Did you know that dogs can have strokes just like humans? Well, they can and they do. It isn't common but it happens.  This is a great story of love, courage and sheer determination - here is Sheba’s Story from Brisbane, Australia.

October 28, 2005. It was 5.00am - Sheba, my Siberian Husky, and I set off for our early morning walk. I remember the temperature was 22 degrees Celsius but I forgot to check the humidity before we left. Shalimar, my boy Husky, decided not to accompany us this morning - he elected to stay in bed. Good thinking. We had only walked about 1km when Sheba suddenly sat down. I checked her paws - no foreign objects. Both my Huskies have been trained to sit and wait at all intersections before we cross the road but there was no road this particular morning - only a concrete footpath in a park. Sheba often sits and faces in the direction she would prefer to walk so at first I thought she was testing me. Husky speak for “let’s go that-a-way”!!  Not this morning though, she continued to sit.

After a few minutes she lay down. Her eyes were bright, she was moving her head and looking around but she couldn’t stand up. I began to think a snake may have bitten her or a tick had somehow latched onto her several walks ago and that symptoms were suddenly appearing. So I urgently examined her all over - difficult with all that thick fur and one pair of hands. After 15 minutes I called my husband to come pick us up and by the time we arrived back home, Sheba was in a deep coma. She had had a stroke at the age of 7years and 3 months and was completely paralysed on the left hand side of her beautiful body. It was 5.45a.m.

We called her Vet who advised to let her rest a couple of hours before driving to the clinic. We kept her comfortable and cool in the air conditioning at home.  The house was quiet so Sheba could hear the drone of our voices.  Later that morning after she had rested and was again aware of her familiar surroundings we drove to her Vet. Sheba was kept in hospital that night under observation and because she had lapped water and eaten a little food, I was able to bring her home next morning - no need for a drip. She was very, very unwell. However, home is always the best place to recuperate - familiar surroundings, usual noises and smells, her own bed and a doggie friend for extra support.

Good old fashioned home nursing began. Sheba and I worked together around the clock. Every 2 hours, night and day, I turned her from side to side. I kept her paralysed limbs stimulated by massaging and gently exercised all her legs. Something was telling me I had to keep her legs moving so her brain wouldn’t forget what to do and to apply massage to help her circulation. I couldn’t bear to think my beautiful girl would never walk or run again - neither could Sheba. Like all dogs Sheba loves to run. Right now she couldn’t work out what had happened but she knew we had to keep moving.

At this point it was critical she remained interested and alert so during the day I carried her to favourite spots in the garden, kept her mind stimulated with favourite toys and small portions of food. We played a bit and talked. We didn’t change any daily activities around the house and Shalimar, her doggie friend, was always there for constant support. She was never left alone.

Thankfully, Sheba has a very strong will and by the end of the first week she was mobile. Whenever she wanted to stand, I placed a towel under her belly to take her weight - like a sling - and this allowed her to use her legs as best she could without bearing her full weight. It wasn’t too long before she told me to discard the “sling” and let her go alone.  A Dog Lifting Harness would have been ideal but we didn't know about them then.

Sheba was walking again - wobbly, but walking. Her legs were still very weak, whenever she attempted to stand she slipped and fell flat on her belly on our tiles and the concrete deck, both slippery surfaces.  This didn't help her confidence at all, I could see she was becoming afraid to stand.  She needed boots. Hot Doggers indoor dog boots with rubber soles were the answer as they grabbed the floor and provided the traction she needed to keep her upright, she regained her confidence and slowly the strength in her legs returned so she could eventually stand alone. 

After lots of research, I found a wonderful Animal Physiotherapist - it took me a week to find Lindsay who is actually a human physio and also treats dogs and horses. We started on a special set of daily exercises for Sheba and concentrated on them for several weeks. Daily became every second day, then 3 times a week, once a week and then whenever Sheba was ready.  She was quickly telling me "don't need your help thanks, Mum".  Four months after her stroke Hydrotherapy was introduced. Now, this doggie is not a swimmer and certainly didn’t like the pool but I’m sure the few sessions we had with the Physio made some difference.

One morning at home in the garden Sheba decided it was time to try a run. It was three weeks since her stroke. She took stock of her situation, we could see her thought processes then slowly she RAN !  She did it. Sheba was not quite like her normal bolt of lightening speed but she was moving! What a joyous moment to witness.  My wild, free spirit was so determined to beat this peculiar “thing” that had overcome her.

Sheba’s circulation was still a problem - I wondered if Acupuncture might help so we visited a Holistic Vet.  Dr Rowan Kilmartin from Animal Options had been highly recommended to me. After each treatment there were obvious positive results. Sheba loved her Acupuncture sessions. “If she wants to walk, let her go” advised the Vet. So when she was ready we were off. Slowly we increased the distance.

One thing was still lurking though - cyanosis.  It was particularly noticeable on a lengthy walk or if Sheba over-exerted herself around other doggie friends. Since it's always good to know what causes something a visit to an Internal Medicine Specialist and Cardiologist was recommended and after Ultrasounds, X-Rays, Blood Tests, ECG’s etc, Sheba was pronounced to be in very good physical condition. Nothing unusual showed up, she was normal on clinical examination.

We had gotten to a point where we just had to manage the situation. Her Specialists recommended Sheba take 1-quarter Aspirin every morning to keep her blood thin. A tiny, tiny amount.  After speaking with a Holistic Vet it was recommended Metagenics High Purity Fish Oil and N-Acetyl Carnitine plus Taurine 500 (to assist in brain cell and nervous system repair) be administered daily. These are natural products used for human consumption and I am certain they have helped in Sheba’s recovery. You can read more information at www.metagenics.com.au and www.b2bworld.com.au. 

Hydration is extremely important. Without water at the right time, Sheba’s blood could coagulate, this could cause a blood clot which would in turn cause an aneurysm leading to another stroke. Water prevents the blood from becoming sticky. Luckily I have always taken water with me wherever I go with the dogs - on walks or in the car. Now it is even more important. As we walk, we check her tongue and just as soon as it turns blue that is the sign for a rest and more water.

After the first seven months life turned into a slower pace for my doggie. We made a few adjustments to cope with exercising two dogs at two different paces to keep them both happy but now we are back to normal routines again.

Sheba had often pawed at the LHS of her face. Her teeth were checked on each regular visit to her Vet - nothing suspicious. I decided to get a second opinion (in fact, I got three!) and it was discovered she had an abscess on a tooth. How long had it been there? I will never know. One year later, almost to the day since her stroke, Sheba had the tooth extracted under a GA. I felt terrible because she’d been through enough and I wondered if this had triggered her stroke.

It is now 4 1/2 years since Sheba had her stroke, she is almost 12 years old, and life is definately good again. My doggie made a brilliant recovery, not totally but enough to enjoy her daily walks, trips to different doggy parks, riding in the car just to go pick up the mail and best of all the wide open spaces of the beach where she could run free, using the beach like a runway to get her Husky speed up, explore to her hearts content, paddle and play with other dogs in the water and sometimes even try to keep pace with a low flying majestic Pelican! 

Sheba is now older and slower, right now the beach and the doggy parks are off our agenda and the peace and quiet of home is more attractive with the occasional visit from a doggy friend or two.  She is keen for her daily short walks, an important adventure to go explore her neighbourhood and let all the local dogs know she is still around!

It is thanks to a loving home, a dedicated mother and a good professional team who truly understand animals that my Princess climbed back to being her normal doggy self again, as much as possible - naughty, vocal, gentle and loving - and somewhere in there, I’m sure, ever so grateful!

Kathryn and Sheba
(originally written January 2006) 
Updated January 2010

   
Sheba’s Professional Team in Brisbane:   
Animal Physiotherapy Solutions
Lindsey Connell
Telephone: 07 3841 7011

Animal Options
Non-invasive Holistic Treatment
Dr. Rowan Kilmartin
07-5546 6756
www.animaloptions.com.au

Veterinary Specialist Services
Dr Terry King (Internal Medicine)
Dr Brad Gavaghan (Cardiologist)
Dr Gary Wilson (Dentist)
07-3841 7011

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