NERVOUS CONDITIONS
PUG DOG ENCEPHALITIS “PDE” is a fatal disease in the Pug (& some other braceptic breeds) which occurs between 6 months
& 7 years with the majority of the cases presenting between 9 & 20 months of age.
The fancy medical term is called “Necrotizing Menigoencephalitis”. The brain & the protective membrane
surrounding the brain become severely inflamed & die. It presents with several
progressive neurological symptoms: seizure, pressing the head against furniture or the walls, circling, staggering walk, sudden
blindness, lethargy, depression, stiff neck with pain. The first symptom usually
is a refusal to do usual things like jumping on & off furniture.
This fatal & untreatable condition cannot be positively identified without an autopsy.
The Pug Dog Club of America & AKC Canine
Health Foundation, are sponsoring 2 research projects to learn more about this devastating disease. One project is at
Cornell University by the principal investigator Dr.
Scott Schatzberg. The 2nd project is at Texas A&M University by investigator Dr. Kimberly Greer (kgreer@cvm.tamu.edu). If you have a Pug that might be affected
& you want to participate, have your veterinarian contact these doctors to see if they can use blood, tissues or a pedigree
from your Pug.
This condition is reported to be an inherited trait.
SEIZURES: Not all seizures
are caused by PDE & can be usually controlled with medications. There can be many causes of this condition. Your veterinarian can work with you to relieve the symptoms of this condition.
There are other less common nervous system conditions, talk to your veterinarian or your Pug’s breeder
about them.
