A strategic approach to diagnosing canine encephalopathies : does a pug with encephalitis necessarily have pug dog encephalitis?

Abstract

A nine month old female spayed pug dog presented with acute onset of blindness, ataxia, and head pressing of 24 hours duration three days after undergoing an ovariohysterectomy. A neurological examination on presentation revealed findings consistent with a right prosencephalic lesion. A complete diagnostic workup was pursued to find the cause of her encephalopathic signs. A presumptive diagnosis of necrotizing meningoencephalitis of pug dogs (PDE) was made and the dog was treated with immunosuppressive doses of prednisone. Clincal signs resolved over a one week period at home. The prednisone was slowly taperd over the next few months without recurrence of clinical signs, putting the diagnosis of pug dog encephalitis into question. This paper will discuss the strategic approach utilized in the attempt to diagnose this canine encephalopathy, with an overview of the numerous differential diagnoses considered in this case. A brief discussion on current therapies for pug dog encephalitis is also included.