What are the signs of a Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)? A CVA is very much like a stroke and it is also reminiscent of Vestibular Disease the difference being a CVA will generally not have nausea attached and will take a longer recovery time. Signs of strokes in dogs are different to the signs in humans. In humans a drooping face or partial paralysis of one side of the body are common signs. Such signs are rarely associated with strokes in dogs.
In the case of a CVA the dog generally appears mildly drunk and uncoordinated. They may circle and fall down. They may loose the function of their rear or front legs generally the other set of legs is affected later so they dog is completely unable to get up. In Basenjis these symptoms seem to me much worse than with other breeds. They might look severely drunk, like a new born Bambi with a head injury. They are prone to knuckle over and fall down regularly. As Dr Aine Seavers writes 'they truly look horrendous'. Dr Seavers is concerned that Basenjis showing these signs may be put to sleep, when normally even the most horrendous cases will fully recover given the right medication and time.
The other thing to note is that unlike other breeds, elderly Basenjis can have more than one episode. The CVA's usually occur either around Easter as they strut their old bodies like they are 2 years old. They are not 2 years old, so they have an episode or if the weather suddenly turns cold or there is an extended cold period. They recover and the newer medications we have make them more comfortable and appear to return to normal faster as well. Unlike with a stoke a second episode doesn't mean anything. Often a dog will go many months to several years without further episode. If however if you get multiple episodes in a short space of time then that case needs to be looked at differently.
Posted in: Cerebrovascular Disease, Health & Wellbeing