Strokes in older pets

[JPetrucci84]

My friend’s senior pitbull, now 14?, may have had his second stroke today.  Has anyone else dealt with something like this? We think he was having problems with his heart, so he was checked for cardiomyapathy.  He checked out fine for most stuff, except possible pneumonia. We’re really hoping that the dog can make it and this wasn’t another stroke. 

[LongEaredLions]

I had a younger guinea pig who had a bad stroke, but that was a whole different issue. I don’t have experience with doggies but I just wanted to send some ((((Vibes)))).

[Bam]

Heart problems are a big reason for strokes in people (clots or debris get sent into the vessels and get stuck in the brain), but dogs don’t get atherosclerosis the way we do.

Clots may resolve themselves, I hope this will be the case with your friend’s dog. There are medications to make the blood less thick, in order to prevent more strokes from happening, but a vet would have to prescribe that of course.

I too want to send vibes. It’s terrible when your dog is sick.

[Eepster]

My experience with strokes involve humans and hamsters, though I see no reason to expect dogs to be much different. The main question is if the pharmaceuticals that work for humans can be used on dogs. A human who has had a stroke would take a blood thinner, such as warfarin, but I don’t know if there is a canine safe one available. Other than taking blood thinners to prevent more strokes, the main thing is occupational or physical therapy to try to reteach lost function. If the dog isn’t baddly disabled from the stroke, that could mostly just be done by the owner retraining them and playing with them.

[Author]

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