Meningitis means an inflammation of the your dog’s meninges – the membranous covering of your dog’s central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

A dog with meningitis will likely have fever, lethargy and stiffness in his neck. In addition, he may vomit or lose coordination. He also might seem overly sensitive to being touched. He will also generally have paraspinal muscle spasms – spasms of the muscle adjacent to the spine - that will cause him discomfort

Meningitis begins when a bacteria, virus, fungus or parasite from an underlying infection or wound enters the bloodstream. Most often, the infections originate in the eyes, nose, sinuses, or middle ears and the wounds tend to be wounds in the head, neck and throat that have become infected. Immune-mediated meningitis can also develop in dogs. This condition can also spread to the brain tissue and become meningoencephalitis (an inflammation of the meninges and brain tissue together).

Your vet will perform a physical exam with a more specific neurological exam component to assess the possible anatomical location of the neurological deficits. Blood and urine testing will be performed to rule out other possible causes of clinical signs. CT scans and MRIs will also be used to check for tumors or other nervous system disorders. To make a definitive diagnosis, however, your veterinarian will have to take a sample of your dog’s spinal fluid. This is known as a spinal tap. To perform the spinal tap, your veterinarian will anesthetize your dog and then place a needle into his back to withdraw the fluid.

Your veterinarian will likely prescribe one or more of the following types of medication: antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or anti-seizure medications. Your dog might have to remain on medication for the remainder of his life to ensure that there are no relapses.

Promptly treating all infections and wounds, especially those around the head and neck, will help guard against bacterial meningitis.

No, you cannot contract meningitis directly from your dog. However, you can contract meningitis from the same causes as your dog can.