In medicine, encephalitis means inflammation of brain. The symptoms of encephalitis in dogs reflect the region of the brain under the effect of the disorder. For example, if the forebrain is inflamed, then the noticeable symptoms are seizures, mental depression, blindness, circling and behavioral changes. Similarly, in case of inflamed brainstem, the observable signs are incoordination, tremors, head tilt and facial paralysis. Encephalitis patient dogs may show neurologic abnormalities. These may arise from a single field or multiple fields, and these are described as focal and multifocal respectively.

Encephalitis in dogs can be either acute or chronic. Acute encephalitis mostly affects young dogs while chronic encephalitis is seen to occur in older dogs. The characteristic symptoms of acute encephalitis are the rapid onset of general illness, cough, vomiting, nasal discharge and loose motions. Neurologic dysfunction may show up either before or after the oncoming of the general sickness. The observable signs of chronic encephalitis in dogs are often absent or ephemeral. The victim dog may show very slowly progressive pace deficit or imbalance, and seizures that may or may not occur.

What are the Causes of Encephalitis in Dogs
Depending on whether the cause of encephalitis is known or not, it is of two types, infectious and idiopathic. When the causative factor is known, it is referred to as infectious encephalitis, while if the exact reason behind the occurrence of encephalitis is unknown, it is called idiopathic type. Encephalitis is mostly caused by the infection of the brain by organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and rickettsia.

How is Encephalitis Diagnosed
The veterinarian will perform some diagnostic tests to confirm the presence of encephalitis in your dog. These tests include complete medical history along with family history and examination of the nervous system. The vet may perform spinal tap to make an accurate and fast diagnosis. Spinal tap is a diagnostic method in which a small sample of the fluid bathing the brain and spinal cord is taken out for analysis. Magnetic resonance imaging proves to be of great help to make a definite diagnosis as it permits visualization of the construction of the brain.

What is the Treatment for Encephalitis
If genetic defect is responsible for the occurrence of encephalitis, no treatment is possible. For other causes, effective medical cure is available. Once a dog is diagnosed with encephalitis and the underlying cause is found to be infection, the veterinarian starts giving him antibiotics. If the dog suffers from recurrent seizures, anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital is prescribed. To reduce inflammation, medicines containing steroids may be started.

Veterinary treatment for idiopathic encephalitis in dogs involves the suppression of the immune system. As you can see, this is contrary to the treatment method for infectious type. Therefore, it is very necessary that the exact cause of encephalitis be diagnosed before starting with the cure. The treatment for idiopathic type of encephalitis generally involves high doses of a steroid prednisone. The treatment may take about 4-7 months. In some serious cases of encephalitis, more powerful immunosuppressants can be used. The effect of these medicines are somewhat similar to that of chemotherapy. Hence, regular blood work is required to rule out toxicity. A Japanese homeopathic product called Kampo is also known to be effective in treating encephalitis in dogs.

If you notice the signs and symptoms of encephalitis in your pet dog, you should take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible. You should administer all the prescribed medications strictly. Also, you should follow all the instructions, directions and advice given by him for better dog care. Remember, encephalitis can be completely cured by the medical treatments and your love and support for your canine friend.