Go To The Vet Immediately If Your Dog Or Cat Starts Pressing Their Head Against A Wall

Sep 04, 2018

Dogs do lots of weird, adorable things. Most of the time, we just take a few pictures and laugh. But some of our pets' silly shenanigans might actually be signs of a major medical problem. 

If your dog presses their head against the wall for a long period of time, it may look funny, but it could actually be a cry for help.

"Head pressing" is actually a symptom of nervous system damage or poisoning. You may have just thought your dog was being silly or dramatic, but the compulsive act of head pressing is usually a sign that your pet needs emergency medical care. 

PetMD says that head pressing can be a sign of many issues including toxic poisoning and brain damage from an illness like prosencephalon disease. Dogs of any breed and age can exhibit head pressing, so it's important to stay alert and make sure you understand the possible causes of your pet's quirky behavior.

The cause of head pressing in dogs can vary. A dog may start pressing its head against objects for prolonged periods of time if it has too much or too little sodium in its bloodstream, conditions known respectively as hyper or hyponatremia.

Here are a few of the common illnesses that can cause dogs to head press:

• Brain tumors.
• Nervous system damage and neurological problems.
• Water on the brain.
• Hepatic encephalopathy (loss of brain function caused by liver disease).
• Strokes.
• Head trauma.
• Poisoning.

The signs of a head injury aren't always immediate. Many people mistakenly think that if their pet isn't seizing or unconscious, then their head trauma isn't that severe. This can be a fatal misunderstanding. Your dog doesn't have to be hit by a car or severely injured to suffer from a brain injury.

Even just playtime that got out of hand or a fallen object can cause serious damage that has to be treated by a vet before it turns deadly. 

Here are some other symptoms of a brain injury in dogs to watch out for along with head pressing:

• Reduced mental function.
• Increased drinking.
• Increased urination.
• Weight loss.
• Bleeding from the ears or nose.
• Bleeding in the eye.
• Blue or purple skin discoloration.
• Abnormal movements or loss of balance.
• Seizures and sudden loss of consciousness.

If you take your dog to the clinic because of head pressing, your vet will most likely conduct a full exam and possibly order a CAT scan or MRI. A urine analysis may also be conducted along with blood tests to check for lead concentrations.

Depending on the duration of the symptom and other incidents that may have led to the onset of the head pressing, your vet will work to find the exact cause and administer the appropriate treatment. 

Because head pressing can indicate life-threatening conditions, you should seek out a vet ASAP. 

If you've survived a pet health scare, share your story with us in the comments.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!