| Dog Stroke - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| JSigrest |
Our mixed breed (primarily Chow) 4-year-old had a stroke early this week (at
least that's the best the vet can ascertain, having ruled out many things).
Her recovery thus far has been phenomenal. She has regained the ability to
walk and everyday is getting stronger and becoming more herself. I have
been unsuccessful in finding much info regarding strokes in dogs, however.
From what I understand, it's fairly uncommon. I would like info/advice from
anyone who has experienced this and learn about the chance for a full
recovery and whether or not it's likely to happen again. Also any
suggestions on rehab. It affected her left legs, which we've been working
out several times a day. Her neck seems a bit stiff and sore. I think
she's using it more to help her stand up.
Thanks.
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| Tallgrass |
"JSigrest" <jsigrest@jam.rr.com> wrote in message news:<IJAfb.52600$am.5448@twister.austin.rr.com>...
> Our mixed breed (primarily Chow) 4-year-old had a stroke early this week (at
> least that's the best the vet can ascertain, having ruled out many things).
> Her recovery thus far has been phenomenal. She has regained the ability to
> walk and everyday is getting stronger and becoming more herself. I have
> been unsuccessful in finding much info regarding strokes in dogs, however.
> From what I understand, it's fairly uncommon. I would like info/advice from
> anyone who has experienced this and learn about the chance for a full
> recovery and whether or not it's likely to happen again. Also any
> suggestions on rehab. It affected her left legs, which we've been working
> out several times a day. Her neck seems a bit stiff and sore. I think
> she's using it more to help her stand up.
> Thanks.
The degree to which your dog will recover is determined by the amount
of brain tissue that was destroyed by the stroke. While I would be
skeptical that your dog would have *complete* recovery, it sounds as
if she will eventually have minimal deficits. It will be six months
to a year before you will know just how much function she will be able
to recover.
Rehab is an excellent idea....keep the affected limbs moving. Water
therapy might be good too, if you can find a pool or pond to use.
Ask your vet about giving half an aspirin per day, as this *might*
reduce the risk for future strokes, depending upon the cause of this
first stroke.
Linda H., M.D., not a vet
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| Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC |
Did your dog have a CT scan or an MRI to proove this diagnosis or was it
just a guess?
Strokes are rare, as you know, in dogs but Arrythmias are NOT rare. Could
your dog have gone into a Ventricular Tachycardia causing those symptoms?(I
didn't read what exactly happened)
Dogs rarely have heart attacks or strokes. If a dog had a heart attack, in
my opnion, he would be dead as dogs don't have the coronary arteries like a
human. They do have one big artery and if that was blocked, the dog dies.
This is one reason why dogs (thankfully) are not used in Cardiac Research.
(pigs are)
--
Carol J
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC
ps: I an an RN who works in an Electrophysiology Lab.
www.csrbc.petfinder.com
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"Tallgrass" <tallgrassprairie@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:aeb1ce4e.0310040933.57781425@posting.google.com...
> "JSigrest" <jsigrest@jam.rr.com> wrote in message
news:<IJAfb.52600$am.5448@twister.austin.rr.com>...
> > Our mixed breed (primarily Chow) 4-year-old had a stroke early this week
(at
> > least that's the best the vet can ascertain, having ruled out many
things).
> > Her recovery thus far has been phenomenal. She has regained the ability
to
> > walk and everyday is getting stronger and becoming more herself. I have
> > been unsuccessful in finding much info regarding strokes in dogs,
however.
> > From what I understand, it's fairly uncommon. I would like info/advice
from
> > anyone who has experienced this and learn about the chance for a full
> > recovery and whether or not it's likely to happen again. Also any
> > suggestions on rehab. It affected her left legs, which we've been
working
> > out several times a day. Her neck seems a bit stiff and sore. I think
> > she's using it more to help her stand up.
> > Thanks.
>
> The degree to which your dog will recover is determined by the amount
> of brain tissue that was destroyed by the stroke. While I would be
> skeptical that your dog would have *complete* recovery, it sounds as
> if she will eventually have minimal deficits. It will be six months
> to a year before you will know just how much function she will be able
> to recover.
>
> Rehab is an excellent idea....keep the affected limbs moving. Water
> therapy might be good too, if you can find a pool or pond to use.
>
> Ask your vet about giving half an aspirin per day, as this *might*
> reduce the risk for future strokes, depending upon the cause of this
> first stroke.
>
> Linda H., M.D., not a vet
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| John Tsalikes 007 |
Sounds like post-seizure symptoms. maybe a seizure/epilepsy?
"JSigrest" <jsigrest@jam.rr.com> wrote in message
news:IJAfb.52600$am.5448@twister.austin.rr.com...
> Our mixed breed (primarily Chow) 4-year-old had a stroke early this week
(at
> least that's the best the vet can ascertain, having ruled out many
things).
> Her recovery thus far has been phenomenal. She has regained the ability
to
> walk and everyday is getting stronger and becoming more herself. I have
> been unsuccessful in finding much info regarding strokes in dogs, however.
> From what I understand, it's fairly uncommon. I would like info/advice
from
> anyone who has experienced this and learn about the chance for a full
> recovery and whether or not it's likely to happen again. Also any
> suggestions on rehab. It affected her left legs, which we've been working
> out several times a day. Her neck seems a bit stiff and sore. I think
> she's using it more to help her stand up.
> Thanks.
>
>
>
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| Marshall Dermer |
In article <aeb1ce4e.0310040933.57781425@posting.google.com>
tallgrassprairie@earthlink.net (Tallgrass) writes:
>Ask your vet about giving half an aspirin per day, as this *might*
>reduce the risk for future strokes, depending upon the cause of this
>first stroke.
>
>Linda H., M.D., not a vet
I don't think you would want to administer aspirin in the case
of a hemorrhagic stroke (see below).
--Marshall (not a medical doctor but previously an M.D. until
I began using a middle name)
Marshall Lev Dermer/Associate Professor/Behavior Analysis Specialty/
Department of Psychology/University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee/
Milwaukee, WI 53201
"Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation,
and is thus a source of civilized delight." -- William Safire
A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when blood circulation to the brain
fails. Brain cells can die from decreased blood flow and the resulting lack
of oxygen. There are two broad categories of stroke: those caused by a
blockage of blood flow and those caused by bleeding. While not usually
fatal, a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck, called an ischemic
stroke, is the most frequent cause of stroke and is responsible for about 80
percent of strokes. These blockages stem from three conditions: the
formation of a clot within a blood vessel of the brain or neck, called
thrombosis; the movement of a clot from another part of the body such as the
heart to the neck or brain, called embolism; or a severe narrowing of an
artery in or leading to the brain, called stenosis. Bleeding into the brain
or the spaces surrounding the brain causes the second type of stroke, called
hemorrhagic stroke.
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| Kyler Laird |
"JSigrest" <jsigrest@jam.rr.com> writes:
>Our mixed breed (primarily Chow) 4-year-old had a stroke early this week (at
>least that's the best the vet can ascertain, having ruled out many things).
>Her recovery thus far has been phenomenal. She has regained the ability to
>walk and everyday is getting stronger and becoming more herself.
Yea! I know what a relief that can be.
>I have
>been unsuccessful in finding much info regarding strokes in dogs, however.
>From what I understand, it's fairly uncommon. I would like info/advice from
>anyone who has experienced this and learn about the chance for a full
>recovery and whether or not it's likely to happen again. Also any
>suggestions on rehab. It affected her left legs, which we've been working
>out several times a day.
Our Portuguese Water Dog, Gable, lost the use of his left legs for about
a week. We're fortunate to live near Purdue so he spent this time at
their vet clinic. I felt sure that's about the best place in the world
he could be.
It was frustrating that they weren't able to nail down what happened to
him. Instead, they ruled out all but one cause: fibrocartilaginous
embolism. (I just looked it up. I'd been saying it incorrectly all
this time.) When I read that you thought it was a stroke because your
vet "ruled out many things" I was reminded of that. I'm no health
expert, but I suggest learning more about FCEs.
Gable's recovery was slow. We bought a tub and worked with him in the
water a little.
http://lairds.org/Kyler/photos/disk...pg/image_viewer
That seemed to help. (You can see how he rolled his left front paw
under. We worked at keeping him from doing that. It's rare that he
does it now.)
Gable's FCE was about two years ago. He can run well but he has some
trouble walking and turning. He drags his left paws when he walks
(grinding his nails). He's 10 years old now. He regularly takes long
walks with us. His posture is strange; he contorts his back so that he
can pull his left legs along. Every so often he seems to "forget" how
to walk and he'll trip for awhile. I've noticed that he has gotten
better about picking up his paws since we've started taking regular
long walks. But it all falls apart when he fatigues, so I watch for it
and let him ride when it gets bad.
http://lairds.org/Kyler/photos/disk...pg/image_viewer
He's also learned how to play fetch and does an amazing job even on
slippery floors.
http://lairds.org/Kyler/photos/disk0024/mvi_1825.avi
(You can see a bit of how he contorts his back there.)
Is it likely to happen again? We were told that a having one FCE does
not mean that he's more likely to have another one.
But "full recovery"? We didn't get it. We are *thrilled* with the
recovered functionality we did get though. I'm a little shy about
saying this, but in some ways we *like* his partial recovery. When he
works with kids in physical therapy, we can talk about his problem and
how we work with him on it. He also "crashes hard" - cuddling with us
when he's tired. What more could we want from him? (He's sacked out at
my feet right now.)
Good luck.
--kyler
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| DaveL |
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC wrote:
>
> Did your dog have a CT scan or an MRI to proove this diagnosis or was it
> just a guess?
>
> Strokes are rare, as you know, in dogs but Arrythmias are NOT rare. Could
> your dog have gone into a Ventricular Tachycardia causing those symptoms?
Has Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome been considered? It sure does look
like a stoke when it hits.
Dave
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| DaveL |
DaveL wrote:
>
> Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC wrote:
> >
> > Did your dog have a CT scan or an MRI to proove this diagnosis or was it
> > just a guess?
> >
> > Strokes are rare, as you know, in dogs but Arrythmias are NOT rare. Could
> > your dog have gone into a Ventricular Tachycardia causing those symptoms?
>
> Has Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome been considered? It sure does look
> like a stoke when it hits.
>
> Dave
Whoops, forgot the URL I was going to add...
http://ilil.essortment.com/dogearproblems_rmib.htm
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| Tallgrass |
dermer@alpha1.csd.uwm.edu (Marshall Dermer) wrote in message news:<bln4h7$lb0$1@uwm.edu>...
> In article <aeb1ce4e.0310040933.57781425@posting.google.com>
> tallgrassprairie@earthlink.net (Tallgrass) writes:
> >Ask your vet about giving half an aspirin per day, as this *might*
> >reduce the risk for future strokes, depending upon the cause of this
> >first stroke.
> >
> >Linda H., M.D., not a vet
>
> I don't think you would want to administer aspirin in the case
> of a hemorrhagic stroke (see below).
>
> --Marshall (not a medical doctor but previously an M.D. until
> I began using a middle name)
>
> Marshall Lev Dermer/Associate Professor/Behavior Analysis Specialty/
> Department of Psychology/University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee/
> Milwaukee, WI 53201
>
> "Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation,
> and is thus a source of civilized delight." -- William Safire
>
> A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when blood circulation to the brain
> fails. Brain cells can die from decreased blood flow and the resulting lack
> of oxygen. There are two broad categories of stroke: those caused by a
> blockage of blood flow and those caused by bleeding. While not usually
> fatal, a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck, called an ischemic
> stroke, is the most frequent cause of stroke and is responsible for about 80
> percent of strokes. These blockages stem from three conditions: the
> formation of a clot within a blood vessel of the brain or neck, called
> thrombosis; the movement of a clot from another part of the body such as the
> heart to the neck or brain, called embolism; or a severe narrowing of an
> artery in or leading to the brain, called stenosis. Bleeding into the brain
> or the spaces surrounding the brain causes the second type of stroke, called
> hemorrhagic stroke.
Any literature, per se, to back up what you have posted?
As Cocker Rescue has pointed out, cardiac arrhythmias are found in
dogs with some degree of frequency. And in this case, the risk is
that of thromboembolic stroke, and aspirin or warfarin/coumadin would
be indicated, along with stabilization of the cardiac rhythm.
I suspect I have seen ischemic stroke in a very geriatric dog, my
sister's 17 year old lab cross. No brain imaging was done at the
time, but the dog did not have an arrhythmia. She definitely did
have, though, a facial hemiparesis and a very old dog brain!
Linda H., M.D., not a vet
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| Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC |
I haven't read the page yet but I was wondering about Horner's syndrome.
Could this be what it was?
--
Carol J
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC
www.csrbc.petfinder.com
"DaveL" <spamfree@last.net> wrote in message
news:3F7F9552.F25BAA65@last.net...
> DaveL wrote:
> >
> > Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC wrote:
> > >
> > > Did your dog have a CT scan or an MRI to proove this diagnosis or was
it
> > > just a guess?
> > >
> > > Strokes are rare, as you know, in dogs but Arrythmias are NOT rare.
Could
> > > your dog have gone into a Ventricular Tachycardia causing those
symptoms?
> >
> > Has Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome been considered? It sure does look
> > like a stoke when it hits.
> >
> > Dave
>
> Whoops, forgot the URL I was going to add...
> http://ilil.essortment.com/dogearproblems_rmib.htm
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| buglady |
"Tallgrass" <tallgrassprairie@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:aeb1ce4e.0310051917.5cc02715@posting.google.com...
> I suspect I have seen ischemic stroke in a very geriatric dog, my
> sister's 17 year old lab cross. No brain imaging was done at the
> time, but the dog did not have an arrhythmia. She definitely did
> have, though, a facial hemiparesis and a very old dog brain!
http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dneuro....20Paralysis%20-
Apparently facial paralysis is possible with vestibular syndrome.
buglady
take out the dog before replying
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| JSigrest |
Thanks for the responses. Today will be one week ago that the stroke(?)
occurred and Abby's recovery is nothing less than phenomenal to me. I would
say she's about 85% recovered. She walks slightly heavier on her left side,
but people who haven't known her probably wouldn't notice. She's running
some and traversing steps pretty well. Everyday she's getting stronger and
doing more. The biggest change is pretty positive - she's more
affectionate. Just a week ago I thought she'd be dead or severely disabled.
She's an amazing girl!
Thanks.
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| Marshall Dermer |
In article <aeb1ce4e.0310051917.5cc02715@posting.google.com>
tallgrassprairie@earthlink.net (Tallgrass) writes:
>Any literature, per se, to back up what you have posted?
Linda, I am neither a veterinarian nor a physician. If one can be sure of a
particular type of stroke that warrants a particular type of treatment then
great. I guess the literature could be helpful if nearly all strokes in
dogs are of a particular kind. But if they are not, then consulting
the literature is not going to be particularly helpful. Treatment--
medical, veterinary, psychiatric, psychological--sans proper diagnosis can
be dangerous as suggested by the adjective "iatrogenic."
--Marshall
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| Marshall Dermer |
In article <3eigb.63786$_N1.33182@twister.austin.rr.com> "JSigrest" <jsigrest@jam.rr.com> writes:
>Thanks for the responses. Today will be one week ago that the stroke(?)
>occurred and Abby's recovery is nothing less than phenomenal to me. I would
>say she's about 85% recovered.
Great going!
--Marshall
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