My dog Scooby had a stroke a year and half ago. My realtor was showing my house and found him on the floor not walking. By the time we got to the Vet's his ENTIRE right side was "Dead". It was cold to touch and he could NOT stand. Scooby is a Jack Russell/Beagle mix and kind of chubby. The vet gave him some shots to relax him but his paralysis didn't subside. He was in the vet's for a week. I visited EVERY day. He wouldn't go to the bathroom unless I took him and he ended up falling in it on the cement floor at the vet's. I cried but did NOT give up on him.
Finally, I got the vet to release him. The vet told me he would walk to the right for awhile and in circles. His right paws could not support his weight for periods of time. I bought Scooby a small skateboard to put his side on. His left side worked fine.
I massaged him EVERY day. I laid him beside me and rubbed his right side a few times a day for about 20 minutes. This helped alot with restoring the blood supply and feeling. I would take him for VERY short walks outside at first. However, his paws would scrape against the road and cut his paws. Got him a pair of mittens for his paws. He'd lose them anyways!
Finally, I ended up buying a new house with a back yard instead of having him walk on the street. (My only option where I lived is the street) I bought the house and let him down the back deck. A few minutes a later I discovered he could NOT walk up the stair on the deck! I just bought a house and he can't get in!!! I had to carry him up the stairs for awhile. I finally bought some concrete blocks to add to the stairs to compensate for the few inches he wasn't able to push himself up to. That worked.
The good news is that Scooby is 90% back to normal after about a 8 months after the stroke. The vet said he may improve even more since there is some nerve reaction in his leg. However, his right front paw has no feeling in it and I don't think ever will. His legs do work and he runs around like nothing is wrong. He is still Alpha dog out of 3 other dogs that are bigger than him. He even bloodied the nose of a German Shepard I tried to adopt!
My suggestion is to look for one of those carts designed for handicap dogs. You can find them in the advertising section of Dog fancy magazine. Scooby liked Skateboards before so that worked for me. Keep the circulation flowing and rub in a circular motion. Watch for the extra treats! You don't want to add any weight to the dog!
You don't have to put the dog down for this. My Scooby has his ups and downs every day but is going strong! He's spoiled rotten and knows it!