Timescale for recovery from a stroke

[Rhandir]

My 15 yo lurcher had a stroke last weekend, our vet prescribed some cortisone tablets to aid her recovery. She made some slight progress and I was quite positive about her recovery until this morning when I think, having spoken to our vet, she may have had another stroke. During today she has perked up slightly but is still severeral steps behind where she was yesterday.

My worry is that our last dog that also had a stroke was quiet for a few days and then made quite a quick recovery. Obviously I want to give her every chance possible but I have no idea whether to expect more of an improvement or not, the last thing I want is for her to suffer.

 

[jrp204]

Did she have an actual stroke or a 'dog stroke' http://dawn-m-smith.suite101.com/what-is-canine-vestibular-syndrome-a51752, this is what our old jrt had, she had several and ended up unable to walk a straight line! She seemed to get over them fairly quickly, a day or 2 and she was fairly normal just rather lopsided.

 

[Rhandir]

It was an actual stroke, she went over as if she'd been shot.

 

[JeanetteM]

My old girl had a stroke last November, I was in an absolute flap thinking this is it, going to have to have her pts, but no my vet kept saying to me "give her time give her time", I questioned him many a time but went with what he kept saying, it took a couple of weeks before she could walk without falling over, and her head tilt began to straighten, she became house trained again etc etc

We actually lost her in April, had she fully recovered from the stroke? I can't say, but she was a happy dog, chasing her ball, walking unaided with just a bit of a head tilt, giving me grief as only she could lol

my only advice I can give you is hang in there, and "give it time"

good luck xx

 

[Rhandir]

Thank you for that Jeanette, it's just so hard seeing her like this. Could you tell me roughly how long it was before your dog started to eat on her own and did she improve steadily, or did she have relapses

 

[JeanetteM]

I really do feel for you, I remember and it was so hard, I spent a long time in tears daily, every time she fell I questioned wether I was doing the right thing and had a good cry, then the first time she walked around the field without falling over I cried again

It was all steady, slight changes we didn't notice, we had good days and bad days, the bad days I often though oh eck another stroke but I was always told no (I'm a born worrier and I always think the worse) my vet also prescribed vivitonin and Aktivait to help the blood flow to the brain and prevent her having another

I reckon it must of been a good 2 months before I was actually able to say to the vets ok you were right I'm sorry for doubting you .. while at the same time accepting my girl would never be the same again.

but we adjusted, for eg long walks to the park went, she had half a dozen 5 minute strolls in the field behind my house instead, Jazz had been on a dry food all her life, we put her onto tinned meat, which helped with her appetite

I know we still lost her in April but I wouldn't change or do anything differently and feel I did the right thing keeping her going as long as we did.

p.s. if you have a video camera, take short clips of your girl, I have a couple of Jazz and can see the changes in them, where I couldn't see them at the time

 

[Rhandir]

many thanks for that, we will keep on trying with her. I just wish I could get her to eat, even with hand feeding I can't get much into her, luckily she is a little overweight but I am starting to get worried about it.

 

[JeanetteM]

I know we still lost her in April but I wouldn't change or do anything differently and feel I did the right thing keeping her going as long as we did.

Always someone who likes to try to stick the boot in

the proof is in the pudding, this video taken the week before we lost Jazz (shepherd x), see for her yourself, does it look like she is suffering to you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjgOdbrhXVM&list=HL1337240658&feature=mh_lolz

Well does she??

 

[Rhandir]

She looks perfectly happy to me.

Blade is looking slightly better this morning, we are in it for the long haul now and will be guided by her.

 

[cefyl]

Is there a reason your vet has not prescribed Vivitonin?

 

[Rhandir]

I have no idea, but then I'm not a vet.

 

[JeanetteM]

She looks perfectly happy to me.

Blade is looking slightly better this morning, we are in it for the long haul now and will be guided by her.

(I guess a post got deleted which my video was in response to)

thanks Rhandir, I thought Jazz was happy myself and I would never of let her suffer

good new on Blade, has she eaten? I'd try or luvvly jubbly stinky stuff that dogs like if shes off her food, tinned makerel (sp) in tomato etc see if that can tempt her

next time you see the vet I'd also ask about the vivitonin, I think it helped with Jazz

 

[Rhandir]

I'm having to hand feed her and she's not taking huge amounts at a time, more on the lines of little and often. I will ask the vet about the drug. I'm sure he had his reasons for not giving it to her just yet, maybe because he thought that she has had a bleed in the brain and wanted to reduce the inflamation first and let it heal before prescribing anything that would boost the blood flow ... which makes sense.

She's quite chirpy this morning .... fingers crossed, onwards and upwards and all that.

 

[paulineh]

Rhandir

What are you feeding her. Differently small amounts often is the way forward.

Like JeanetteM says these things take time. Small improvement over a long time will show.

In humans this can take months so don't worry if things are slow

 

[Rhandir]

She is having chicken breast, as she has had so little to eat I don't want to overload her stomach and make her sick, I'd quite like what I give her to stay down. I have also tried boiled rice and scrambled egg but she wouldn't even entertain that. So as she is actually eating the chicken, I will stick with that for the moment.

 

[JeanetteM]

I'd stick with the chicken breast too if she's eating it, its the first food I turn to with a poorly dog, after that the stinky foods to tempt them, but if she's eating small amounts and has weight to spare I wouldn't worry too much and just keep going with the little and often

Hang in there, its early days yet, fingers crossed all will be ok

 

[cefyl]

I have no idea, but then I'm not a vet.

Vivitonin is often prescribed for canine stroke victims and can make a dramatic improvement in some cases though obviously there may be contraindications where it may not be suitable.

 

[Rhandir]

a little update for today ... Blade has just taken food from my hand, all by herself. I felt like dancing round the kitchen, but at my age that's probably not a good idea

 

[JeanetteM]

Oh fab news

p.s. go on .. have a little dance .. you know you want to

 

[Rhandir]

well I did do a little one ... hope no one saw me