Stroke Dogs Progress Question

[montgomery2524]

Our boy Billy had a stroke about 5 weeks ago. The first week he could not stand, could not walk so we would carry him outside and move his feet for him. Second week he was getting up on his own and walking around. Each week he got a bit better. Now he will even run zoomies outside. He runs better than he walks. Left side is still iffy, puts more weight on the right side, left feet will turn over, but before he steps he does turn them right. Vision to the left is gone or almost gone from what we can tell, so he hugs the walls and gets "stuck" behind doors, furniture, in Mother in Laws pocket (that was funny). He lost a good bit of weight and we are slowly getting that back on him.

 

The biggest issue now is he can't lay down on his own and he won't drink water. We are giving him Ensure mixed with water which he drinks fine. And we manually move him through laying down steps and he slowly will lay down as we do this. But he won't do it on his own. He just stands there. Stood there for 10 minutes once, just looking at me like WELL ARE YOU GOING TO HELP.

 

Has anyone experienced similar? My husband talked to two ladies at Greys and Grapes who said it took forever for their boy to figure those two things out. He didn't get to talk with anymore to compare notes so thought I would post and see what others experienced.

 

We are very happy with his progress but this laying down thing is a pain. He gets up in middle of the night two or three times to change position which means I get up and lay him down. No sleep for the weary I guess. HA!

[teri_d]

Our sons grey had a stroke last December - I 'babysat ' her for the first two weeks of her recovery. She has almost totally recovered now - she had great vet care, as he lives outside Washington, D.C. - so she was sent for mri and saw a vet neurologist almost immediately. He also took her for doggie rehab - he thinks the laser helped her a lot. She was quite young - just four - so perhaps her youth helped her heal well.

[seeh2o]

My girl, Doodles, had a spinal stroke in December 2014 and another "neurological event" in late summer/early fall of last year. She recovered from the FCE really well, probably at the 6 month mark you'd never have known it had happened. It took her about 3 - 4 days in the hospital to be able to stand and take a few steps. When I brought her home after 8 days in the hospital, I had her in a Help'em Up Harness and walked her wobbly self out to the car with me holding the handle. We did acupuncture and cold laser 3 x a week after she first came home. She now gets acupuncture as needed and cold laser "tune ups" once every 3 weeks. I swear that cold laser has been a godsend to her.

 

She was better within hours of the last "event". She never had problems with drinking or eating, so I'm no help there.

 

I hope your boy makes a full recovery, it's a slow process, but I'm so grateful it wasn't something worse. Her neurologist has her on 1/2 of a cardio aspirin every day and her regular vet has her on Standard Process Organically Bound Minerals to prevent muscle spasms (she was having a tough time with her back and would squeak every now and then when getting up). Since she's been on both, she's done very well. No more squeaking. The only thing she doesn't have going for her is her age, she's now 13, but I know how lucky I am to have her at this age...

Edited May 24, 2016 by seeh2o

[greysmom]

Strokes and brain traumas are tricky. The more you can help his brain re-learn the movements, the faster he will get better. Unless there's a medical issue, the drinking shouldn't be that big of a problem - most greyhounds take in enough water through their meals and an occasional drink at the bowl. If you aren't putting water on his food, now would be a good time do do that - it will also help his eating an help him not choke on his food.

 

Our girl never had trouble laying down, so I can't help you there, other than to say, as hard as it might be, just letting him stand there until he figures it out on his own, might get him jump started. Acupuncture could be an excellent additional therapy, too.

[montgomery2524]

Billy did have three acupuncture visits. I think those did help with his improvements. Then at that point he said STOP sticking me and even got mad when I tried to do the last bag of fluids. He also had some long distance healing from a couple people. Now he gets water on his dry food mixed with a can of wet, followed by Ensure mixed with water. Seems to be enough.

 

He also does zoomies in the morning, running around the back yard with a smile. If you try to get him to walk somewhere, like off the patio to pee he becomes a statue as if he has forgotten HOW to take a step. If we push his butt we can pretty much guide him that way. Laying down still not working. I have been slowly moving him through motions on butt first, roll onto hip, down on the elbow and down. And sometimes he does it on his own with just my hand to guide him. Other times he gets anxious.

 

When he gets up he walks wherever he wants, which means overtop of the dogs. Worried about the ride to Mountain Hounds. I will be driving, so can't settle him if he gets up. Thinking we will block off the two dogs in the back of the van so if he gets up he can't walk on Axel. Maggie rides in the front as the navigator. Hoping his brain starts firing on all cylinders over the next few months.

[macoduck]

Lynda, do you have a harness for Billy? How would he be with using a needless syringe to squirt water in his mouth?

 

Since I'll be his escort at MH, should I carry my folding chair with me at all times in case he goes into freeze mode?

[montgomery2524]

Lynda, do you have a harness for Billy? How would he be with using a needless syringe to squirt water in his mouth?

 

Since I'll be his escort at MH, should I carry my folding chair with me at all times in case he goes into freeze mode?

 

He wore a God's Greyts harness in the beginning but doesn't need it now. Now sure how he will do walking on a leash, he hasn't been on one since it happened. When he stops in the house or in the yard, we push his butt and he starts up again. So we shall see.....

[greytpups]

I'm just reading this now. I'm so sorry you are going through this, but really happy he's recovering so well.