Can dogs have strokes? What is the problem that causes a dog to have a stroke?

2022-07-08



Strokes are not as common in dogs as they are in people, but they can have equally serious and frightening consequences, and to make matters more problematic, recognizing the signs of a stroke in dogs can be difficult. Dogs are very tolerant and cannot communicate with us through words, so diagnosing a stroke can be very challenging. Below, we'll discuss the types of strokes and how to recognize the signs in your dog, and what you can do to help them beat the odds.

What is a stroke?
By general definition, a stroke is a disease in which oxygenated blood cannot reach established areas of the brain due to a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain, resulting in cell death. Strokes often occur suddenly, without any signs or symptoms.

I. What is the problem that causes a dog to have a stroke?


Most strokes in dogs are vascular problems. They can be caused by tumors, bacteria, vascular disease, trauma, disease, and clotting disorders, among other things, that can lead to strokes in older dogs. If the blood clots are not in the brain, but in other areas, they can also cause other problems in dogs, such as paralysis.
What kind of dogs are more likely to have strokes?
For humans, smoking, drinking, and obesity can increase the likelihood of stroke. For dogs, smoking and drinking are not possible, but obesity is the main cause of their strokes. In addition, several diseases can also affect dogs. Make them more prone to stroke. These include, but are not limited to.
Cushing's disease, hypertension, heart disease, bleeding disorders, hypothyroidism, cancer, and more.
Thankfully, the problem of dog strokes does not have much to do with the type of dog, and the only factors that affect a dog's stroke are probably the dog's age and physical condition.

Two types of strokes.
Ischemic Stroke
Ischemic strokes occur when blood clots, tumor cells, platelets, bacteria, or parasites block blood vessels in the brain. The blockage of a blood vessel can lead to damage to brain tissue. Ischemic strokes are more common than hemorrhagic strokes in both dogs and people.

Hemorrhagic Stroke
When a hemorrhagic stroke occurs, blood vessels in the body rupture, causing brain bleeding, swelling, and increased blood pressure.
Symptoms of a stroke in dogs can vary from a sudden loss of balance to changes in consciousness. Look for signs of stroke and watch for dogs suspected of having a stroke. You will want to be able to identify any key symptoms.

Extreme weakness: There may be nerve weakness in the extremities. This means that the nerves are not working and therefore will not provide the legs with the correct information about how to stand and support the dog. Although the muscles are strong enough to support the body, they are not receiving the correct nerve information and therefore the animal is very weak and unable to stand.
Nystagmus: Nystagmus is a technical term that indicates when the eyes swing rapidly from side to side as if watching a tennis match on fast forward. It is a common indicator of stroke, although it can also occur for other reasons, such as meningitis. Again, once the nystagmus starts, it can last for days. It can also make pets feel nauseous, as it can cause a form of motion sickness. As a result, the dog may vomit and lose interest in food.
Sudden loss of balance. Beware of a dog that is unable to coordinate its limbs.
Altered consciousness: In severe strokes, some dogs may have seizures or become physically ill, while others may lose consciousness. This means they are unaware of what is going on around them and will not respond to their name or other stimuli.

Distinguish between the symptoms of a stroke and the symptoms of other diseases. Strokes are sudden events. If a pet that was normal 5 minutes ago is now struggling to get up, you should suspect that it is having a stroke. If the dog is struggling because of dizziness, for example, if they have a heart condition, the condition may pass within a few minutes and the dog can get up and walk around once he is out of breath. However, dogs that have had a stroke can be disoriented for hours or even days.

Note that this symptom also overlaps with inflammation of the inner ear homeostasis mechanism.

In addition, the degree of weakness can vary depending on the severity of the stroke. If only mildly, dogs can stand and walk slowly as if they were drunk, sometimes dogs are incapacitated, lying beside them and barely conscious.
Knowing the duration of stroke symptoms is important for stroke diagnosis. To be classified as a stroke, the symptoms must technically last longer than 24 hours. If the symptoms subside before then, but there is a strong suspicion of brain blockage, it is called a transient ischemic attack. This is a strong warning sign that a full-blown stroke is imminent, so be sure to seek veterinary attention so that any underlying causes can be corrected to reduce this risk.

Can dogs have strokes? What is the problem that causes a dog to have a stroke?



II. Signs of Stroke


As mentioned above, the symptoms of a stroke in dogs can be subtle and difficult to recognize, and there are no signs before a stroke, so dogs often go from being completely normal to having extreme internal damage to their bodies suddenly.

Some common signs and symptoms include.

1. Obvious and severe abnormalities
A dog with a stroke may lose balance or coordination when walking and may also experience weakness or paralysis in one or more limbs.

2. Disorientation
Depending on the part of the brain affected, the dog may spin to one side or turn in the wrong direction when a turn is needed.

3. Loss of consciousness
Inadequate blood supply to certain areas of the brain may cause the dog to collapse or even lose consciousness.

4. Facial and visual changes
While facial droop is more common in stroke victims, you are more likely to find your dog's head tilted to the side or their facial expressions looking strange when they have a stroke. It is also common for vision to be impaired or even blind. Some dogs will have abnormal left and right eye movements or eye movements of the eyelids, while others will have unusual eye conditions, such as one eye wandering while the other is stationary, or eyes that seem to focus in two different places. Also, decreased balance and abnormal eye movements are known to cause vomiting.

5. Loss of bladder or bowel control
Dogs usually lose control of body functions when they have a stroke.

Three. What if I suspect my dog is having a stroke?


If your dog has a history of any of the above, along with symptoms of loss of consciousness, then it is best to just take your dog to the vet immediately for health and treatment by your vet. The later you get treatment for the effects of a stroke, the more serious the damage the dog will suffer. Generally speaking, after being sent to the vet, the vet will perform a series of physical examinations on the dog. The results are then used to confirm whether the dog has had a stroke or some other problem that has caused the fainting spell.
A dog having a stroke is not exactly news to feel elated about. After all, it means that your dog needs to take a trip to the edge of life and death, and even if it is cured, it will still leave certain after-effects. So for the sake of your dog's health, you should usually control your dog's diet and not let it develop various chronic diseases.
  • Category:Dogs Diseases
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  • Release Date:2022-07-08 09:17:58
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