Black Male Lab 6yrs suddenly ill

Question
My sons dog suddenly became ill.  He cant stand up.  He was taken to the vet and they said he had a stroke and gave him steroids and sent him home.  Still unable to stand, and he threw up this morning (reaction from the meds per the vet).

Can you provide any info?

Answer
Hi Andrea!

Stroke

Old dogs can suddenly lose their balance as though they have had a stroke. This is not caused by a blood clot to the brain like in humans, but in fact is due to inflammation of the vestibular or balance canals. The cause is still unknown. Although the signs can be quite dramatic this can be treated and many dogs recover within 2 weeks.
   
Signs

complete loss of balance and falling over
the head may tilt permanently to one side
the eyes will be flickering from side to side  
they may not be able to eat because they cannot reach down to the food bowl
your pet may appear very confused and disorientated
   
How to help

hand-feed your dog  
keep your dog rested and in one room so he cannot hurt himself
take it to your vet - sometimes a course of steroids can help
be patient - often these cases take a few weeks to get better  
some dogs get left with a permanent head tilt but often cope amazingly well  


Some dogs take longer than other to recover. Give your doglove and patience and he'll soon be better.

I hope this is helpful! Good luck and please keep me posted! Sending wagging tails your way! Nicole