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Meningitis:
Inflammation of the
protective covering of the brain
But bacterial causes of meningitis is still a problem:

Bacteria gets into the blood stream from wounds, surgery, through an unhealthy gut wall, heart disease (endocarditis) and gum disease. 

With a little luck, our immune systems and antibiotics will destroy these bacteria and all will be well.  But sometimes the bacteria win.... or at least survive in enough numbers to continue circulating in the blood until they find a place to establish breeding colonies in the liver, lymph nodes or other places in the body. 

The body has further defenses (the blood-brain barrier) designed to keep bacteria from getting into the central nervous system.... but bacteria are opportunistic little organisms and sometimes they not only survive the gauntlet but get into the central nervous system and make it up to the brain and it's rich, rich, supply of oxygen and nutrients.


Diagnosis

The only definitive diagnosis is from a culture of the the cerebral-spinal fluid.
But we often surmise the problem from the symptoms.  One of which is seeing pus inside the eye (uveitis). 

Treatment

Antibiotics and prayer.  The prognosis is often grave.
On this page

A little about meningitis

Other diseases that affect the brain or central nervous system on other pages:

Our introductory page about neural diseases

Rabies in dogs and cats

Canine distemper (CDV)

Fip: Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Coonhound Paralysis (Polyradiculoneuritis,Tick Paralysis, and other diseases that cause paralysis

Meningitis

Tetanus

Toxoplasmosis

Diseases and Problems of the Brain, Seizures

Granulomatous meningo-
encephalomyeitis

Diskospondylitis (Intervertebral Disk Disease) Also wobbler's syndrome
Website Directory

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"What To Expect When You Go To The Vet"
if your pet should have a problem with ...

Abscesses, wounds, and injuries

Arthritis, Lameness, Fractures, and Ligament Injuries
To include Femoral Head Removal, Hip Dysplasia, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Panosteitis, Radiographic Demonstrations, Disc Disease, and Bone Surgery

Bladder, Urinary Tract, & Kidney Problems

Blood Diseases, Anemias etc
Strokes, Vascular Diseases, Anemias, DVT, DIC, Blood Parasites, Rat Poison, & Bleeding disorders

Cancer, Masses, Lumps and Bumps

Cardiology  Heart disease in Cats, Cardiac Hypertrophy, Valvular disease, Cardiac Insufficiency, Congestive Heart Failure, Heartworm Disease, and a little history about the milestones in treating heart disease

Cats: general information page and directory of diseases and problems specific to cats including vaccine recommendations, leukemia, feline viral infections, feline upper respiratory disease and cats that just aren't feeling well.

Dentistry and problems of the mouth and throat

Dermatology: Skin problems including allergies, rashes, bacterial infections, and itching. Hair Loss, Yeast Infections, Hormonal Problems

Diabetes

Ear Infections and Other Ear Problems

Eye Problems  and Ophthalmic Diseases

Exotics:  Pocket Pets, Rabbits, Hamsters etc

Fleas, Ticks, and other parasite problems

Heart disease; Cardiac diseases, vascular diseases, stroke, & heartworms

Hormone Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Cushing's Disease or Hypercortisolism, Addison's disease or Hypocortisolism, Pancreatitis, obesity as a disease

Infectious Diseases  Colds, Distemper, Parvo, Leptospirosis, Bruceellosis, Panleukopenia, Feline AIDS, Leukemia, Hepatitis, Kennel Cough, Ringworm, Rabies, FIP, Canine Herpes, Toxic Shock Syndrome, & More

Intestinal problems: diarrhea, constipation, torsion, indigestion, and gas. Also pancreatitis, vomiting, esophagitis, colitis, parvo and other types of dysentery

Kidney Disease

Liver Diseases     

Metabolic Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Cushing's Disease or Hypercortisolism, Addison's disease or Hypocortisolism, Pancreatitis, obesity as a disease

Neural Problems and Diseases: Epilepsy, Rabies, Distemper, FIP, Paralysis, Tetanus, Seizures, Disc Disease, Toxoplasmosis & others

Obesity; new information and about Pfizer's new FDA approved treatment

Pancreatitis

Parasite Problems Fleas, Ticks, Heartworms, Intestinal Worms, Mosquitos, Lice, Mites, and other welfare recipients

Poisons  Snakes, Insects, household chemicals, plants, and foods that might poison your pet

Respiratory Diseases

Senior Pet Page: Geriatric Medicine

Skeletal-Muscular Problems Arthritis, Fractures, ACL, Ligament Injuries, Disc Disease, Pannus, and many other problems of the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments

Skin Problems: allergies, rashes, bacterial infections, and itching. Hair Loss, Yeast Infections, Hormonal Problems

Surgery: Spays, Castrations, Testicle Recipes, Soft Tissue Surgery, Hard Tissue Surgery (Bones), C- Sections, Declawing, Tumor Removal and Cancer Surgery

Wounds, punctures, injuries, and abscesses

Urinary Tract Diseases and Problems


Other Topics on This Site

The Human-Animal Bond

History of Veterinary Medicine; lots of interesting stuff    

Zoonotics: Diseases, worms, and parasites people get from pets.

Lab Tests and what they tell us

Medications/Pharmacy Page

Nutrition & Diets
Includes information about Prescription diets used to treat disease, and a discussion about the pet food industry

Reproduction, breeding, & rearing information
Includes information about feline and canine heat or estrus, breeding, C-Sections, pyometra or Infected Uterus, dystocia, no milk, mastitis, & brucellosis
Also newborn care, undescended testicles, and alternative to spaying and castration

Vaccine and other preventive health recommendations

WildLife Page:  Taking care of baby bunnies, squirrels, and birds.  A very funny story about beavers, and other misc information

Our Dog Page:  a directory of problems of concern in dogs including parvovirus, distemper, canine herpes, and other diseases

Veterinary Pet Insurance




Meningitis

The meninges is the sheet of protective tissue covering the delicate brain.  In the picture of a human brain to your left, the pathologist is peeling the meninges back with his forceps.

Infection or inflammation of the Meninges is called meningitis and it is a very painful and disorienting disease.

Viral infections like distemper and rabies were a common cause of meningitis in the United States, but thanks to aggressive vaccination programs, these disease are no longer common in Western countries.