Brussels Griffons fatigue

Question
Patti,
About 2 weeks ago my dog was not walking properly.  The vet determined that it was neurological, a brain tumor or a stroke.  She is 9 1/2 yrs. old.  It does seem to be a stroke.  She is recovering slowly and eats each day.  I take her out as usual and sometimes I carry her .  My big concern is that she now sleeps a lot.  If she is not eating or going out she sleeps.  She will cuddle next to me on the couch during the day but is not as perky as in the past.  She barks if the bell rings and is always happy to see anyone we may meet.  Is this typical behavior after a stroke at her age.  Thank you for your assistance.
Maureen

Answer

Hi Maureen,

There really isn't aren't any typical behaviors to expect after a dog has a stroke. It's an individual event, it's impossible to guess how quickly your dog will heal.

Once a stroke has occurred there is no specific treatment that can repair the damage done to the brain. Efforts should be concentrated on identifying a potential cause for the stroke and, if a cause is found, treating it to prevent further strokes. Ischaemic strokes (the more common form of canine stroke) has been associated with many medical conditions in dogs and cats: kidney disease, heart disease, under or over-active thyroid glands, Cushing disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. You should talk to your vet about the possibility of running some blood tests to see if an underlying condition can be found. If a cause for your dog's stroke can found, treat it to prevent further strokes.

It sounds like your dog is making progress, wanting to eat is a good sign. It has only been two weeks since your dog had her stroke. Although there is no specific treatment for stroke, dogs actually recover more easily than humans, often in a several weeks time. Your dog's recovery will depend on the severity of her stroke and how much damage was done, but her potential for recovery is good. A dog generally recovers most of her motor functions and movement with time and patience. There is the possibility though, that some problems may be permanent, including behavioral changes. It's just going to take time, to heal.

Stay in touch with your vet, and let him or her know how your dog is progressing. I think you will see even more in the way of recovery, and progress over the next few weeks. You might ask your vet for a recommendation to a licensed veterinary physical therapist. This is a relatively new field, so it may take some searching to find a qualified fit for you and your dog. If there is a veterinary teaching university anywhere where you live, they also might have info on physical therapy for pets. A veterinary acupuncturist might also be helpful. Again, if your vet can't give you a recommendation, you can locate one here:

http://www.aava.org/php/aava_blog/aava-directory/

http://www.ivas.org/Members/VetSearch/tabid/124/Default.aspx


I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti