Canine Stroke Foundation

07/05/2026

We are wildly thrilled to announce that the Canine Stroke Foundation has received a generous donation of mobility equipment from Dr. Amanda Picking of The Vital Spark: Veterinary Rehabilitation and Acupuncture in Nashville, TN.

We currently have a collection of high-quality wheelchairs available for pet owners and rescue organizations. Because these carts were generously donated to us, we want to pass that goodwill forward.

We are offering them for a suggested donation of $25 - $50, but we are operating on a strict "pay what you can afford" model. Our priority is ensuring these carts get to the pets who need them most, and absolutely no family will be turned away due to financial constraints.

Our current inventory includes:

Walkin’ Wheels (Blue): Highly adjustable and easy to use.

K9 Carts (All Metal): Renowned for their durable, custom-built support.

You can see the current selection in the photo below. Sizes coming soon.

If you are local, you can pick up the equipment directly at The Vital Spark: Veterinary Rehabilitation and Acupuncture in Nashville, TN. Not in the area? Let us know, and we can try to figure out shipping arrangements to get a cart to you!

These carts are an incredible resource for animals recovering from surgery, managing degenerative neurological conditions, or simply needing extra mobility support. If you or a veterinary clinic you know could benefit from one of these units, please email [email protected] or message us to inquire about availability and sizing. We will post those ASAP.

Let’s help these pups get back on their feet!

07/02/2026

07/02/2026

We're proud to announce Dr. Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFCP-V, as Primary Advisor to the Executive Director of The Canine Stroke Foundation.

Dr. Marks brings over two decades of clinical veterinary experience, including her role as Co-Owner and Medical Director of the largest small animal hospital in Chicago and leadership of the first Fear Free Certified Hospital in Illinois. Today she serves as Chief Veterinary Officer at OpenVet and MI:RNA Diagnostics, and as CEO of the Veterinary Angel Network for Entrepreneurs (VANE), where she connects animal health innovators with capital, expertise, and strategic guidance.

Her guidance has been vital to CSF's growth, and her perspective, grounded in decades at the exam table and now shaping the future of veterinary AI and diagnostics, will continue to be instrumental as we expand our clinical education and outreach work.

Welcome, Dr. Marks. Thank you for supporting us!

07/01/2026

We are proud to welcome Dr. Doreen Succow to the Canine Stroke Foundation's Scientific & Medical Advisory Board as our Small Animal Veterinary Medicine Advisor.

Dr. Succow is a DVM and German Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Medicine, with a strong focus on internal medicine and diagnostic imaging. She is the founder of DocDoreen.com, where she delivers specialized training for postgraduates, veterinary students, and nurses in German and English.

With an extensive international background, Doreen spent over a decade as a Clinic Manager and Senior Veterinarian in Dubai, UAE. She thrives in multicultural teams and is deeply committed to maintaining top-tier medical standards, fostering professional interaction, and championing the human element in veterinary medicine.

Welcome to the team, Dr. Succow. We're so glad to have you.

06/30/2026

We are proud to welcome Dr. Simon Platt to the Canine Stroke Foundation's Board of Directors as our Director of Veterinary Neurology.

Dr. Platt holds the BVM&S, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology), Diplomate ECVN, and FRCVS designations and is an RCVS and EBVS Recognized Specialist of Veterinary Neurology. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1992 and served as a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the University of Georgia until 2022.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Platt has written or co-written more than 250 journal articles and 70 book chapters. He is the co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology and the Manual of Small Animal Neurological Emergencies, and currently serves as Editor in Chief of the NAVC journal Today's Veterinary Practice. In 2018, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for his significant contributions to the veterinary field.

At present, Dr. Platt runs a neurology consulting and training firm, co-leads the teleneurology team at VetOracle UK, serves as Medical Director for Hallmarq Advanced Veterinary Imaging, and is the co-founder of Web-Vet Neurology Specialists and Your Pet's Piece of Mind.

His research was also instrumental in saving Finley's life. The foundation exists in part because of the work Dr. Platt and others like him have dedicated to canine neurology. Having him on our Board of Directors means everything.

Welcome to the team, Dr. Platt. Thank you for being here!

06/30/2026

Why does S.A.R.A., a free app dedicated to helping people whose dogs have Cushing's syndrome, exist?

➤ Because my Sara was diagnosed on 14 January 2025, and in hindsight she had started showing very subtle symptoms nine months earlier.
➤ Because after her diagnosis I felt alone.
➤ Because it took about five months to stabilise her after starting Trilostane.
➤ Because even once she was stable and seemingly happy on treatment, no one told me how differently a pituitary tumour and an adrenal tumour need to be approached.
➤ Because I had no idea that Cushing's comes with a cascade of other conditions.
➤ Because no one told me a dog with this condition should have regular ultrasounds to keep the organs monitored.
➤ Because Sara nearly died from a gallbladder mucocele.
➤ Because she died five weeks after surgery to remove a 7cm adrenal tumour.
➤ Because my worries about a potential Addisonian crisis were dismissed by three different vets.
➤ Because two vets insisted she didn't need her cortisol levels checked.
➤ Because I had to rush her myself to a clinic that had cortisol tests in stock, and the result came back below 1.00 µg/dL.
➤ Because even then, the vets insisted I lower her daily prednisone dose.
➤ Because of that, she stopped recognising the people she loved.
➤ Because I live every day with the big ''what if'' questions.
➤ Because I have only learned too late that specialised centres that study Cushing's in dogs exist.

Because she is now dead.

Because I know how many people are dealing with this extremely complex condition.

And because we can do more, and better, if we all work together.

06/29/2026

Cassidy might be on to something here! 😂❤️