Head Injuries in Dogs
Any dog who suffers from neurological changes or behavioral changes should be examined by a veterinarian due to the possibility of head trauma. While some cases of head trauma may not be immediately obvious, smaller levels of trauma can still be serious to the overall health of the dog. Unfortunately, head trauma is a life-threatening situation and not all dogs will survive. Any dog who sustains a head injury should be seen by an emergency veterinarian immediately.
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Causes
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A head injury in a dog can be due to a vast number of reasons. Puppies are prone to accidents due to their size and curious nature. Older dogs can suffer from head trauma due to a car accident or blunt force trauma such as being hit with a baseball bat. They can suffer a head injury from a fight with another dog or a wild animal. In some cases, dogs can suffer from trauma to the head due to a gun shot, being stepped on or even falling certain distances.
Physical Signs
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Dogs who suffer from mild to severe head trauma will have certain obvious physical signs. For example, there may be an open wound, small cuts, a lump or blood present somewhere on the head. There may be swelling and the dog may flinch away from touch or show signs of pain during movement or when being touched on the head. Some dogs may also have blood exiting the head from the nose or the ears. You may see obvious fractures to the head and bruising. In extreme cases, bone or brain tissue can be exposed.
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Neurological Symptoms
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As well as many physical signs, dogs who suffer from head trauma may also display neurological signs. Many dogs will suffer from dysfunction of the brain such as a concussion, changes in consciousness, eye movements, seizures or head tilts. As with humans, dogs who suffer from brain damage due to trauma may also have changes in their behavior or their ability to move. For example, if the area of the brain that controls limb movement becomes paralyzed, the dog may no longer be able to move his front or hind legs.
Diagnosis
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In extreme cases, some dogs will not survive the trip to the emergency veterinarian. For other dogs, there will be several neurological exams, physical exams and X-rays to determine the full extent of the damage. During the neurological exam, your veterinarian will examine consciousness, size of pupils, light response and so forth. Radiographs (X-rays) are used to determine the full damage of the situation and to look for additional fractures of the skull or the spine.
Treatment
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Treatment will depend on the severity of the injury the dog sustained. Some dogs may not show any initial signs of damage, so some veterinarians will recommend a 24-hour observation period to watch for changes in behavior, health and neurological changes. Dogs who are paralyzed will require help with feeding and their bowel movements. Seizures and swelling will need to be monitored and treated with various seizure, and anti-inflammatory medication.
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