There are two different types of canine stroke. Neither is common, but they do occur and can cause permanent or temporary brain damage and other serious health problems.

The two types of dog stroke are:

• Ischemic stroke, caused when a blocked artery inhibits blood flow to the brain
• Hemorrhagic stroke, caused by a burst blood vessel

The causes of dog stroke include:

• Brain tumors
• Cushing’s Disease
• Diabetes
• Head trauma
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Lung worm
• Parasites
• Spinal cartilage
• Thyroid disease
• Tumors

Although these symptoms are not exclusive to dog stroke, you should visit your vet for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) if you notice a combination of them:

• Balance problems
• Behavioral changes
• Blindness
• Confusion
• Depression
• Eating out of one side of the food dish
• Head tilt
• Lethargy
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Seizures
• Turning the wrong way when called

Keep in mind, dogs don’t respond to stroke like humans. Even if you don’t see a dramatic drooping on one side of the body your dog may still have experienced a stroke. Your veterinarian will do a number of tests possibly including X-rays, ultra-sound tests, and a spinal tap. Most dogs recover motor functions and movement in several weeks, depending on how severe the stroke was.