Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE) is a serious brain inflammation condition that is exclusive to pugs. Approximately 1.2% of Pugs die of this condition. Vets think that this condition is hereditary since it often strikes dogs that are closely related to one another. With that said, read on to learn about the causes and symptoms of this condition.
Overview of PDE
Clinically, PDE is described as a nectrotizing meningoencephalitis and is invariably fatal. It usually affects dogs between 6 months and 7 years. However, the majority of dogs affected are between 9 and 19 months of age. The disease can last from several days to 6 months or more and usually starts in its acute, rapidly progressing form.
Additionally, PDE is very difficult to diagnose since most of its symptoms often relate to other central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Therefore, in most cases it is usually diagnosed after the Pug dog dies.
Apparently, there are actually two classifications of PDE which include:
Slow Progressive
Slow progressive features seizure activity which last anywhere from just a few seconds to a few minutes. The seizure activities are sometimes preceded by the additional symptoms. More so, the seizures usually come back in as little as a few days or few weeks. Under this classification, the dog normally will return to normal in between these seizures and demonstrate no symptomatic characteristics related to PDE at all.
Rapid progression
Seizure activity in this classification is usually more frequent although not always. Unlike, the slow progressive, the dog does not return to normal, but instead it normally demonstrates symptomatic characteristics such as having difficulty walking, depression, disorientation and even bewilderment.
Unfortunately, the end result of both classifications is the same. Therefore, whether this condition strikes your dog in the slow progressive form or the rapid progression form, your pet will eventually die.
What Causes PDE?
The cause of Pug Dog encephalitis is not known. However, because it tends to strike dogs that are closely related, experts suspect that it’s hereditary and autoimmune. However, this does not mean if your dog is not related it cannot get PDE. It is also worth noting that female dogs are more likely than males to succumb to this disease.
Symptoms of PDE
In most cases, symptoms of PDE usually progress in a matter of days or weeks and result in sudden death. However, in other cases, your dog can live a while longer but only with the help of proper drugs to control seizures.
The primary symptoms of Pug dog encephalitis include seizures, pacing in circles, lethargy and loss of muscle coordination.
- Seizures
Seizures occur every few days or weeks or more frequently depending on the rate at which disease is progressing. However, seizure activity in dogs does not necessarily mean PDE is the cause. This is because dogs can also suffer seizures from exposure to toxic gases or chemicals, epilepsy and for other unknown reasons.
- Pacing in circles
This is a fairly common symptom of PDE. The dog will pace in a circular motion over and over for quite a long time.
- Lethargy and loss of muscle coordination
These two symptoms do but don’t always seizure activity caused by PDE. What’s more, neither of these two symptoms definitely indicates PDE is the cause. Lethargy is a symptom to nearly all illnesses that can strike a Pug dog while the loss of muscle coordination can indicate other problems such as neurological issues.
Other symptoms to watch out for include:
- Depression
- Disorientation or confusion
- Pressing their heads against the walls, furniture or other solid surfaces
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Intermittent screaming
- Weakness
- Staring off into space
- Behavioural changes- which include agitation or aggression
- Dogs dogs with encephalitis may also appear to be blind, have trouble walking and stagger
Always see your veterinarian immediately if your dog displays any of these signs and symptoms.
How Can You Prevent PDE In Your Pugs?
You cannot prevent encephalitis as it is probably genetic in origin and what causes this disease is still unknown. The only prevention would be not to breed the parents who are the carriers of the disease. Therefore, if your Pug dog develops this condition, ensure you inform the breeder from whom you purchased the dog.
Conclusion
While Pug Dog Encephalitis is always deadly, treatment can help manage the symptoms especially during the final weeks of his life. It is therefore recommended that your dog gets regular vet check-ups, particularly in their early stages of life to make sure this does not become a complication for your pug.
Please note, the featured Image was based on an image by Kristin Shoemaker under Creative Commons terms
My pug Ernie eas my well not in the beginning but he became an onafficial thetapy dog to me for ETP emotional therapy, stress , my not wanting to go out i.e. isolation.. Magor depression. He was a trooper then when he wass 6 and half he became very ill spent 2 to 3 werks in hospital woudnt eat & orhans eere shutting down . Till a vet came bk fr vacation the day i was told i should say goodbyes to him. Well yhis vet seemed to look at him and he new ecactly whatveas wrong did nlood glucose test he had diabetes. And got well with insilin and came hime had begun to be his support dog too.and his nurse. He got occadional couphs rewuired acdpecial serum thst would only quoet him nothing elde would work. But inloved him my first littlevdog ibhad 2 rottes and and eldest avshep husky mix. All wrre shelter dogs. But then just last December about 20th he had firsy seizure he was 10 and half. They became once a day to 2 then 3 then the vet wanted a gluvoseclevel as he was seixing well its hard enough to get bkoid when there still for glucosecdaily cks but this eas imposdible. I hadnt the money like i did b4 as ivwas divorced. And my ex would pay
I lost my 3 year old fawn girl 4 days ago to PDE. I diagnosed it not the vet!. it took her life in just 5 days. two seizures and losing the abillity to walk was enough said. Pug owners dont wast time on MRI that may indeed tell you its something else,but just do your homework on the breed . Be vigilant to the symptoms. Dont let your pet suffer needlessly,I didnt becasue there was no going back for her. Seizures disorientation lack of balance, stiff neck , walking in circles head pressing, depression ….yep its almost always going to be PDE.
I think my dog may have this. When she has the seizure, she loses fluids from her nose. It’s like water just comes draining from her nose and she has difficulty breathing. Did this happen?