Bacterial meningitis secondary to otogenic infection in 10 French bulldogs: A retrospective case series

BACKGROUND: There is limited published information to guide the clinical management of bacterial meningitis/encephalitis in dogs. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series comprising 10 French bulldogs from two referral centres. The cases were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis/encephalitis suspected secondary to otogenic infection based on detection of abnormal fluid/soft tissue opacity within the middle/inner ear, associated meningeal/intracranial involvement through MRI, the findings of cerebro‐spinal fluid (CSF) analysis suggestive of sepsis and/or clinical improvement following antibiosis. RESULTS: Ten dogs were included (three female and seven male), with a median age of 60 months. Dogs presented with acute onset (median 2 days), progressive history of vestibular signs and/or intra‐oral or cervical pain. Five dogs had gross signs of concurrent otitis externa. Common MRI findings included material within the tympanic bulla with adjacent meningeal enhancement. Analysis of CSF documented pleocytosis in all eight dogs, intracellular bacteria seen in three with positive bacteriological culture in two dogs. One dog was euthanised following diagnosis. Nine remaining dogs received antimicrobial therapy and six underwent surgical management. Three dogs treated surgically were neurologically normal within 2 weeks and the remaining three improved. Two dogs treated medically improved and one had complete resolution reported within a 4‐week follow‐up period. Study limitations include its retrospective nature and small sample size with minimal longer term follow‐up. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial meningitis/encephalitis in French bulldogs can require both medical and surgical treatment to achieve a favourable outcome.