MENINGOENCEPHALITIS IN PUG DOGS
A non-suppurativemeningoen-cephalitis has become well recognized
in Pug dogs. This disease is sporadic and affects both
adolescent and mature Pug dogs. The most common clinical
signs are seizures, circling, head-pressing, blindness,
opis-thotonus and rapidly progressive lethargy and ataxia.
Hemato1ogy and serum chemistry parameters are often within
normallimits. Massive necrosis and non-suppurativemeningoencephalitis
is limited to the cerebral hemispheres, thus accounting
for the clinical signs. Bilateral cerebral lesions are
often severe, extensive and involve both gray and white
matter. A specific etiology has not been determined. The
disease appears to occur in certain pug lineages. A sex
predilection has not been reported. Many affected animals
have been traced to a common ancestry. Recently, the disease
was diagnosed at ADDL in an10-month-old Pug dog purchased
from a pet store.
Appropriate specimens should be submitted to ADDL to rule
out rabies, canine distemper, canine herpes, toxop1asmosis,
Neosporum camnum,encephalito-zoonosis,ethyleneglycol
toxicosis and reticulosis. Pug dog encephalitis should
be considered a differential diagnosis in animals exhibiting
signs of central nervous dys-function.
Anthony J.Skowronek,DVM Pathology Graduate Student
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