#Signs of head trauma in puppies skin

Your vet may also want to collect a sample of the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord (CSF) for further tests. You can refer to our Neuro-Diagnostic Tests Fact Sheet for more information about the different types of tests. CT and MRI scans of the brain are also useful for detection of brain disease. Other investigations such as X-rays, CT scans, or best of all MRI scans can help to detect disease located behind the eardrum such as a deep ear infection or a tumour. Many dogs with vestibular syndrome may have no typical signs of ear inflammation such as head shaking, scratching of the ear, inflamed ear canal or inflamed eardrum. The ear should be examined with a scope and a swab taken if an infection is suspected. Your vet will perform a neurological examination to determine if the problem is more likely to be within the ear or the brain (refer to our Neurological Examination Fact Sheet for more information). However, there are several other diseases that can cause similar symptoms so it is important to try to confirm the presence of a vestibular syndrome in dogs and cats and then to identify its cause in individual patients. Your vet may suspect that your pet has vestibular syndrome from your description of its symptoms. How will my vet know what is wrong with my pet? This is called idiopathic vestibular disease. Some animals (particularly aged dogs or cats) develop vestibular syndrome and yet no cause can be detected, despite extensive investigations. Some antibiotic treatments can also cause vestibular syndrome in a small number of “sensitive” dogs. The brain can be affected by a tumour, inflammation or infection (encephalitis), stroke, head trauma, some vitamin deficiencies (thiamine deficiency) or a malformation of the brain such as a cyst. Vestibular syndrome in dogs and cats can be caused by a disease affecting any part of the system (sensors within the ear, the nerve connecting the ear and brain, or the control centre in the brain).Ĭonditions affecting the ear include deep ear infections (otitis), ear tumours or polyps, damage to the skull such as caused by a road traffic accident or a bad fall.ĭiseases affecting the vestibular nerve include nerve tumours, nerve inflammation (neuritis) or an under-active thyroid gland. Similarly, diseases affecting the balance centre in the brain can also affect other parts of the brain causing seizures, weakness, loss of vision, or difficulty eating and drinking. This means that diseases affecting the vestibular system may also cause loss of hearing and a drooping of the muscles in the face (facial paralysis – for more information see our Facial Paralysis Fact Sheet).

The balance sensors are close to the hearing sensors in the ear and the nerves controlling the movement of the eyelids, lips and ears. The balance centre is very close to the area of the brain that controls vomiting and so animals with disturbances to the vestibular system may also feel nauseous or be sick. If you worry that your dog has suffered a brain injury, then your veterinarian will want to carry out a fully physical examination along with asking questions about any recent incidents that might have prompted the injury.What are the signs of vestibular syndrome in dogs and cats?Ĭommon signs of vestibular syndrome in dogs and cats include falling, head tilt (rotation of the head with one ear held lower than the other), flickering of the eyeball from side-to-side or up and down (nystagmus), general wobbliness (often with the animal drifting to one side as he moves around) and/or circling.

Direct trauma to the head (such as a car accident).

In a severe injury, the nerve roots may stretch or tear from their attachment to the spinal cord. Some of the most frequent causes include: Brachial plexus avulsion occurs in dogs due to injury to the spinal nerve roots in the neck and shoulder area that extend nerves into the front legs. There are many potential causes of brain injuries for dogs.

#Signs of head trauma in puppies skin

Skin turning a shade of blue (known as cyanosis)Ĭauses Of Brain Injury In Dogs (Picture Credit: Addictive Stock / Daniel Gonzalez/Getty Images).Some of the most common symptoms include: Symptoms Of Brain Injury In Dogsīrain injuries in dogs can result in a wide range of symptoms depending on exactly how the brain has been affected. Here’s what you should know about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of brain injuries in dogs. If you see signs that your dog might be suffering from a brain injury, then you must consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and course of treatment.