet agreed (treated with PREDNIZONE) and last Tuesday he got his last pill.

Compared to his sister, the sickness definately stumped his growth :(

Now my questions are: Will he grow to be a normal adult - will the groth genes 'kick' in, will he have brain damage - he looks ok to me, will the steroids have made him sterile and how the hell did he get the disease - none of my other dogs were affected (2 are his age)????

In my experience with giant breeds dogs will attain pretty much their full genetically directed size as long as the 'trauma', what ever it is, is overcome before the growth plates close allowing growth to continue. It may take longer and come slower but it will come in time.
In my area many of the meningitis diseases have the mosquito as a vector. So a possible vector might be a biting insect in your area I suppose.
this site has info on such a disease in Bernese Mountain dogs
http://members.rogers.com/rcamken/Aseptic_Meningitis.html
This site has more information and states the underlying cause of this disease is unknown so it is named for the protocol used in treatment.
http://www.vetinfo.com/dmeningitis.html
I think your best bet if your vet can not give you more information is to continue to surf the net searching for more info.
I would also suggest this dog not be considered a breeding prospect - not because of the prednisone but because it could well have a compromised immune system and you don't want that to be part of what you pass along to pups. Part of breeding is selecting dogs that 'thrive' well in their environment so eliminating (by neutering) dogs that don't thrive from the breeding pool you are likely helping out the next generations.

[avaloniaboerboele]

Thanks Guest - still looking into it.