Natural Remedies for Strokes in Dogs

| Modified on Mar 07, 2023
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While much less common than in people, dogs can have strokes. Natural remedies for strokes in dogs include physical therapy and herbs like cayenne pepper and turmeric.

What Happens when a Dog has a Stroke?

Your dog may suddenly be acting strangely and you have no idea why.

A stroke in a dog can be cause by a broken blood vessel or blood clot that affects blood flow to the brain. A dog who has had stroke may have one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Lethargy
  • Sudden decrease in bowel or bladder control
  • Sudden change in balance or partial paralysis
  • Changes in eyesight

If you suspect your dog has had a stroke, a veterinarian may order a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis. He may require short term hospitalization for IV fluids and other medication.

Once your dog is stable, you can use diet, exercise and supplements to help maximize his health following a stroke.

What Can I Do to Help My Dog after a Stroke?

Diet and Exercise for Dogs After a Stroke

Many pet owners find that a grain free diet or a raw diet is helpful to a dog that has had significant health problems. Dogs should have regular opportunities for exercise like daily walks or time in an outdoor yard.  If your dog is having trouble with his legs, you can help him to move them back and forth gently many times a day.

Herbs and Supplements for Dogs After a Stroke

Cayenne pepper is an inexpensive herb that can be helpful for stroke prevention. Cayenne pepper is hot and spicy and you may need to get your dog used to it slowly. You can begin by adding just a sprinkle to his food as you would your own. Over time you may be able to increase the amount as he adjusts to the heat of it. For a large dog, a maximum of 1/4-1/2 teaspoon a day would be plenty.

Turmeric is a blood thinning, blood purifiying and anti-inflammatory herb. It also can be added to food, a small amount at a time while a dog adjusts to the taste. Like cayenne, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in a day would make a great dietary supplement.

Supplements for Dogs who have had a Stroke

Serrapeptase is a supplement that helps dissolve non-living tissue. It is reportedly good to help dissolve blood clots. It also has blood thinning properties. It is a supplement that appears to come with very few side effects. It should be taken on an empty stomach according to manufacturer's directions.

Has your dog had a stroke? Please let us know what natural remedies you have used to help him!




CBD, Salmon and Turmeric

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Posted by Moo (BREWSTER) on 11/13/2022
5 out of 5 stars

My 12 year old dog had a stroke and I have been giving her cbd oil...salmon oil..and turmeric...exercise and love...and she is doing great!


Homeopathy

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Posted by Maggie (Idaho) on 03/09/2016 36 posts
5 out of 5 stars

My little dog fell and had a stroke. Right after she fell she was walking around so I knew nothing was broken, in fact, I thought everything was fine. A few minutes later she had the stroke and at first I thought she had died. She got stiff and then couldn't walk, her head turned to one side and then she was limp. She's 15 years old so I just held her and waited for her to die.

She stayed with me so I went online to see if there were any home remedies and found one that used homeopathy. I didn't follow the online remedy exactly but used what homeopathic remedies they had used and I had on hand. She wasn't eating so I gave her electrolytes every hour but not at the same time as the homeopathic remedies.

The second day was about the same except that I spaced the homeopathic remedies out every 3 hours. The third day I gave her 1 dose of arnica around noon and one of aconitum in the evening. The fourth day she got 1 dose of arnica. From the beginning, she seemed to be cold so I put a dog sweater on her and even a heating pad under her bed and several layers of towels and covered her with a baby blanket. She also couldn't walk. {C}When she started eating again, she had diarrhea so gave her yogurt and sweet potatoes and winter squash since I didn't have pumpkin. It helped a little but she didn't want to eat so I added a little canned dog food to her yogurt and sweet potatoes and the diarrhea came back. It finally stopped when I gave her nothing but dried dog food. A week and a half later she's back to the way she was before her stroke. You would never know anything had happened to her.

  • 11 am - arnica montana 200c, 6-8 tiny pills
  • 1 pm - phosphorous 200c, about 6-8 tiny pills and arnica again
  • 2 pm - aconitum napellus 30c, 1 pill
  • 5 pm - arnica
  • 8 pm - aconitum
  • 11 pm - phosphorous
  • 1:30 - aconitum

Maggie

Replied by Deanna
(Ky)
02/25/2017

Where did u find these pills, my dog has just experienced the same thing.

Replied by Maggie
(Idaho)
02/25/2017
36 posts

You can buy the homeopathic remedies at a health food store or at the vitamin stores online. Just type homeopathic remedies on your computer and you'll find a lot of results.

Dissolve the pills in a tiny bit of water and give with a syringe without the needle. The tiny round pills take a while to dissolve but the flat pills dissolve fast. Good Luck.

Replied by Phyllis
(Tuscumbia, Alabama)
08/26/2017

Vitacost has a good selection of herbs in liquid. George my little Boston Terrier just had a stroke. He's had seizures for years and he was bad enough that I had to let the vet to give him a steroid injection and he'll be on Prednisone for 10 days. Of course I'll treat him naturally after that but considering his existing condition I'm not willing to take the risk of not having him under his vets care right now. I've had him and his daughter Tina on milk thistle since natural methods weren't enough to control their severe seizure conditions. I had to put them on Phenobarbital and I had liquid milk thistle ordered before the vet called the prescription in. Poor Tina has been on Keppra also since being in the hospital 4 days last year following nearly 28 hours of seizure activity. Now George will have to be to after the seizure that caused the stroke. But I'm very happy to know that the milk thistle is so effective. His blood work showed that his liver is functioning perfectly and the Phenobarbital has not caused any damage. Tina's blood work always comes back with the same results. I hate having to give them pharmaceutical meds but I'm glad that I can at least protect their livers.

Replied by KIMBERLY
(TX)
10/31/2022

Maggie - you mentioned you found a site that used homeopathy remedies as an alternative treatment and that you modified the remedies. Can you tell me where you found the original posting/website?

I have a dog that just a stroke as well that sounds very similar. He has underlying conditions as well (diabetes and cushings).

Thanks!

-kimberly

Maggie
(Idaho)
10/31/2022
36 posts

It's been so long ago that I'm not sure where I found the information but found this in my bookmarks and I think this must have been it. "Miraculous recovery from a stroke and paralysis" at https://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/AnimalWellness/Shasta2 If for some reason you can't access the site, let me know and I'll copy the article for you. Good Luck.


Multiple Remedies

Posted by Cherie (California) on 04/09/2017

Aspirin bone broth coconut oil and kombucha so far. She won't take solids. She's staggering, eyes darting, drooling one side, one eye won't shut. Any advice before having a vet look tomorrow.

Replied by Winter
(Central Texas)
04/21/2017

We are trying DMSO. We put a capful in water dish off and on and the pets seem to love it. So trying that this morning but so far she is not wanting anything. Also, we will apply DMSO 50% dilution to her head. She has thick fur, so using an eye dropper to apply beneath the fur and rub in a bit. DMSO has shown to help elderly patients after a stroke. The sooner the better though. Best within 12 hours of onset. Also trying to get her to take a cayenne capsule wrapped in a bit of cheese as that has shown some benefit in people after a stroke. Now we are putting it in God's hands. She is elderly and she may be ready to go. Hope everything is looking up for your pet! Blessings

Replied by Concerned
(Georgia)
03/06/2023

My Blue (Dog) just had a Stroke we believe yesterday. He falls when he gets up. He actually did this before so I believe he was having mini-strokes before. I knew his hips in the rear end have arthritis. He won't eat or drink nothing now. I have given him herbs and health food his whole life of 13 years. I will try other herbs on his tongue.

DL
(NC)
03/06/2023

So sorry. Look into the DMSO remedy for strokes. You can part the fur on his neck and also apply it to clean paw pads to get it in his system if he's not eating or drinking. Cayenne might be another helpful remedy for strokes but that will be tricky if you can't get it in food. Be very careful if your dog is having problems swallowing.

Here is one review on Earth Clinic for DMSO. The dosage is for people, so you'd have to adjust down for your dog.

Posted by Jeroen van P. (Amsterdam) on 02/10/2021
5 out of 5 stars

For Strokes: DMSO - one tablespoon in 30cc water every 15 minutes for 2 hours, then one every hour for 2 days. Will fix circulation extremely fast.

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/stroke.html#dmso

Concerned
(Georgia)
03/07/2023

Thank you for Blue. He ate a little Basmatti White Rice yesterday night. No food this morning but I did forcibly put a drop of Arnica on his tongue this morning. My wife said yesterday Blue drank a whole bowl of water and walked slowly. He still reacts when cats are around him. He still barks when someone is at the door. I will try the DMSO. His balance is still no good because he can't shake his body without falling on the hardwood floor. I was giving him Coenzyme vitamins everyday. Thanks John