Strokes

[Pretty Miss Emma]

This is actually about my cat more than my dogs but I figure that it would probably be transferable information.

I assume dogs and cats can have strokes just like us humans.

What would the signs be though? A lot of the human signs are to do with speech and certain movement, as well as obvious muscular issues.

One of my cats I have noticed this week has had a couple of "spells" and I'm trying to figure out the best approach given I don't have a vet near me yet. It may be related to another issue he has. The main problem being that in between these "spells" he is 100% fine.

But just interested if anyone has had any experience of their pets having a stroke.

[bianca.a]

I'm not sure if this will help, but one of my then 17 year old cats had what we were sure was a stroke. She couldn't walk straight, was drooling etc. It came on really sudden. A visit to the vet who at first thought it may be vestibulars, but bloods confirmed she was low in potassium. After about 3 days on potassium tablets she was fine. I wonder if that may be what is happening with your cat?

Wishing you both all the best ((hugs))

[Simply Grand]

I suspect my old cat had a couple of small strokes and eventually a bigger one that rendered her pretty catatonic and resulted in her PTS at 19. In her last year she had a couple of "spells" as you've said, where she went wobbly and and eye flickery for a few moments then seemed tired but recovered and was back to normal afterwards. Two weeks before she died she had a more serious incident where she had the same type thing but didn't go back to normal for about 18 hours, she was wobbly on her feet, would walk into corners and stay there and wouldn't eat. I put her in the dog crate, thinking I would lose her overnight or have to have her PTS then but she got better again and was ok. The final time she she went downhill instead of up, she just lay in my arms or in the crate, alive but barely responsive and I was syringing water into her mouth so after about six hours of that I called the vet to book her PTS the next morning. She remained as she was overnight so I went through with the PTS in the morning.

I obviously never confirmed it was strokes so this may be of no use to you at all, but just thought I'd share. Had she been younger I would have done further investigations but I felt at 18/19 having had a bit of a rough life before she came to me at 7 years that as long as she was comfortable I wouldn't put her through poking and prodding.

[Rebanne]

I was told animals can't have strokes years ago but never told why.

I had an elderly dog, 13, fine one minute, unable to get up, mover her backs legs the next. She was PTS

Then I had a 14 yo cat, same thing but she did this horrible meowing thing then was dragging herself around the floor by her front legs. Awful. Taken to vet and PTS. Vet said could have been something like a stroke or possible she had a tumour or similar on her spine which broke through.

At least my dog was peaceful with it.

[Rappie]

I was told animals can't have strokes years ago but never told why.

They don't have what many consider as a traditional stroke as they don't typically suffer from cholesterol related heart or vascular disease such as artherosclerosis or fatty plaques. They can certainly suffer from 'strokes' in the sense that their brain function can be affected by ischaemic disease (lack of oxygen / blood flow) due to blood clots or transient ischaemic attacks. these are usually related to a more serious underlying cause though, it is rare for them to 'just happen'.

Edit to add 'don't typically suffer' in the first line. Nothing is absolute

Edited January 10, 2015 by Rappie

[Rebanne]

Thanks Rappie

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Rebanne that sounds a little like my boys "spells". He also has a heart issue and I think the 2 are related, so we will be off for a visit to a vet with experience in the area. Apparently cats with heart issues do well to go on for a few years after diagnosis and I think we may have outdone our time. Of course while he is fine we will keep treating and see how we go.

Rappie, that's interesting and makes sense. And I guess it could mean he is having a "stroke".

[brightstar123]

I've seen quite a few strokes in dogs with untreated or suspected hypothyroidism - I think it's one of the few times that dogs are prone to developing atherosclerosis? I haven't seen as many in cats but they definitely happen. Does your cat have high blood pressure or is he on meds for blood pressure?

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I've seen quite a few strokes in dogs with untreated or suspected hypothyroidism - I think it's one of the few times that dogs are prone to developing atherosclerosis? I haven't seen as many in cats but they definitely happen. Does your cat have high blood pressure or is he on meds for blood pressure?

He has heart disease, and was diagnosed about 3 years ago. I think the meds he is on is a beta-blocker, so I guess he probably does have fairly high blood pressure. I recall the specialist saying that he had a thickened ventricle wall, and he was suprised that I hadn't picked up the problem by him collapsing! It's only been the last month or two that he's really shown any signs of having a problem at all.