Hoppípolla’s Story

Age at diagnosis: 10 years

Breed: Border Collie

Hoppípolla is a purebred, very active Border Collie born in May 2024. At 10 months old, she suddenly got ill after a training session. She seemed very tired, and I thought the first outdoor training session of spring was the reason.

The next day she was still very tired. I went to the vet, as this was very unlike her. They concluded she had a high fever and very high infection numbers (CRP 167). The next three days we spent at the vet, where they examined her for almost everything - scans, X-rays and a lot of blood tests. I suggested SRMA, but it was rejected as she didn't show any pain or stiffness. The only symptoms were high fever and elevated infection numbers.

Finally we were sent to a referral hospital with more specialists. They didn't suspect SRMA either, due to the missing stiffness. They treated her with different high-dose antibiotics, but with no effect, and couldn't give a reason for her symptoms. She was given paracetamol to keep the fever down.

On the fourth evening her fever was so high I could almost not wake her. I thought I was about to lose her and contacted the referral hospital again. The vet on night duty said "What you describe sounds like SRMA" - and I was so relieved to finally have a possible diagnosis.

The next day she had a spinal tap and what came out was as white as milk, due to the massive number of neutrophils and reactive lymphocytes. Now they did not doubt it was SRMA.

I handed over a very sick, apathic dog in the morning, and in the afternoon, after her first dose of prednisolone, I picked up a happy, almost-herself dog. She went on a six-week protocol of prednisolone and it worked. She has been off prednisolone since, with only a few low doses around vaccines and flea treatments.

Hoppípolla is part of The Theo Project's canine meningitis registry - a growing global collection of MUE, MUO and SRMA stories shared to help families facing this diagnosis.