Milo’s Meningoencephalitis Journey Costs

On June 27th, 2023 my baby Milo was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis of unknown origin.

I got Milo in February of 2022 and he quickly became my best friend. Anyone who knows Milo and I knows that Milo is my baby, he is the biggest mamas boy, and I would do anything for him. He is the sweetest boy and makes everyone around him laugh, with his bark that sounds like he has a sore throat, and his little frenchie snorts. Milo is only 1 year and 9 months old, and the moments leading up to the diagnosis of this incurable disease quickly came to be one of the scariest days of my life.

Milo’s balance was mildly off for a few days and I thought he had an ear infection so planned to schedule a vet appointment for him. The next morning he started throwing up because he was so dizzy, so I got him into the vet as soon as possible. At the vet, I was told to bring him to the neurologist immediately. The neurologist told me about what it could be, and I began hoping and praying that he would be okay.

His MRI results showed he had a few areas of swelling in his brain, and a spinal tap lead to the diagnosis. Meningoencephalitis is inflammation of the brain, and it can cause several neurological symptoms in dogs such as blindness, imbalance, seizures, muscle tremors, and often in advanced cases- fatality. Because it is unknown origin, there is no specific cause (as some meningitis is bacterial), it’s essentially that his immune system is attacking itself.

The thought of losing Milo so soon broke my heart, but I felt a little more relieved when the neurologist told me his condition is treatable. Meningoencephalitis can not be cured, but with high dosage steroids as well as immunosuppressants that 2/3 of dogs respond well to, dogs with the condition can live a happy life.

With all of that being said, the treatment plan is very expensive. The MRI’s alone cost over $4,000, as well as several different high costs from the medication and check up appointments.

Even if you can only donate $1, anything helps. If you cannot donate, please share, pray, or send good wishes. Milo saved me in my lowest of times and now it’s time for me to save him.

Thank you for your help ❤️