Table 2.
Neurological findings on initial presentation (n = 63)
| n | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abnormal mentation | 44 | 69.8 | ||
| Depressed | 40 | 63.5 | ||
| Stuporous | 1 | 1.6 | ||
| Comatose | 3 | 4.8 | ||
| N/A | 4 | 6.2 | ||
| Deviating behavior | 32 | 50.8 | ||
| Abnormal (not specified) | 7 | 11.1 | ||
| Circling | 23 | 36.5 | ||
| Hemineglect | 2 | 3.2 | ||
| Seizures | 27 | 42.9 | ||
| Generalized seizures* | 14 | 22.2 | ||
| Cluster seizures | 6 | 9.5 | ||
| Status epilepticus | 2 | 3.2 | ||
| Focal seizures | 5 | 7.9 | ||
| Abnormal movement | 40 | 63.5 | ||
| Paresis/plegia | 2 | 3.2 | ||
| Tetraparesis | 1 | 1.6 | ||
| Hemiparesis | 1 | 1.6 | ||
| Ataxia | 37 | 58.7 | ||
| Generalized ataxia | 26 | 41.3 | ||
| Ataxia affecting pelvic limbs | 7 | 11.1 | ||
| Ataxia with hypermetria | 4 | 6.4 | ||
| Leaning towards one side | 1 | 1.6 | ||
| Abnormal body posture* | 26 | 41.3 | ||
| Pleurotothonus | 3 | 4.8 | ||
| Head turn | 12 | 19.0 | ||
| Head tilt | 17 | 27.0 | ||
| Both head turn and head tilt | 4 | 6.3 | ||
| Proprioceptive placing deficits | 39 | 61.9 | ||
| One limb | 7 | 11.1 | ||
| One side | 23 | 36.5 | ||
| Pelvic limbs | 3 | 4.8 | ||
| Thoracic limbs | 1 | 1.6 | ||
| All limbs | 5 | 7.9 | ||
| Abnormal findings on cranial nerve examination* | 41 | 65.1 | ||
| Strabismus | 15 | 23.8 | ||
| Positional strabismus | 4 | 6.3 | ||
| Abnormal menace response | 31 | 49.2 | ||
| Abnormal unilateral | 16 | 25.4 | ||
| Abnormal bilateral | 15 | 23.8 | ||
| Pathological nystagmus | 7 | 11.1 | ||
| Rotating | 1 | 1.6 | ||
| Vertical | 4 | 6.3 | ||
| Horizontal | 2 | 3.2 | ||
| Abnormal nasal sensation | 13 | 20.6 | ||
| Abnormal unilateral | 10 | 15.9 | ||
| Abnormal bilateral | 3 | 4.8 | ||
| Spinal pain | 20 | 31.7 | ||
| Cervical | 17 | 27.0 | ||
| Thoracic | 1 | 1.6 | ||
| Not localized | 2 | 3.2 | ||
| Localization based on neurological examination | ||||
| Multifocal | 34 | 54.0 | ||
| Cerebrum | 17 | 27.0 | ||
| Brain stem | 5 | 7.9 | ||
| No localization specified | 7 | 11.1 | ||
Overview of findings at initial examination of 63 dogs with a tentative diagnosis of meningoencephalitis of unknown origin. N/A = Dogs that presented either in seizures or sedated. Mental status could therefore not be evaluated at presentation. *Dogs may be counted in more than one of the below mentioned abnormalities.