Fortunately, a stroke among dogs is not a common problem. And yet sometimes it happens. It is extremely important to immediately pay attention to the symptoms of an approaching attack, since the success of treatment of its consequences depends primarily on the speed of medical care.
Signs of a stroke in a dog
The very first symptom of a stroke is a frightened and excited state of the pet, a lack of response to commands , a chaotic movement in space and a generally illogical behavior.
If, in addition to hemorrhage, a microinsult occurs in the brain, the animal, on the contrary, becomes sluggish, does not eat well, does not want to go for a walk, practically does not react to what is happening around.
Increased intracranial pressure sometimes leads to visual impairment and a change in the shape of the eyes. In the absence of the first medical aid, the animal paralyzes the limbs due to hemorrhage, the symmetry of the muzzle is broken (the eyelid or lip falls, the pupils become of different diameters), the trunk is bent to one side.
If the attack is very severe, the animal can lose consciousness, fall into a coma, its pulse and breathing become thread-like, and the attack can resemble an attack of epilepsy.
What medicines are needed for a stroke in dogs?
When a dog has symptoms of a stroke, it needs immediate treatment. First of all, it is necessary to stabilize the breathing and prevent a recurrence of the attack. For emergency treatment of stroke in dogs, drugs such as antispasmodics, sedatives, antipsychotics, anti-cavities, diuretics and pain medications are used. All appointments should be made by a veterinarian.
To further treat stroke in a dog at home and maintain a general physical condition, vitamin and mineral complexes are added. After a stroke, the dog needs to provide rest and regular sessions of massage and physiotherapy to restore the motor activity.