Canine Meningitis Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

Meningitis refers to inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. In dogs, meningitis represents an important category of neurological disease frequently tested on the NAVLE. Understanding the classification, clinical presentation, and management of different meningitis types is essential for veterinary practice.

Meningitis in dogs can be broadly categorized into infectious and non-infectious (immune-mediated) causes. Critically, non-infectious causes comprise approximately 80% of meningitis cases in dogs in Europe and the USA, with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) being the most common type overall.

Classification of Canine Meningitis

Steroid-Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis (SRMA)

SRMA is the most common cause of meningitis in dogs. It is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease affecting the leptomeninges and associated arteries, characterized by marked neutrophilic pleocytosis in the CSF and excellent response to corticosteroid therapy.