Here is a video on YouTube of a beagle with SRM. (use you back button to return to this page)

The cause of SRM is unknown at the moment. It is known to be an immune response but the trigger has not been identified. The immune response results in an intense inflammation of the blood vessels supplying the neurological system particularly the meninges (lining around the brain) and the cervical spinal cord (neck). The body is “attacking” its own cells and suppression of this is imperative in treatment. Beagles are very stoic and as such the owner may not be able to pinpoint initially exactly what is wrong just that the puppy is out of sorts. Often this is initially attributed to an injury since beagles are generally lively and some affected dogs may cry out in pain

On necropsy research beagles have shown changes associated with irritation or infection  in the small vessels in the cervical spinal cord, mediastinum, and heart.

Bacterial meningitis, diskospondylitis, spinal tumor and cervical disc disease should be ruled out as the symptoms are very similar to SRM. X-rays of the cervical area will often be unremarkable and lab work may show anemia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, and alpha2 macroglobulinemia. The usual use of non steroidal anti-inflammatories such as meloxicam and carprofen does not produce any improvement. Antibiotics are usually of no benefit to a beagle with SRM.

Diagnosis is most commonly based on symptoms and a spinal tap. Samples are taken under a General Anaesthetic from the fluid bathing the cervical spinal cord and they show typical changes of increased numbers of cells and protein. There are risk factors associated with this procedure-so talk to your vet. The recent use of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging technique (MRI) is also producing very useful information on the condition, giving an idea of the severity of the disease in an individual and helping to decide on the best treatment regime. Some dogs may have an apparently normal spinal tap but the MRI scans show abnormalities consistent with the inflammation within the brain. MRI scans have the advantage of being completely safe.

Spinal taps and MRIs are expensive. Ideally, both tests should be performed. In some cases testing may not be readily available or affordable to the owners. Some owners have opted to start treatment and see if the beagle responded quickly--if so additional testing is not done.

Treatment with steroids, specifically prednisone at dosages between 1-4mg/kg/dayfor short term therapy have been suggested and long term treatment with lower dosages  maybe indicated for some beagles.  Your veterinarian is the best person to work with you with the appropriate treatment protocol.

Steriod treatment will make your beagle drink more water and may cause water retention. Frequent trips for "potty" breaks usually are needed, as well as keeping you beagle in a quiet non-stimulating environment. Remember that moving can be painful for them, so if you have an active household with kids and other dogs, confining your beagle in a crate or separate area is suggested.

Given that some breeds of dog are over represented in the population with SRM there is a possibility of a genetic predisposition which basically means the beagle (and others) may have a hereditary problem which makes them more likely to develop this immune mediated disease. The availability of DNA marker tests for screening of canine disease is a major research area. Research is underway on this problem in the United States. For information on where to submit cheek swabs of an affected beagle, please contact Darlene Stewart.

The Animal Health Trust in the UK is trying to collect enough blood samples to start genetic research on this problem. In the UK, anyone having a beagle with the condition or knowing of one is encouraged to contact Samantha Goldberg

This syndrome is similar to Kawasaki disease in humans.

My Experience with BPS

My fourteen month old beagle female walked with her head down as if she had a headache. If she was close to my leg as I moved and she turned to get out of the way, or to go around a door, or if a littermate bumped her; she would cry out in pain. I took her to my vet and he started treatment for cervical disorder and she was started on meds. Over the next few days she got better and all signs of pain were gone. She would on occasions, sometimes months apart, become painful again and I would automatically start her on her meds. My vet is a long term friend and I would call him and let him know her status and her bouts of neck pain were managed well.

When she was seven years old she started with the same usual symptoms; crying out in pain, hunch back, and stiff neck. This time the usual meds did not help. She progressed to muscle spasms in front legs, and she was obviously in severe pain. She would squint her eyes again reminding me of someone with a migraine. She also developed shaking in rear legs...I felt this was secondary to pain. Lab work and x-rays were unremarkable. She was started on antibiotics, pain med, muscle relaxers and higher doses of dexamethasone. She gradually improved. But this episode was longer and more severe.

At the age of 8 1/2 she again started with the pain when turning head, muscle spasms in front and the pain progressed to the point where all she could do was lie on couch. I had to keep her sedated with valium for muscle spasms as well as flexaril. She was on dexamethasone and rimadyl. Also antibiotics. Again the basic labs test were unremarable and x-rays showed possible narrowing of disc mid-back. This would not explain the chest and neck pain. She became so bad that my only option was to try and transport her to a vet school hours away for and MRI and possible surgery for disc disease. I decided that I would not put her thru this and would PTS if no improvement in 48 hours. We had been working on her for almost two weeks and she was just not improving. She would eat but she was hand fed and everytime I took her outside I had to prepare to hear her cry out in pain.

I was researching cervical pain when I found an article about beagle pain. A lightbulb went off...she fit the description. As a last ditch effort, my vet agreed to start her on high dose steroid treatment. Within 24 hours I could see a marked improvement in her and in 48 hours she was off all meds other than the prednisone. Her recovery was short of a miracle. She was maintained on the high dose for 14 days and then gradually weaned off all pred. She never had another severe episode but at the first sign of her "headache look" I would start her on prednisone for one week. She lived to be 16 and ultimately died of cancer.

Here are three other links to additional information on this syndrome.

Bernese Mountain Dog Health Links
University of Prince Edward Island DataBase
Another Case OF BPS

 
References:
The Five Minute Veterinary Consult Page 388,
J AM Vet Med Assoc 201[10]:1553-8 Nov 15'92--Systemic Necrotizing Vasculitis in Nine Young Beagles.
J Vet Inter Med 4[2]:112 Mar/Apr'90 ACVIM 8th Annual Forum--Systemic Vasculitis {Canine Pain Syndrome} in young beagles
J Vet Intern Med 2[1]:26-35 Jan/Mar'88 123 Refs--Canine Meningitis:A Changing Emphasis
The Veterinary Record, June 17, 1978--Polyarteritis in a colony of beagles.
The Veterinary Record, April 7th 1973--Polyarteritis in the Dog: A Case Report

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JUDY MUSLADIN FOR HER ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ARTICLE.

Ruth Darlene Stewart -- AlaDar Beagles-2002