Head Pressing: A Serious Ailment That Requires Urgent Veterinary Intervention

There are situations in which, without hesitation, we take our dog to the vet: when our friend shows clear symptoms of a health problem –  vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing or peeing, relaxation of the abdomen, allergic reactions, etc … – let’s not waste a minute and let him visit immediately. Despite everything, sometimes it can happen that these symptoms are not clear, on the contrary, we can even confuse them with behaviors that seem funny to us and make us smile. This is what happens, for example, when we see that suddenly our furry friend starts pressing his head against a hard surface, usually against a wall.

This action, known as head pressing , has nothing funny or funny: it is, on the contrary, an attempt to relieve the pressure due to an intense headache that, at this moment, the dog is feeling. This behavior can be compared to the typical gesture of us humans of massaging our temples or the back of the neck when we have a migraine.

If we pay attention, we will also realize that our dog’s tail is lowered, if not even between the paws, that his body is very tense, that he sits quiet and does not respond if we call him. The reasons for this behavior will have to be determined by the veterinarian, to whom you will have to contact urgently, to have your four-legged friend examined.

What are the causes of head pressing ?

The ‘ head pressure is not just a disorder of dogs only: it was also found in cats, cows, sheep and horses. The causes are linked to alterations in the nervous system, which may be due to various factors. In general, it is a neurological problem, particularly of the forebrain – or forebrain – which is the first anterior vesicle of brain development during the embryonic stage and is present in almost all mammals.

Other possible causes can be the following:

• hepatic encephalopathy: occurs when the liver is unable to properly remove toxins in the blood, causing them to accumulate. Causes damage to the brain and nervous system;
•  severe intoxication or poisoning : some chemicals can also directly affect the brain, as in the case of lead;
• tumor in the brain or in areas adjacent to the skull;
• severe head trauma, due to accidents in which the dog’s head has received a blow or injury;
• hydrocephalus (presence of fluid in the brain);
• Inflammation of infectious origin, such as meningitis or encephalitis.

There are some symptoms or behaviors that usually precede head pressing and that it would be good to be able to recognize in time:

• going around in circles in a constant way or manifesting anxiety and without a precise goal;

• convulsions;
• reduction or absence of reflexes;
• decreased vision;
• changes in learned behaviors or habits;
• weight loss;
• yellowish eyes or gums;
• increased water intake.

Whether or not your pet’s neurological damage is minimal or not will also depend on the severity of the disease, as well as, of course, on the speed with which action is taken. Your vet will need to thoroughly examine your dog to determine what is causing the headache and the rest of the other symptoms. First of all, he will examine your eyes, to be able to identify possible inflammation. Certainly specific tests will be performed to determine the causes of these symptoms and then be able to proceed with the cure or treatment suitable for each case. Even an urgent hospitalization of the dog cannot be excluded. In any case, ways will have to be found to relieve his pain, while the necessary studies are conducted to establish the diagnosis.

Other symptoms that trigger the alarm

A healthy and fit dog is attentive and responds with enthusiasm and speed to the various stimuli that surround him: he wants to play, to walk, to run, and will do everything to attract your attention. For this reason, if you notice a noticeable change in his mood, you should immediately take him to your vet.

Here are some other signs that may suggest that your dog is suffering from some neurological disorder:

• disorientation;
• lack of coordination;
• apathy;
• loss of balance or consciousness;

• daze or lightheadedness;
• turn around until you lose your balance and fall;
• abnormal howls;
• severe lethargy.

At the cost of repetition, we advise you once again to consult your veterinarian if your four-legged friend exhibits one or more of these symptoms, which highlight a clear neurological problem. And remember, too, that if your dog presses his head against a hard surface it is because he is in intense pain: as funny and funny as it may seem, he is in terrible pain, he is not trying to make you laugh, and his life is. really in danger, which is why you will have to take him urgently to the vet.