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The flow of our blood carries oxygen to our brains. It must be continuous, to keep the brain working normally. If anything stops the blood flow, we are affected straight away, within seconds. This is called a “stroke” - it is as if we have just been hit.

The symptoms of a stroke are different, according to which part of the brain is affected, but some signs are common. Australia's National Stroke Foundation uses the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the common signs of stroke. The letters stand for:

Face – the muscles in the face relax, especially around the mouth, which will droop.
Arms – the stroke victim will be unable to lift their arms.
Speech – if the person has not passed out, can they speak clearly and understand you?
Time - is important, because if the blood flow to the brain has been stopped then the person could die very quickly.

If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.
It's difficult to use the F.A.S.T. test for dogs. But there are some things in your dog's behaviour which might give you a clue.
If your dog is old, overweight or has any ongoing health problems, they are at risk of a stroke. You should look for any change in their normal behaviour.
Do they seem weak in the limbs, and have trouble standing up? When they are walking, do they stumble, as if their legs are suddenly not working right?

It's hard to see changes in a dog's face muscles, so look at their eyes. If their eyes flick quickly from side to side, this might indicate a stroke. The brain is affecting their vision. This can also make the dog feel nauseous, as if it has travel sickness. Has it been vomiting lately, or lost interest in food?
Also try to understand whether the dog knows what is going on around it. You can test this by throwing a ball, calling its name, or even looking in its face close up. If it does not respond, or is very slow to respond, this could mean it has had a stroke.

What can you do if you think your dog has had a stroke, but are not sure?
Watch it for about 24 hours.
Make sure it is comfortable in a warm and quiet place.
If the dog can't stand easily, turn it over from time to time to keep its lungs clear.

Put water near your dog so it can drink without getting up. If it doesn't drink for a long time, wipe its gums with a wet cloth to give it some moisture.
If it doesn't improve, take it to the vet.
For more information, go to wikihow.com

Span Hanna