Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with brain inflammation from Ehrlichia infection improves
By Benito, Miguel Benito et al.·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2025·Hamilton Specialist Referrals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Central Nervous System Vasculitis Due to Ehrlichia canis in a Dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old female crossbreed dog was brought in after experiencing a 2-month history of wobbliness and a tilt of her head to the right. Tests revealed signs of a brain infection caused by Ehrlichia canis, a type of bacteria often spread by ticks. The dog was treated with doxycycline, an antibiotic, and showed significant improvement within just 24 hours. After six weeks of treatment, follow-up imaging showed that the brain lesions had completely resolved, and the dog remained symptom-free for three months after leaving the hospital.
People also search for: dog head tilt treatment · vestibular syndrome in dogs · doxycycline for dog infections
Abstract
A 4-year-old female neutered crossbreed dog was presented for a 2-month history of intermittent vestibulo-cerebellar ataxia and right head tilt. On admission, she presented clinical signs compatible with right paradoxical vestibular syndrome. Haematology showed moderate lymphocytosis, thrombocytopenia and hyperproteinaemia with hyperglobulinemia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed multiple, bilateral, ill-defined lesions involving the white matter of the brainstem, cerebellum and forebrain with strong diffuse meningeal contrast enhancement. Cerebrospinal fluid cytology showed lymphocytic pleocytosis, and Ehrlichia spp. serology was positive. Treatment with doxycycline showed clinical improvement within 24 h, treatment was continued for 6 weeks. A follow-up magnetic resonance imaging study was performed after treatment and showed complete resolution of the previous lesions. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed only albumin-cytological dissociation. Since treatment initiation, the patient remained asymptomatic. Three months after hospital discharge, no further episodes were reported.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41182031/