As in humans, a stroke occurs in a dog when something disrupts the bloodflow to its brain.
For a dog, a stroke can be just as serious as it is for a human, and in some cases even more so because your pet will not be able to indicate what is wrong. If you have an older canine or own a breed that is susceptible to strokes, then it is vitally important to their health that you be able to identify the symptoms of a stroke in dogs.
Function
Strokes happen when blood flow is somehow disrupted in the brain. The disruption causes the nerves and neural pathways in the brain to stop working properly, which can create serious problems with coordination, vision and general behavior. If left untreated, a canine stroke will almost certainly result in death.
Types
There are two types of canine stroke. One occurs when a blocked artery prevents blood from reaching the brain. The other happens when blood vessels in the brain start to hemorrhage and blood actually starts pooling around and in the brain. Both of these types of stroke are very serious and will begin to affect your pet's behavior almost immediately.
Time Frame
At first, the symptoms of a stroke may not be particularly notable. Your dog may tilt its head when you call it, turn the wrong way when you call, eat only out of one side of its food bowl or just plain fall over unexpectedly. Many dogs do many of these things anyway, so you will need to also be aware of your dog's normal behavioral patterns. As the condition worsens, however, the symptoms will become more severe. He may exhibit extreme lethargy or lose control of his bowels and bladder. Some dogs even go blind. As soon as you suspect canine stroke, you must get your pet to a veterinarian for a full checkup.
Misconceptions
Because strokes are so life-changing for most humans, many people believe that if their dog has a stroke that they may as well give up and have it euthanized. However, while strokes can be just as fatal for dogs as for humans, if your dog makes it through the episode it actually has a great chance at a full recovery. A dog that receives prompt and effective treatment for a stroke can make a full recovery in just a few weeks--even if the stroke was very severe.
Considerations
If your dog is very young or very old, then he will be more prone to having a stroke and you should take precautions particularly when he will be exposed to extreme temperatures. Also, when you are considering purchasing a breed dog, bear in mind that breeds with extremely thick coats and those with flat faces, like pugs or bulldogs, are also stroke-prone. This is largely due to the fact that their respiratory pathways are quite narrow and limited given their size.
Prevention/Solution
In order to prevent your dog from having a stroke, make sure that it goes to the veterinarian for annual checkups just like a person. If the temperature is very warm outside, limit your dog's outside play time because they will not necessarily stop when they should and can overexert themselves, triggering a heat stroke. If your dog has already had a stroke, your veterinarian will need to recommend a special diet and nutritional regimen for your pet to keep its heart and other systems functioning normally.
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