Investigation of side effects to treatment and cause of death in 63 Scandinavian dogs suffering from meningoencephalitis of unknown origin: a retrospective study

Table 4 Side effects noted during treatment

	All dogs (n = 47) n (%)	CS (n = 19) n (%)	CS + Ci (n = 15) n (%)	CS + CA (n = 5) n (%)	CS + 2 (n = 5) n (%)	CS + Le (n = 3) n (%)
Polyphagia	37 (78.7)	15 (78.9)	11 (73.3)	4 (80.0)	4 (80.0)	3 (100)
PU/PD	37 (78.7)	13 (68.4)	14 (93.3)	3 (60.0)	4 (80.0)	3 (100)
Diarrhea	29 (61.7)	13 (68.4)	9 (60.0)	3 (60.0)	4 (80.0)
Lethargic	28 (59.6)	12 (63.2)	8 (53.3)	3 (60.0)	3 (60.0)	2 (66.7)
≥ 10% weight gain	24 (52.2)^III	9 (47.4)	8 (57.1)^III	3 (60.0)	3 (60.0)	1 (33.3)
Behavioral change	20 (42.6)	9 (47.4)	8 (53.3)	1 (20.0)	1 (20.0)	1 (33.3)
Vomiting	17 (36.2)	10 (52.6)	5 (33.3)		2 (40.0)
Muscle atrophy	16 (34.0)	10 (52.6)	5 (33.3)			1 (33.3)
Pendulating abdomen	14 (29.8)	3 (15.8)	7 (46.7)	1 (20.0)	2 (40.)	1 (33.3)
Infections^I	11 (23.4)	6 (31.6)	3 (20.0)	1 (20.0)		1 (33.3)
Poor coat quality	11 (23.4)	4 (21.1)	5 (33.3)		1 (20.0	1 (33.3)
Panting	10 (21.3)	5 (26.3)	2 (13.3)	1 (20.0)	1 (20.0)	1 (33.3)
Exercise intolerance	8 (17.0)	3 (15.8)	4 (26.7)	1 (20.0)
Corneal ulcer	5 (10.6)	2 (10.5)	2 (13.3)		1 (20.0)
Anorexia	4 (8.5)	3 (15.8)	1 (6.7)
≥ 10% weight loss	3 (6.5)^III	1 (5.3)	2 (14.3)^III
Other^II	6 (12.8)	1 (5.3)	3 (20.0)	1 (20.0)	1 (20.0)

Overview of side effects registered for dogs with at least one registered follow-up visit, as well as the distribution between different treatment groups (n = 47).^IOf the dogs with infections registered during treatment, six had infections primarily related to the skin. Four dogs presented with either pneumonia (1), sepsis and peritonitis (1), bacterial cystitis (1) or an eye infection (1). One dog presented several times during treatment with infections, which included a suspected discospondylitis, osteomyelitis in one toe, skin infections, as well as a tooth abscess.^IIOther: CS: Crust-like skin lesions, CS + Ci: Calcinosis cutis, tooth loss, thrombi formation, CA: Tooth loss, CS + 2: Gingival hyperplasia.^IIIData regarding weight changes were missing for 1 dog. +2 = 2 or more add-ons, CA = cytosine arabinoside, All = all dogs with reported side effects, Ci = ciclosporin, CS = corticosteroids, Le = Leflunomide, PU/PD = Polyuria/Polydipsia.

ISSN: 1751-0147