Strokes in Dogs: An Overview
Dog Breeds
A stroke in dogs is the sudden and severe rupture or blockage of a blood vessel that deprives part of the brain of its normal blood supply, causing loss of consciousness, paralysis and other clinical signs.
Read More >
Definition
A stroke is the sudden and severe rupture or blockage of a blood vessel that deprives part of the brain of its normal blood supply, causing loss of consciousness, paralysis and other clinical signs. The brain requires a significant supply of oxygen and glucose to function properly, but it has minimal space for storage of these substances. As a result, it is extremely important for the brain to have a constant blood supply, because oxygen and glucose are transported in blood. Anything that impairs blood delivery to the brain can cause a stroke. Fortunately, strokes are uncommon in companion animals, but they can and do occur.
Causes of Stroke
The effects of a stroke are caused by lack of normal oxygen delivery to the brain. When they occur in dogs, strokes can be associated with Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, kidney disease or thyroid disease. In rare cases, internal parasites can contribute to strokes. Most strokes in dogs are caused by an embolus, which is a blood clot that develops at a remote site and then travels through the circulatory system, eventually lodging in a smaller vessel and interrupting blood flow to the affected area. When an embolus becomes lodged in and obstructs an artery in the brain, it causes the surrounding tissue to die - a condition called “infarction.”
Other causes of stroke in dogs include bleeding into the brain from ruptured cerebral blood vessels, clotting of blood within a cerebral artery and cerebral tumors. A stroke can occur when a fragment of fat or spinal cartilage becomes dislodged and trapped in brain tissue. Strokes can also occur in dogs whose brains did not develop normally and in dogs with inherited coagulation (blood-clotting) disorders. Blunt trauma to the head, and poisons such as rodenticides, have been known to cause strokes in dogs as well. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a condition known to cause both bleeding and infarction within the brain. Sometimes, strokes happen for no apparent reason. In most cases, the actual cause of a dog’s stroke will never be determined.
Prevention of Stroke in Dogs
There is no known way to prevent strokes in dogs.
Special Notes
Continual supportive care and supervision are extremely important for dogs that have suffered a stroke. As long as the stroke is diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, a full recovery is possible.
Causes of Strokes in Dogs