Suspected Steroid Responsive Meningitis

[bronygarth]

Would be interested in hear if others have had similar experiences.

We have two female whippets, aged 3 and 4. Three weeks ago the eldest (Djemba) was very poorly with a fever - initially no vomit or diarrhea. She had a high temp and high white cell count and the vet gave a metacam jab and Rilexene anti-biotic tabs. This gave relief for 8hrs, but symptoms returned plus severe diarrhea (plus blood) and small vomit. At this point vv poorly, losing weight rapidly – reluctant to lie down, periods of motionless standing, head stooped – looked absolutely pitiful - seriously worried whether she would survive.

Hospitalised by the vet for four days. Discharged but still high temp, high white cell count and very poorly. Now on 2 courses of anti-biotic and anti-colitis tabs. Marginal improvement during the following week, eating better (possibly difficulty chewing) but loose stools. Walking a little further – but head stooped, reluctant to turn around in the car, unable to open jaws sufficiently to hold a ball. Still high temp. We asked the vet to check for SRM – he examined her neck and eyes and discounted SRM – rather reluctantly gave a Dexadreson steroid jab - the idea being to start a course of steroid tabs if no adverse reaction. Within 12 hrs a remarkable improvement. We declined the course of steroid tabs in favour of seeing a referral vet.

Saw a referral vet 72 hrs after the initial steroid jab and Djemba now almost a picture of health. The referral vet gave a very thorough examination and suspected SRM, and recommended a spinal tap to confirm. We declined the spinal tap. Both the referral vet and our vet thought Djemba may relapse in the next few days. It’s now just over a week since the steroid jab and Djemba continues to improve - normal temp, adding weight, running, appetite, stools etc.

It’s been a very bad three weeks. We’re relatively new to having dogs. This has been a tremendous emotional hit. We’re keen to try and understand what’s happening and what might re-occur. SRM wasn’t confirmed although it does look a little damming. We’d like to think that this was a one-off, or have we got off lightly this time? I can’t believe that Djemba is unique – has anybody had similar SRM near-miss experiences? Picture of a poorly Djemba attached.

 

[jayp]

So sorry you have all had such a horrible time. It sounds like SRM to me especially with the rapid improvement after the steroid Jab, hence the name Steroid Responsive meningitis. It is known in whippets.

Usually but not always a course of steroids over a period of months is required , this is not always the case though as some dogs will recover spontaneously, but they may indeed relapse at some stage.

All you can do now is wait and see , at least you know what to look for should she develop a fever again

Hope she stays well now

This website describes the symptoms http://whippet-health.co.uk/#/immune-disease/4531648503

jan

 

[slimfast]

Aww bless her :wub: hope she feels better soon :thumbsup:

 

[Macha]

One of my whippets probably had this at about 9 months -- we were never sure of the diagnosis, but he did respond to steroids. He was sucessfully weaned off the steroids and the ailment never recurred. Unfortunately it can be a recurrent condition requiring long-term treatment with steroids, but that was not our experience. I don't recall my dog having diarrheoa but he was desperately weak, wet his bed as it was hard for him to get up, and he was wobbly. I hand fed him tinned food and he didn't lose a huge amount of weight. He was on the mend within a fortnight.

 

[masta]

It makes my blood boil when i read these posts the very cynical side of me thinks making a diagnosis of SRM is quick and relatively cheap (course of Predisalone)

i had the same problem with a bitch several years back i took the bitch to the vets and told him i thought it was neurological ( i used to work in a intensive pig unit and meningitis is a problem in the industry one of the skills of husbandry is too spot problems quickly and a classic symptom is stopping of the head, standing in a corner and basically being reluctant to move as well as high temp and not eating) Vet wanted to run all sorts of tests and was reluctant to do a spinal within 2 days the bitch was seriously ill and i took her to another vet discussed what and why i believed she had SRM he did a spinal and confirmed it was straight on to a high dose of steroid and she recovered unfortunately it return every time she came in season and we lost her during an op.

I would imagine it will return if it does you have to move quickly and demand she is started on steroid straight away.

btw why did you not have the spinal??

 

[bronygarth]

Thanks for the comments so far ...

Masta - we declined the spinal tap for a number of reasons

The referral vet said that there was some risk in performing the actual operation and that whilst he hadn't had any problems, he was aware that others had had them. Also at that point, Djemba was more-or-less the picture of health - it being 72 hrs after the initial steroid jab. The referral vet said that the best time to perform the spinal tap would be at the height of an episode, but in our case the tap might be inconclusive since there was no longer an 'episode' - and so the operation may have to be repeated. He strongly advised against anticipating that it was SRM and going straight onto a long-term course of steroid. And so here we are. It's alsmost approaching 2 weeks since Djemba had the steroid jab and the 'remarkable' recovery?! Apart from still being under-weight she is to all intents and purposes completely back to normal.

Of course there may be a relapse - and we have the option of requesting a spinal tap immediately. But it does beg the question - could it have been something else - a viral infection - nevertheless, we live in hope that it does not return. The symptoms that we witnessed were too distressing.

From what I'd read, it looked as though the Whippet may be susceptible to these (SRM??) kind of complaints - but this doesn't appear to be collaborated by the K9 readers. I'm optimistic and think (hope) this is a one-off. They're too precious to think otherwise.

 

[jane002]

My brothers beagle x suffered with it a few years ago, vets and us didnt know about SRM and she ended up

being treated incorrectly, like your dog she recovered quickly and for around 9 months she was right as rain

then she relapsed and everyone went through hell.

They treated her with a different AB from the last time, they thought it was just a bug that had come back

however this time she reacted badly and ended up with pussy swellings all round her nose and ears

she ended up a mess on top of which she was still suffering from SRM, after lots of research i managed

to persuade the vets to put her on steroids and she started to recover - that was over 2 years ago now

and shes been fine ever since, but there's always that worry it will come back.

 

[Macha]

a spinal tap was never suggested for my pup. He didn't respond to antibiotics and then the vets did a blood test before trying him on prednisone (steroid)

 

[masta]

Thanks for the comments so far ...
Masta - we declined the spinal tap for a number of reasons

The referral vet said that there was some risk in performing the actual operation and that whilst he hadn't had any problems, he was aware that others had had them. Also at that point, Djemba was more-or-less the picture of health - it being 72 hrs after the initial steroid jab. The referral vet said that the best time to perform the spinal tap would be at the height of an episode, but in our case the tap might be inconclusive since there was no longer an 'episode' - and so the operation may have to be repeated. He strongly advised against anticipating that it was SRM and going straight onto a long-term course of steroid. And so here we are. It's alsmost approaching 2 weeks since Djemba had the steroid jab and the 'remarkable' recovery?! Apart from still being under-weight she is to all intents and purposes completely back to normal.

Of course there may be a relapse - and we have the option of requesting a spinal tap immediately. But it does beg the question - could it have been something else - a viral infection - nevertheless, we live in hope that it does not return. The symptoms that we witnessed were too distressing.

From what I'd read, it looked as though the Whippet may be susceptible to these (SRM??) kind of complaints - but this doesn't appear to be collaborated by the K9 readers. I'm optimistic and think (hope) this is a one-off. They're too precious to think otherwise.

from the description of symptoms i can be 99% sure it was SRM Whippets are susceptible and yes it will probably return but you must act quickly and insist on Predisalone good luck