Most diseases in cats manifest in the same form as in humans. The main problem of diagnostics is that they do not have the opportunity to tell about the pains or ailments that arise. An attentive owner always monitors the behavior of his pet and immediately recognizes the slightest symptoms of possible diseases. Stroke is a very dangerous disease that can lead to the death of a cat if the necessary measures are not taken in time. At the first suspicion, an urgent need to seek help from a veterinarian.
Stroke symptoms in cats
Stroke symptoms in cats usually appear suddenly. The animal suddenly loses its balance and looks absolutely helpless. This disease is a serious violation of the blood supply to the brain, in which the cranial nerves are primarily affected. Veterinarians diagnose a stroke by examining a cat's auditory organs closely.
To diagnose a stroke, cats do the same procedures as humans do. For example, compulsory procedures include tomography and abdominal x-rays.
Stroke is indicated by the following changes in animal behavior:
- a sharp loss of balance, as well as clear signs of disruption of the vestibular apparatus;
- drowsiness, apathy, loss of interest in the environment;
- rapid breathing or asthma attacks;
- head tilts resembling spasms;
- in a cat, pupils can sharply narrow, eyes sink and eyelids tremble (if an animal has one pupil dilated and the other narrowed, then this should also be regarded as the first symptom of a stroke);
- paralysis of the region of the nose, mouth and impaired reflexes (usually only one side of the body is paralyzed);
- temporary loss of consciousness or coma;
- loss of appetite or physical inability to carry out swallowing and chewing reflexes;
- partial or complete loss of vision is possible, the cat can bump into interior items, as if they are not in its path;
- in rare cases, animals have frequent urination, which they cannot control.
The first symptom of a stroke may be a cat walking in a circle with its head lowered forward. At the same time, the animal can make sounds that resemble a moan.
Stroke types
Stroke in cats can be idiopathic or hemorrhagic. In the first case, the diagnosis and identification of the causes of the disease are very difficult. As a rule, veterinarians fail to identify abnormalities in the body that caused an attack.
Hemorrhagic stroke is an exacerbation of existing diseases. It can be caused by brain tumors, ischemic heart disease, abnormalities in the functioning of blood vessels, and unstable blood pressure.
Outwardly, during such symptoms, the cat looks very frightened, and there is obvious panic in the eyes. The animal makes attempts to rise, but they, as a rule, are unsuccessful.
In some cases, the cause of a stroke in a cat can be poisoning with strong poisons.
The consequences of a stroke in a cat
Stroke is one of the most dangerous diseases. Most often, cats manage to overcome the disease, but deaths are also frequent. It is very important to monitor the health of your pet. Most of the time, a feline stroke occurs when you have serious liver, kidney or digestive problems.
An accurate diagnosis can be made only after examining the results of numerous tests. The degree of risk and the process of treatment directly depend on the extent of the affected area of the brain.
