DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OUTCOME OF A DOG WITH MENINGOENCEPHALITIS OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN USING A COMBINATION OF PREDNISOLONE AND CYTOSINE ARABINOSIDE: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

One of the most common causes of brain dysfunction in small dogs is meningoencephalitis of unknown origin. Prognosis and treatment outcome for this disease are often challenging, so diagnosis and therapeutic protocols must be strictly followed in order to increase the patient survival rate. This article presents the clinical features and the therapy results of a 4 years-old Yorkshire terrier dog in which neurological examination and MRI scan findings were subsequent for an inflammatory lesion of the forebrain. A protocol including cytosine arabinoside and prednisolone at immunosuppressive doses was started and neurological reassessment was performed before each administration and one month after the completion of the protocol. The findings consisted of a slightly improvement of mental status, posture, proprioception and gait. Additionally, the owner claimed that the patient has a better quality of life. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first reported case in which cytosine arabinoside in combination with prednisolone was used to treat meningoencephalitis of unknown origin in a dog in our country.