Introduction
It was once thought that dogs did not have strokes. However, as advanced diagnostic tools were developed in veterinary medicine, we discovered that dogs indeed do experience strokes in much the same way as people do. The signs of stroke in dogs are different than the signs of stroke in people, and in many cases strokes in dogs can easily be confused with other brain disorders. Due to the similarity of signs of stroke and other disorders in dogs, advanced diagnostic tools are necessary to differentiate between these conditions.
Diagnosing Canine Stroke
As soon as a dog experiences stroke-like symptoms, it should be taken immediately to a veterinary facility. The veterinarian will perform a series of tests to rule out other possible causes of the clinical signs. If no particular disorder is quickly diagnosed, further tests will be needed to assess whether a stroke has indeed happened. In any event, the dog will need to be hospitalized and stabilized while these diagnostic procedures take place.
Unfortunately, strokes in dogs cannot be diagnosed simply by radiographs or blood tests. The only current way to accurately diagnose a stroke in dogs is through brain images and scans. These diagnostic tools include a computed tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imagine (MRI) scan. Most local veterinary clinics do not have the instruments necessary to conduct either MRI or CT scans. If your veterinarian suspects that your dog has had a stroke, you may be referred to a specialist whose clinic has these capabilities.
CT scan and MRI tests will not only be able to provide information necessary to diagnose a stroke, but these tests also will be able to identify the type of stroke that the dog has had. An ischemic stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain has been compromised, and a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel inside the brain has burst. The treatment protocol will depend upon which type of stroke has happened.