Q: What symptoms should I look out for if I think my dog is having a stroke?
Q: What symptoms should I look out for if I think my dog is having a stroke?
A: A stroke is a disturbance to the brain's blood supply - also called a cerebrovascular accident. It is most commonly due to a blood clot, but can also be a result of bleeding in the brain or lack of blood supply due to heart disease.
Stroke is a risk for any dog with heart disease, high blood pressure, blood clotting problems or lungworm. It commonly happens in older dogs even without any of the above risk factors being present.
The main symptoms are a head tilt, nystagmus (eyes continuously flicking from side to side), loss of balance and vomiting. Some dogs may show behavioral changes such as unexplained aggression. Other symptoms include seizures, coma, and even sudden death.
Most cases of stroke do recover, but they need time (sometimes several weeks) and nursing. Many dogs who suffer a stroke initially are unable to stand and walk and will need assistance to go to the toilet. They may need medication to combat the nausea and they may need assistance to eat and drink. Most will show improvement within a week. If they recover, they may be left with a slight head tilt.
If there is an underlying problem such as high blood pressure that will need to be addressed as well.
If you have a question for Dr. Dalya simply send it through to drdalya@petside.co.uk
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