Strokes in Older Dogs Symptoms

1. Tilted head and twitching eyes from side to side (nystagmus).

2. May be dazed and slightly confused with their surroundings.

3. May not be able to walk for up to three days or be unsteady for a while after the stroke.

4. After the walking ability returns they may walk round in circles either just to the left or just to the right.

5. May be fully normal and the same as previously within a week.

What Causes Strokes in Older Dogs?

Dog strokes commonly only affects older more mature dogs, it is caused by a blood vessel in the brain becoming blocked or bursting, this then causes a small part of the brain that relied on the now dead blood vessel to die off and stop working making a specific part or function of the body to stop working also.

This condition does not actually cause any seizures of any kind but the symptoms and eye twitching motion is often confused with a seizure. In some cases the dog will be fine and just like normal after the stroke but in more severe cases it could take the dog weeks to recover, and even then the dog may walk round in circles or be unsteady due to one side of their body not working as well as it should.

In most cases the recovery time will be within a week and everything will be back to normal after a stroke but a visit to the vets may still be in order.

What Your Vet May Say or Do

After confirming some or all of the symptoms above the vet should have a pretty solid diagnosis of the dog's condition but for full confirmation a brain scan will be taken and this will prove a stroke has occurred. From here the vet may use various treatments intended to help the brain repair itself as there is no procedure to rid of a stroke but the dogs brain is highly capable of working round the problem area(more capable than a human brain) and in most cases nursing itself back to full health within a very brief time.



Other Possible Conditions

Dog Grand Mal Seizures
Dog Petit Mal Seizures
Dog Abnormal Brain Development
Dog Heart Problems Causing Seizures
Dog Kidney Problems Causing Seizures (renal encephalopathy)
Dog Liver Problems Causing Seizures (hepatic encephalopathy)
Dog Primary Epilepsy
Dog Seizures Caused By Chemical Poisoning
Dog Seizures in Bitches Who Have Recently Given Birth (Eclampsia)
Dog Tumor (causing seizures)