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Stroke in dogs: symptoms, treatment and prognosis

Not only humans but also dogs can suffer a stroke. In this case, every minute counts for the four-legged friends, too. Because the longer the brain is not properly supplied, the more serious the associated consequences usually are.


As an owner, you should therefore know how to recognise a stroke in your dog and what to do if the worst happens. What is important and which factors can increase the risk of a stroke in dogs, we explain to you in the following paragraphs.

Stroke in dogs - the most important facts at a glance

  • A stroke is noticeable in dogs through symptoms such as apathy and impaired balance and consciousness.
  • As with humans, a stroke in dogs is a life-threatening medical emergency that must be treated immediately.
  • The so-called vestibular syndrome manifests itself in dogs with symptoms similar to those of a stroke.
  • As a rule, a stroke in dogs leads to permanent impairments, although the consequences can vary depending on the severity of the damage.
  • Risk factors to avoid in dogs include, in particular, obesity and excessive stress.

What is a Stroke?

In both humans and dogs, the blood is known to transport nutrients and oxygen through the body so that the organs can be supplied with them. In the case of a stroke, the supply to the brain is interrupted by a blocked blood vessel or sometimes by a brain haemorrhage. The lack of oxygen causes the affected brain regions to die, which can lead to paralysis and incontinence, among other things.

How do you recognise a stroke in dogs?

If a dog suffers a stroke, the symptoms are similar to those of humans. Affected four-legged friends appear apathetic, have problems with their balance and disturbances of consciousness up to unconsciousness. In addition, a stroke in dogs can also manifest itself with incontinence, abnormalities in posture and vomiting.


If you suspect that your dog may have suffered a stroke, you must act immediately. Remain calm. Lay your four-legged friend on a pillow or blanket and put a bowl of water for him to drink from if necessary without having to get up to do so.


Depending on the day of the week and the time of day, contact your vet or the veterinary emergency service immediately and describe the symptoms you observe in your dog.

How can a stroke in a dog be treated?

A stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency. It is therefore essential that your dog is treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. He will first examine your four-legged friend and use imaging techniques to look for inflammation, bleeding or blood clots in the brain.


In this way, the veterinarian can check whether your dog has suffered a stroke or whether the symptoms may be due to another trigger. If the initial suspicion is confirmed, the next step is to counteract the acute symptoms. For this purpose, among other things, sedatives, as well as antispasmodic medicines or also remedies against possibly existing nausea, can be used.


Further treatment then essentially depends on the original trigger of the stroke. Possible causes include thyroid dysfunction, heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure or a brain tumour. Depending on the diagnosis, the veterinarian can then prescribe your four-legged friend, for example, medication to thin the blood and dilate the blood vessels, or antibiotics. If your dog's stroke is due to a brain tumour, surgery may also be necessary.

Vestibular syndrome or stroke in dogs?

In addition to a stroke, symptoms such as balance and coordination problems in dogs can also indicate the so-called vestibular syndrome. This is a disease in which the functionality of the vestibular apparatus is impaired. The vestibular apparatus is the organ of balance located in the inner ear of the dog.


Vestibular syndrome can occur in dogs in various forms. How it has to be treated and what the prognosis is for affected four-legged friends depends on the exact form and the trigger. Since the typical symptoms of vestibular syndrome can also be triggered by a stroke, you should of course contact a veterinarian immediately if you experience such symptoms to clarify the exact cause and to take adequate treatment measures promptly.

What is the prognosis for dogs after a stroke?

If your four-legged friend has suffered a stroke, you must, unfortunately, expect that the animal will be permanently impaired in everyday life. In many cases, affected dogs have permanent problems with walking and even paralysis. In addition, incontinence and reduced memory performance are not uncommon after a stroke in dogs.


It is not possible to make a general statement about the individual symptoms. The decisive factors are the affected regions in the brain and the severity of the damage caused by the stroke.


If the consequences of the stroke remain manageable and your four-legged friend is not too impaired in everyday life, it is quite conceivable that the dog will still have a few good months or even years ahead of him. However, you must expect that your four-legged friend will be more dependent on your help and support in everyday life in the future.


Unfortunately, if the consequences of the stroke are too severe, you may also have to consider saying goodbye to your dog and putting it out of its misery.

Avoid risk factors for stroke in dogs

As a rule, strokes occur in dogs at an advanced age. Young animals are usually only affected in exceptional cases. Of course, you cannot influence age as a risk factor. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to reduce the likelihood of a stroke in your dog.


Similar to humans, being overweight can significantly increase the risk of stroke in dogs. If your four-legged friend weighs too much, it is therefore essential that you put your dog on a diet. This will not only reduce the risk of stroke but also many other health problems, such as osteoarthritis.


In addition, make sure that you offer exercise that is adapted to the needs of the respective dog breed as well as the age of your four-legged friend. In this way, you will prevent weight gain and also improve the oxygen transport within your dog's body. Last but not least, you should also avoid excessive stress in your four-legged friend's everyday life as much as possible. This will not only help to reduce the likelihood of a stroke but will also help to improve your dog's health and well-being in general.

Stroke in dogs - our conclusion

As you can see, dogs can also suffer a stroke. Fortunately, this is relatively rare. Because the consequences associated with the stroke are often very serious for the four-legged friend, you should nevertheless take possible symptoms seriously and, if in doubt, consult a vet immediately.


Apart from that, it is advisable to pay the necessary attention to your dog's health and avoid risk factors such as obesity and prolonged stress in your four-legged friend's everyday life. In this way, you will not only reduce your dog's chances of having a stroke. You will also contribute decisively to optimal well-being as well as a happy and hopefully long dog life.

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