Stroke

Signs of Stroke

•Weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. May have difficulty eating.

•Confusion, dazed look.

•Trouble seeing (may only be from one eye_

•General loss of balance, falling over.

Cause

Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease, affecting the arteries leading to the brain, and also those within it.

Stroke can be caused by either

•a bloodclot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain (most common)

•a blood vessel bursting and preventing blood flow to the brain.

Treatment

Please seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Vivitonin (propentofylline) is a medication for dogs, but with careful calculations your vet may be able to prescribe this to help your rat.

It works by increasing blood flow to the brain which will help make your rat more alert, and reduce the likelihood of further strokes.

Vivitonin is usually given on an empty stomach and is safe for long term use as it does not interfere with other medications.

Care

Once your rat is unstable on his/her feet, it is important to make the cage as safe as possible to prevent falls and injury.

Consider moving your rat into a single level cage, but if this is not possible, it is probably best to remove any shelves and hammocks.

Ensure food and water are within easy reach.

If your rat is having difficulty chewing hard food then switch to a soft diet.

Soft food will also help keep your rat hydrated, especially if drinking from a water bottle is becoming difficult.

There is also some evidence to suggest supplementing your rat with Co-enzyme Q10 may be beneficial in recovery and preventing subsequent strokes.

Do not leave your rat unsupervised with bowls of water/very runny food. Rats that have difficulty balancing have a tendency to fall face first into things and may end up with food/liquid in their airways.

Monitor your rats weight and regularly pinch the skin to check for dehydration. (see health checks)

Watch for signs of stress. Your rat may be more susceptible to being bullied by cagemates.

Sick rats are also more prone to mites and lice so check through fur regularly.

Switch's Story

Switch developed a head tilt at around 28 months of age. She was initially treated with steroids and antibiotics, but the vet also suggested vivitonin might help, given the tilt could be due to a stroke.

Around 3 and a half days in, she really perked up, started coming to the cage door, moving around and eating with the others. Her appetite also increased.

This was rather unusual for her, she had been a quiet, sleepy girl and kept herself to herself, only waking up at meal times really.

Her new lease of life continued for several months, until she finally had to be put to sleep.