Does My Dog Have Encephalitis?

Does your dog have a fever?

Does your dog have seizures?

Have you noticed any behavioral changes in your dog (e.g., depression)?

Does your dog have decreased responsiveness?

Does your dog exhibit head tilt to either side?

Does your dog have paralysis of the face?

Does your dog have uncoordinated movements or circling?

Does your dog have an unequal size of pupils (anisocoria)?

Does your dog have smaller-sized pinpoint pupils?

Does your dog have decreased consciousness?

Your dog doesn't show any symptoms of brain inflammation or encephalitis. Inflammation of the brain can occur for several reasons and from several different causes. It can be caused by postvaccinal complications, infection of the brain (bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic) or can be immune-mediated. German shorthaired pointers, Maltese, and Yorkshire terriers are all found to be predisposed to encephalitis.

Your dog shows few common symptoms of brain inflammation or encephalitis. Symptoms may vary depending on the portion of the brain affected, they typically appear suddenly and are rapidly progressive. You will need to give your veterinarian a thorough history of your dog’s health, including the onset and nature of the symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated the unusual behaviors or complications. He or she will then perform a complete physical examination as well as a biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and complete blood count to give you a definitive diagnosis.

Your dog shows several common symptoms of brain inflammation or encephalitis. You will need to give your veterinarian a thorough history of your dog’s health, including the onset and nature of the symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated the unusual behaviors or complications. He or she will then perform a complete physical examination as well as a biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and complete blood count to give you a definitive diagnosis. Your veterinarian will focus on reducing the severity of the symptoms, such as brain edema and seizures, and halt the progression of the disease. Severe forms of encephalitis require immediate hospitalization and intensive care.

Your dog shows all common symptoms of brain inflammation or encephalitis. You will need to give your veterinarian a thorough history of your dog’s health, including the onset and nature of the symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated the unusual behaviors or complications. He or she will then perform a complete physical examination as well as a biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and complete blood count to give you a definitive diagnosis. Your veterinarian will focus on reducing the severity of the symptoms, such as brain edema and seizures, and halt the progression of the disease. Severe forms of encephalitis require immediate hospitalization and intensive care.