Question:
Hey all, I was talking to my mom when I got back to Ottawa last night
and she told me that Daisy (american Cocker) who's 15 this year may have had a mini stroke last night. She said the dog was sleeping on the couch when all of a sudden she started shaking and woke up quite frightened. She is now partly lame in one side. Before anyone suggest's to take her to the vet, it was done this morning. I'm just curious if anyone here has had a dog who went through a stroke, and if so how long, and what quality of life did the dog have?

I haven't spoken with my mom today yet, may call her in a little while to see what the vet said. Daisy's time is definately coming up, I know that. Just wondering if she'll see another Christmas or not.

Answer:
Wow - 15! Your mom must have taken good care of Daisy!

For anyone, the quality of life after a stroke depends on the amount of damage done to the brain by the severity of the stroke. A very mild stroke can have a very good recovery outlook.

Let us know how little Daisy is!

Answer:
I spoke with my mom and the vet said to watch her, she should be ok as it wasn't very severe. Daisy has definately had a good life, but time is catching up with her. She's deaf, pretty much blind from cataracts, and on daily meds for thyroid and other little things but her nose is still running strong. I think that the secret to her long life thus far is we keep her active. She still walks about a km everyday! sometimes more. Once I get the picture cd I'll post a couple of her that I took out at the cottage.

Answer:
Even if there is some disability, Daisy can still have a good quality of life. Dogs are wonderful in being able to make the best of what they are able to still do. In people, the amount of disability depends a great extent on how long the brain is deprived of oxygen. Sometimes, a mini stroke can be caused by a small clot that then passes. I'm hoping for the best for her!

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Yeah Daisy may still have a lot of time left in her!! Mine lived to 16 yrs and he was healthy up to the last week of his life (went deaf and cataracts) but he was happy and fine

Can't wait to see pictures.

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Here's one of the pics I took of Daisy last week.

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She is a very adorable dog big smoootchies to her

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I grew up with a blonde cocker and will always have a soft spot for them. Daisy is really sweet. Good luck to her!

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Sheaba, the mixed bread I had growing up lived to be 17. She had her first stroke when she was about 14-15 and it was just a mild one. I don't remember what the vet gave her becaue I was only 15-16 myelf. She also, was on the couch and then she jumped of and fell to the ground seemed very disorientated. She recovered completley from that stroke but the vet warned us that she would now be more prone to other stokes. She didn't have one for quite a while but eventually she had another and then that the recovery was less complete and the next one came quckly after that. After the 3rd stroke the family and our vet decided that it was in Sheabas best interest that we put her to sleep.

So what I am saying is that Daisey can still lead a normal and happy life and as long as she seems happy I'm sure she is still enjoying herself. Just be aware that it can easily happen again. Even all these years later, sometimes I worry that we kept sheaba too long. :(

Answer:
well, daisy's been back to the vet for her follow-up, turns out it wasn't a stroke ,but she's been diagnosed with canine vestibular disease. The vet expects a full recovery for her though as its the first 48 hours that are critical. Here's a link of the definitions if anyone is interested. Thanks for everyones concern and input.

- Chris

Answer:
OH crap vestibular syndrom

BUT are they sure? I ask this because I went through the same thing with another dog, first they thought it was stroke, then inner ear, and vestibular and also pancreatitis.

I suggest a chest and abdominal xray to look for tumours!

My dog was full of them! Started in the Adrenal Gland. Either xray or ultrasound will show if there are masses.

Just my opinion, better to be sure then let them guess.

If it is vestibular then keeping the dog still during these episodes is very helpful. Holding them to comfort them is good, block of stairs so the dog can't climb.

Many times, other conditions are underlying which cause things like ear infections and vestibular syndrom....if something more serious is happening you need to find out.

Blood work should be done as well. Unless ofcourse you're completely confident in the docs diagnosis in that this is 'all' it is and there isn't something underlying.

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I'll pass it on to my mom, as for the vet, she's been Daisy's vet for the last 12 years as the previous one p'd my mom off on a couple of occasions. This vet is great, and knows full well of Daisy's complete history.

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