What to do for a dog who had a stroke?

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asked Dec 24, 2020 in Dogs by 88Jdcrept (750 points)
What to do for a dog who had a stroke?

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answered Nov 24, 2021 by Niko (18,430 points)

If your dog has had a stroke you should take the dog to a vet for treatment.

Some things you can do at home for your dog that had a stroke include.

Stay with your dog until the stroke is over.

This may take a few minutes to several hours, but it is important to be with the dog to keep them safe and reassured.

People are frequently not present when the actual stroke occurs, but if you notice rapid eye movement, loss of balance, or vomiting, your dog may be having a stroke.

Try to stay close to your dog, and don’t move them until the symptoms have stopped.

Help your dog relax.

Talk to the dog in hushed tones, and do whatever you can to make your dog feel more at ease.

Even though the situation can be frightening or stressful for you, try not to demonstrate that stress to your dog.

Remain as calm as possible.

Let your dog move around if they want to without stopping them, but if they come to you crying or seeking attention, take time to speak to them softly and pet them.

Offer the dog water periodically.

Some dogs develop an unquenchable thirst following an acute stroke.

It is important that they have water, but you might need to limit the amount.

Your dog may not stop drinking as long as the water is in front of them, so allow them to drink a few swallows at a time and remove the water. Monitor your dog’s behavior and react accordingly.

After a dog has a stroke and is recovering it usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for the dog to recover from the stroke.

Fortunately, most dogs can make a full recovery after a stroke.

In fact, dogs are more likely to make a full recovery after a stroke than humans are.

Most cases don't involve permanent damage, and dogs are completely healthy after post-stroke treatments.

A dog can survive a stroke as not all strokes kill a dog.

Dogs can recover from strokes.

Some dogs worsen over the initial 24-72 hours and then you begin to see signs of recovery.

In general you should expect dogs that are improving in the first three to five days to have a good recovery within four to six weeks' time, some with residual deficits but still a good quality of life.”

Signs that your dog has had a stroke include.

  1. A head tilt.
  2. Difficulty walking.
  3. Loss of house training.
  4. Change in personality.
  5. Less awareness of surroundings.
  6. Abnormal eye movement or positioning.
  7. Falling/listing to one side.
  8. Blindness.

When a dog has heart failure and dies of heart failure the dog's heart can't pump blood through the dogs body very well.

This then leads to coughing, exhaustion, a swollen belly, and eventually, the dog's lungs will fill with fluid, and he or she will essentially feel as if he or she is drowning in their own body.

On average dogs diagnosed with heart disease live between 2 years to 3 years.

A 2018 study found that even dogs presenting with advanced heart failure (heart failure that recurred even after appropriate medical therapy) survived an average of approximately one year with changes in their treatment, with some dogs living nearly three years.

Although it also depends on the age of the dog and the older the dog the less it will live with the heart disease.

But you can expect the dog to live 2 to 3 years with heart disease.

The symptoms of the final stages of congestive heart failure in dogs include.

    Coughing.
    Difficult or rapid breathing.
    Difficulty exercising.
    Weakness or lethargy (tiredness)
    Fainting episodes.
    Gray or blue gums.
    Abdominal distention.
    Collapse.
    Fainting.
    Difficulty breathing / shortness of breath.
    Inability to exercise.
    Persistent coughing.
    Fatigue.
    Pacing before bedtime and difficulty settling down.
    Lack of appetite.
    Swollen belly (due to fluid buildup)

A dog can survive a heart attack.

However most times a dog dies from a heart attack as it can come on suddenly and the dogs owner may not know about it to help them.

If you think your dog is having a heart attack or about to have a heart attack and you can get the dog to a vet then you should do so.

Some dogs with defective heart function or abnormalities may require a pacemaker.

Many dogs can live a long, healthy life with heart disease, as long as they receive effective care and supportive treatments, as well changes to nutrition, exercise, and weight management.

Cell death is usually due to oxygen deprivation caused by obstruction of the coronary blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscles.

Heart attacks are rare in dogs but unexpected and sudden death in dogs diagnosed with any form of heart disease is possible.

Symptoms of a heart attack in dogs include.

Slight fever (over 103° Fahrenheit/39.4° Celsius) Vomiting. Panting/abnormal breathing.

Increased heart rate (over 100 beats per minute for large breeds) (over 140 beats per minute for small breeds)

Do your best to keep your pet calm and wrap them in a blanket for transport.

Don't attempt CPR on your dog unless you have been trained to do CPR on canines, as this can cause further damage.

Call your Vet or get the dog to the vet if possible.

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