If you have a dog you want to make sure that you are giving them the right care. You want to make sure that you provide them with medications when they need them and that they are getting the proper veterinary care as well.
But when you’re looking at the different features and care needs of your dog you might be struggling to figure out what medical conditions you actually need to worry about. Finding out can dogs have strokes is one important thing that you’re going to want to consider when it comes to taking care of your pets the right way.
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Can Dogs Have Strokes?
Let’s take a look at the first part of this question first. Can dogs have strokes? The short answer is that they absolutely can. Strokes in dogs are going to look a little different, but they’re definitely something that you want to look out for and they’re something that you’re going to want to take care of as soon as possible.
That’s why it’s important to know what the warning signs are and how you’re going to treat them as soon as you realize that they are having a stroke or have the symptoms of it.
It’s important that you pay attention to the information that we have right here about strokes. You’ll be able to see even more information about the different symptoms, how strokes occur and even what you need to be doing when you find out that they’ve had a stroke.
There’s definitely going to be more about strokes in dogs. Keep in mind that your dog is going to need you most of all when they do have a stroke, and that means everything from their normal care to the more extensive care that might be required.
What is a Stroke for Dogs?
A stroke in a dog is the same as it is with a human. It means that the brain or spinal cord suffers a type of damage that can occur instantaneously. It can happen extremely fast and far too easily, which means that you’re going to want to be watching for any of the signs and symptoms that come along.
Things like loss of balance, blindness, seizures, weakness and paralysis can all be caused by a stroke and these things can be short term or they can last for a very long time.
Older dogs and large-breed dogs are actually going to have a higher chance of developing a stroke than any other dogs. All of this means that you could have trouble with your dog if you fit into these categories.
Even more, dogs that have had other underlying conditions and are or have suffered from blood clots or spontaneous bleeding end up at an even higher risk of developing a stroke. These are the dogs that you should keep an even closer eye on when they’re getting a little older.
What Do You Do For Strokes in Dogs?
If your dog does have a stroke the first thing you need to do is call your vet. You need to make sure that you’re getting your dog the medical care that they need and that you’re doing so as quickly as possible.
This could mean going to your veterinarian or it could mean that you have to go to an emergency facility, depending on where you normally take your dog for any type of treatment or care. The good news is that dogs have a very good prognosis when it comes to stroke recovery.
If you’re uncertain about the type of care that your dog is going to need make sure that you talk to your vet about everything you can. You’re going to want to consider the physical signs and symptoms that are going to come along over time.
You’re also going to want to know what’s going to last, how to mitigate some of the long-term effects and even what things are related to mental needs as well. Mental and neurological problems can absolutely occur with a stroke and while many dogs can absolutely bounce back, you’re going to have some effort and work involved.
Signs and Treatment for Strokes in Dogs
The first thing is knowing what you should be looking for. Your dog may exhibit difficulty walking or an uncoordinated way of walking. They may tilt their head to one side or have abnormal movements or positioning of their eyes.
They may lose consciousness, fall to the side, show abnormal behavior or seem to be blind and incapable of moving around. If you recognize any of these symptoms you need to get your dog help right away and from there you’ll be able to find out the best treatment.
Treatment methods include diagnosis and then your dog will likely need some additional scans. This is going to be important to figuring out what kind of additional assistance your dog is going to need. They may or may not have additional needs based on the additional information that they find with these types of testing.
Physical therapy, nutrition and managing their care are going to be important when it comes to treating your dog and making sure that you’re getting them ahead as much as they need to be. All of these things are going to make it easier to help your dog with what they need.
Wrap Up
Overall, dogs can absolutely have strokes and it’s going to be important for you to take care of them when the stroke occurs. This is going to require you to be aware as soon as the symptoms happen and it’s going to require you also to keep track of what signs there are.
A vet will be able to give you even more information about the treatment that your dog will need, but you’re definitely going to have a good chance of helping them through it and out of it in no time if you know what to watch for and what to do.
