Pain

A condition has been described in beagles which is called "beagle pain syndrome", "stiff beagle disease", "immune mediated meningitis" and "necrotising vasculitis". These conditions may be the same or they may be different manifestations of the same disorder. They are immune mediated-that is they are set off by the immune system-and respond to prednisolone (a corticosteroid drug). This may be an auto-immune disease which means the body is attacking itself as it perceives itself as a foreign invader but this is not clear as yet.

The syndrome may occur in other breeds but is particularly described in beagles. Whether there is a hereditary basis or whether beagles are just particularly susceptible is not clear.

Several signs are seen with the overall picture being recurrent intermittent pain and pyrexia (high fever) which persists for a few days at a time in young animals. The pain may be local or generalised and is often described in the neck. Various investigations may be carried out including a spinal tap which fails to locate an infectious agent. Inflammation of the arterial walls may occur in the meninges (membranes covering the brain) and in the heart.

Treatment involves corticosteroids to suppress the immune reaction until symptoms subside but may need to be for a period of several months with relapses needing an increased dose. Some dogs appear to "grow" out of the condition but some require treatment for longer. Long term damage may be caused in some dogs resulting in neurological problems such as limb weakness.
Antibiotics are given as initially it is not easy to distinguish from meningitis caused by infectious agents.

Reference:
The internet is a good source of information-use "beagle pain syndrome" as a search tool.

Various Veterinary textbooks also mention the condition.