Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Cerebral ischemia may lead to a stroke. A rat that has experienced a stroke may exhibit symptoms like paralysis or walking in circles. Rats showing such symptoms should be taken to a veterinarian for immediate examination.

  1. Definition of Cerebral Ischemia

    • Cerebral ischemia is a reduction of blood flow caused by constriction or obstruction of one of the arteries leading to the brain. Prolonged ischemia may cause a stroke.

    Cause of Cerebral Ischemia

    • Cerebral ischemia is usually caused by a blood clot building up in an artery (thrombosis) that supplies blood to the brain or a clot breaking off from another part of the blood system (embolism), such as in the heart, and traveling to an artery in the brain.

    Strokes in Rats

    • According to information published by the Rat and Mouse Club of America, strokes are fairly common in older rats. A rat experiencing a stroke may breathe heavily or suffer from convulsions. The aftereffects of a stroke may include a stiff sideways tilting of the head, walking in circles or paralysis on one side of the body.