If you suspect your dog is having a stroke, you can provide appropriate care and make him feel comfortable by recognizing the risks, signs, and symptoms of stroke. While all dogs are prone to stroke, dogs that are older, overweight, or with certain health problems are more likely to have a stroke. Knowing what to look for and do can help you stay calm, and allow for quicker veterinary advice. While it's important to calm your dog during an experience that may be terrifying, knowing how to recognize and treat a stroke can even potentially save you. his life.
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Method 1 of 3: Knowing the Characteristics of a Stroke
Step 1. Recognize the common symptoms of stroke
Symptoms of stroke vary, from sudden loss of balance to impaired consciousness. Review the signs of stroke and pay attention to the dog suspected of having it. All the main symptoms of stroke need to be recognized.
- Extreme weakness: There may be neurological weakness in the limbs. This means that the nerves are not functioning and are not giving the right information to the legs to stand up and support the dog. Even though they are strong enough to support the body, the muscles do not receive the proper messages from the nerves, resulting in the dog being very weak and unable to stand.
- Nystagmus: Nystagmus is a technical term when the eyes move from side to side rapidly, as if watching a tennis match speed up. Nystagmus is a common indicator of stroke, although it can occur for other reasons, such as meningitis. In addition, once it occurs, nystagmus can last for several days. Nystagmus can also make pets feel nauseous because it causes motion sickness. This is why dogs may vomit or lose their appetite.
- Loss of balance suddenly. Be aware that the dog cannot balance its limbs.
- Impaired consciousness: Some dogs may experience seizures or convulsions, while others may lose consciousness in a major stroke. This means the dog is not aware of what is going on around him and does not respond to names and other forms of stimulation.
Step 2. Distinguish between symptoms of stroke and symptoms of other conditions
Stroke is an event that occurs suddenly. A stroke can be suspected if a pet that was originally fine and acting normally 5 minutes ago has difficulty standing up. If the dog has difficulty standing because of dizziness, such as if he has a heart disease, this may pass within a few minutes once the dog is able to breathe normally, and is able to stand and walk. However, a dog who has had a stroke will remain disoriented for hours or even days.
- Keep in mind that this symptom is accompanied by inflammation of the balance apparatus on the inside of the ear.
- In addition, there is a scale for calculating the degree of weakness, depending on the severity of the stroke. Sometimes the dog can stand and walk slowly as if he was drunk if only mild symptoms are experienced, other times the dog will be paralyzed, lying down, and barely conscious.
Step 3. Understanding the duration of stroke symptoms is very important for diagnosing stroke
Technically, symptoms must last for more than 24 hours to be classified as a stroke. If symptoms stop before 24 hours, and there is still a strong suspicion of a blockage in the brain, this is known as a minor stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack). A minor stroke is a sign that a full-blown stroke is imminent, so always seek veterinary attention so that the underlying cause can be treated to reduce the risk of a major stroke.
Step 4. Be aware that conditions other than stroke can cause symptoms similar to those of a stroke
Because these conditions are very different, the treatment will be different too. However, don't worry too much about establishing the dog's condition, instead seek immediate help.
Step 5. Call your vet if you suspect a stroke
There are several symptoms that can point to a pet having a stroke. However, there is no need to bother reaching a specific diagnosis at home, because concluding a symptom is a stroke is just a label. It is even more important that pets get veterinary attention immediately when one or more stroke symptoms appear.
Method 2 of 3: Dealing with Dogs Suspected of Stroke
Step 1. Stay calm
If you believe your dog is having a stroke, the first thing to do is to remain calm. Your dog will need your help to survive, so keep your mind on it and focus on helping it.
Step 2. Make sure the dog is comfortable
Place the dog in a quiet and warm environment. Make him feel as comfortable as possible by placing him on a soft bed and removing furniture around him that could injure the dog.
- If your dog is unable to stand, turn him over to the opposite body every half hour to reduce the risk of pneumonia due to pooling of blood on one side of his lung.
- Place water near the dog so he can drink without standing. If your dog won't drink for a long time, wipe his gums with a damp cloth to provide moisture.
Step 3. Call your vet and make an appointment right away
If this emergency occurs at the end of the week or in the middle of the night, call the vet's emergency number. If you don't get an answer, you may need to take your dog to an emergency veterinary clinic.
Keep a log of your dog's symptoms so you can talk to the vet over the phone. It is important to know the strength and duration of the symptoms so that they can explain how severe the dog's condition is to the veterinarian
Step 4. Understand what the vet will do with your pet
Treatment priorities in dogs who have had a stroke include minimizing brain swelling and maximizing oxygen flow to the brain. This is done through drugs and medical treatment. In addition, a vet clinic can provide secondary care, such as keeping the dog hydrated and comfortable.
Method 3 of 3: Determining whether a Dog is at Risk for Stroke
Step 1. Understand the basic aspects of stroke
Stroke is caused by a disturbance in blood flow to certain parts of the brain. These disorders are characteristics of strokes that cause sudden attacks, because the nature of blood clots can suddenly shut off the blood supply to certain parts of the brain. The exact symptoms depend on exactly which part of the brain is affected, but there are some similar symptoms that occur, no matter where the blockage of the blood clot is.
- Stroke is almost always caused by a blood clot that clogs and causes disruption of blood vessels, but it may also be caused by fat deposits that are released and spread to the brain. Strokes can even be caused by a collection of bacteria in the brain.
- There has been a long-standing debate among veterinarians about whether stroke can occur in animals or not. But now, the argument has been largely won by the “yes, strokes do happen in animals” camp because of advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI scans, which can produce images of blockages in the brain.
Step 2. Find out if your dog is at risk for stroke
Dogs most at risk for stroke are generally older, and have previous health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or hypercortisolism. Some veterinarians briefly report that dogs with underactive thyroid glands have an increased risk of stroke, but the data prove this view is inaccurate.
Step 3. Think about other risk factors
Another problem that can affect a dog's susceptibility to stroke is heartworm disease, which causes the larvae to detach and spread to the brain, resulting in a blockage. Dogs at risk for stroke include those with a history of blood clots, kidney disease, high fever, or cancer.
The group at the lowest risk of stroke was young and healthy dogs without regular medical treatment for heartworm disease
Step 4. Recognize that dogs are different from people
Be aware that strokes in dogs have different effects than humans. A stroke in humans may affect the ability to speak and move one limb, but this is not the case in dogs. The effects that occur in dogs will appear as described above.
