Kalua’s Story

Age at diagnosis: 8 years

Breed: Dachshund

Kalua is an 8-year-old miniature dachshund with the sweetest, most gentle personality I have ever known. She loves people more than anything and goes out of her way to connect with them. At dachshund meetups, while other dogs run and play, Kalua makes it her mission to walk up to every single person to say hello and make sure she gets a moment of attention. She is affectionate, calm, and incredibly intuitive. At home, she sleeps next to me every night with her head resting across my neck, and she comes with me almost everywhere - whether that is running errands, travelling, or just being by my side. She is my constant companion, my comfort, my best friend, and my baby.

Over the past few years, Kalua has faced a series of health challenges that, in hindsight, feel more connected than they first appeared. She was diagnosed with a low-grade heart murmur in 2022, underwent a toe amputation in 2024 due to a bone infection, and later that year began having seizures, which are now managed with levetiracetam (Keppra). In July 2025, she was diagnosed with pancreatitis, after which she was transitioned to a strict low-fat prescription diet.

Beginning in September 2025, she started having episodes of sudden pain affecting different limbs and her back. Each episode presented slightly differently, often involving a different limb, and notably seemed to follow other inflammatory-type events, such as skin rashes. Imaging did not show a clear cause, and these episodes were treated conservatively, but looking back, they may have been early signs of an underlying neurological condition.

In March 2026, she experienced another pancreatitis flare despite being fully compliant with her prescription diet, with no identifiable dietary trigger. Shortly after, everything escalated. What started as mild discomfort quickly progressed into the most severe pain she has ever experienced. She reached a point where she could no longer walk and was holding her urine and stool because moving was too painful. Initially, her presentation strongly suggested intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and we proceeded with an MRI of her spine with the expectation that she would need surgery. When the MRI came back normal, it was both a relief and a new uncertainty. At that point, her care team pivoted to a spinal tap, which ultimately led to her diagnosis of meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE).

She was started on steroids immediately after the spinal tap and showed a dramatic improvement within 24 hours. She was walking again, using the bathroom normally, and no longer showing pain. However, that improvement was not linear. After a couple of days, she declined again, becoming painful and less mobile, which was incredibly discouraging and confusing. Shortly after, we received confirmation of her diagnosis and moved forward with cytarabine treatment.

Following her first cytarabine treatment, her response was again significant. Within about 36 hours, she regained mobility, resumed normal bathroom habits, and has not shown any further pain responses since. She is now walking independently, comfortable with handling, and engaging with her environment. Her energy is not fully back to her previous baseline, but she is present, alert, and still very much herself.

The primary challenges now are related to medication side effects, including increased appetite, weight gain, increased thirst, and more frequent urination. Despite these challenges, the difference between where she was at her worst and where she is now feels profound. Additionally, mild muscle loss is suspected in her hindquarters, particularly around the hips and proximal hind limbs, based on palpation - a more prominent bony feel - although this is not visibly apparent due to her coat.

Through everything, what has stayed the same is who Kalua is at her core. She is still loving, still trusting, and still wants to be close to me at all times. She still greets people with excitement, still gives endless kisses, and still finds comfort in simply being near me. She has been through more than most dogs, and yet she continues to show up with the same gentle and affectionate spirit.

Kalua isn't just my dog - she's my family and my entire world. I don't have a partner, or children, or siblings, or parents, or any family nearby, but I have Kalua. She's my constant source of companionship, purpose, and connection. This journey has been overwhelming at times, but sharing her story is important to me. If it helps another owner recognise patterns, advocate for further testing when something does not add up, or feel less alone in navigating a diagnosis like MUE, then it's worth it.

“I’d like to recommend the app called DogLog for tracking food, meds, toileting, symptoms, vet visits, etc. It has been a lifesaver, truly. And I'd just like to know if there's anything else I can do to help others.”

Kalua 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.