Low or high levels of sodium in the blood, a head injury, toxicity, or rabies are common causes of head pressing in dogs. Head pressing could be a sign of brain diseases, toxic poisoning, tumors, or strokes, according to Dog Heirs. Other causes can includ… Different causes require different treatment, and no drugs or therapies should be administered until a diagnosis has been reached. Head pressing is usually a sign of a neurological disorder, especially of the forebrain, or of toxicity due to liver damage, such as portosystemic shunt and hepatic encephalopathy. When he has a "spell" he walks in circles, presses his head into the corner, and can't get comfortable. You should seek medical care for your pet right away to determine the cause of the head-pressing behavior. The same holds true for a dog staring at a wall – it could involve a dog staring at nothing. Head pressing is an alarming behavior and if you see your dog behaving this way it's important to see a vet immediately. He doesn’t actually have to press his head against the wall for it to count as head pressing. Sometimes, not often, a cat or dog starts pressing its head against the wall or another object. Other symptoms that may accompany this include compulsive pacing and circling, changes in learned (trained) behavior, seizures, damaged reflexes, and visual problems. This may include mentioning any kn… “Head pressing is a condition characterized by the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason“ – petMD There are many conditions that can cause this to happen but the most widely recognized is hepatic encephalopathy. This condition can affect dogs of any breed or age-range. Head pressing is a veterinary condition characterized by pressing the head against a wall or pushing the face into a corner for no apparent reason. Some pet parents even assume such behaviors to be a friendly head butt and overlook the issue. www.dogster.com/dog-health-care/head-pressing-in-dogs, Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/83.0.4103.116 Safari/537.36. Head pressing in dogs doesn’t need to literally mean a “dog head against wall.” The dog may head press into any solid object. The cause of head pressing in dogs can vary. Head pressing is exactly what it sounds like: when a dog repeatedly presses its head against a wall or another object for no reason. Our Black and Tan Coonhound has a liver shunt. The dog may become very inactive and refuse to participate in favorite activities. Cases of head pressing are always serious and require Veterinary attention; head pressing may be caused by infection, trauma, liver disease, poisoning, metabolic diseases, parasites, blood glucose imbalance among other causes. A type of abnormal behavior that dogs may display when they are ill is “head pressing.” When the dog stands near a wall or corner, hanging its head low, and not moving, it may be a sign that something is wrong their nervous system, according to Wag Walking. Be sure to let the veterinarian know if you suspect poisoning. All our pets have bizarre habits, but if you notice your little friend pressing its head against walls or other hard objects, it could indicate serious mental distress. If your pet has a neurological disease, it will need immediate treatment in the hope of avoiding permanent damage. Head pressing is exactly what it sounds like: when a dog repeatedly presses its head against a wall or another object for no reason. Head pressing in dogs have been observed by many veterinarians and the tests showed that this isn’t just a game your pet loves to play. Love Me Some dogs are just snuggle-craving babies, and aren't suffering from any anxiety or feeling that they need to dominate you when they lean against you. If your dog walked over to a wall, pressed his head up against it and just stood there without moving, you might pass it off as a random oddity or your dog just being silly. Some will move along the length of a wall or piece of furniture until they reach a corner and become “stuck” with their head pressed against it. A dog that falls asleep leaning their head against the wall is once more not a symptom of head pressing, and the head pressing tends to be repeated, prolonged, and a very active activity on the part of the dog, performed when they are awake and so, deliberately working their muscles to do it. The behavior is common in dogs and cats, but can also happen to cows, horses, and goats, among others. It kind of looks adorable, but it isn’t something that should be taken lightly. What are the illness/diseases that can cause this behavior? The conditions specifically cause continuous periods of head pressing. Care is dependent on the symptoms that appear and the diagnosis your veterinarian settles on. One primary diagnostic procedure in cases of head pressing includes a fundic examination of the retina and other structures in the back of the eye, which may indicate infectious or inflammatory diseases, as well as irregularities in the brain. If a dog is staring at the wall in a corner, its a sign that something could be wrong. The act of head pressing is just one sign of prosencephalon disease, in which the forebrain and thalamus parts of the brain are affected. This can happen in both farm animals and household pets like cats and dogs, and if you see your pet doing it, it could be a sign that something is seriously wrong. It may seem cute at first, but your dog’s habit of pressing his noggin’ against the wall is actually an alarming health issue. Other symptoms that may accompany this include compulsive pacing and circling, changes in learned (trained) behavior, seizures, damaged reflexes, and visual problems. According to the PetMD website, head pressing is defined as “the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason.” It almost always signifies significant illness. Once recovered, dogs are back to normal, although some may retain a head tilt. The head pressing is often the most notable behavior, but the pet might also show compulsive pacing, circling, changes in trained behavior, and even have seizures. Other likely tests are blood pressure measurements to test for high blood pressure, and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain. Head pressing is one of the biggest red flags that something is wrong. If your dog is facing a wall and pressing its head on it, you need to call a vet and tell them what your dog is doing. If his head pressing is determined to be metabolic, it could be hyper or hyponatremia, which is a condition that means he is either lacking or has excess sodium in his blood. According to the PetMD website, head pressing is defined as “the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason.” He'll press against you to have that tactile feeling of something safe and familiar, and seek comfort with the leader of his pack. It’s called “head pressing” and could indicate a dangerous neurological condition in your dog or cat. It should be distinguished … There are a number of reasons for why a dog might feel a compulsion to press its head against objects, depending on the primary cause that is leading to this symptom. Symptoms and Types. Have you ever seen a dog or cat press their head against the wall? Head pressing could be a sign of brain diseases, toxic poisoning, tumors, or strokes, according to Dog Heirs. The dog will push his or her head against an object for an extended period of time, or over and over again. Other causes can include head trauma, such as from a car accident, or from exposure to toxins, such as lead. Possible causes may be a metabolic disorder, such as hyper or hyponatremia (too much, or too little sodium in the body’s blood plasma), a primary or secondary tumor (meaning a tumor located in the brain vs. a tumor located elsewhere in the body), or an infection of the nervous system, such as rabies or fungal infection. But a dog head pressing … Head Pressing in Dogs – Meaning You might have noticed your four-legged pal pressing his head against stable objects (say, a wall). Head pressing is one of the biggest red flags that something is wrong. If your dog is staring at the wall there are a number of possible reasons why, ranging from dog dementia to dog depression. Some will move along the length of a wall or piece of furniture until they reach a corner and become “stuck” with their head pressed against … The pet might even walk into a corner and seemingly not know how to get out. Causes. Head Pressing is characterized by a dog or other animal pressing the top of their head against a wall or in a corner without moving. Head pressing is when an animal presses it’s face up against or close to a wall, other hard surface, or in a corner while standing perfectly still. Access from your Country was disabled by the administrator. If you notice your dog pressing its head against walls, pacing or standing facing a corner for extended periods of time, contact the veterinarian immediately. While this may seem adorable to you, it is more often than not a sign of serious health-related concern. Here are a few of the common illnesses that can cause dogs to head press: Brain tumors. Symptoms and Types. This behaviour of the dog indicates that there is a problem with his nervous system which means a disease or an injury. When he has a "spell" he walks in circles, presses his head into the corner, and can't get comfortable. Some of these symptoms may lead to lesions, for example, sores on the feet as a result of compulsive pacing, or injuries to the face and head as a result of pressing the head against a surface for long periods of time. Remember that the tell-tale sign of a health problem is abnormal behavior. Causes. A normally gentle dog may snap and bite at owners and anyone who comes near. The dog will push his or her head against an object for an extended period of time, or over and over again. It may seem cute at first, but your dog’s habit of pressing his noggin’ against the wall is actually an alarming health issue. Specific diseases require various methods of follow up care; however repeat neurological examinations to monitor progress are generally the main requirement. Possible causes may be a metabolic disorder, such as hyper or hyponatremia (too much, or too little sodium in the body’s blood plasma), a primary or secondary tumor (meaning a tumor located in the brain vs. a tumor located elsewhere in the body), or an infection of the nervous system, such as rabies or fungal infection. If your pet presses it’s head against a wall or an object, it’s time to … “Head pressing is a condition characterized by the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason. Have you ever seen a dog or cat press their head against the wall? It might look silly, but it's actually a sign of a very big problem. 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. The behavior is common in dogs and cats, but can also happen to cows, horses, and goats, among others. The act of head pressing is just one sign of prosencephalon disease, in which the forebrain and thalamus parts of the brain are affected. Is It Better Than Dehydrated Dog Food. Head pressing is a condition characterized by the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason. The act of head pressing is just one sign of prosencephalon disease, in which the forebrain and thalamus parts of the brain are affected. Read more for diagnosis and causes . Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam and lab work. Be prepared to give a detailed medical history of your pet, including any medications, surgical procedures, or recent visits at a kennel or pet hotel. They may rub their eyes on the carpet. It can be a metabolic or neurological illness that is causing your dog to randomly walk up to a wall and push his head against it. Recognizing head pressing in dogs: Head pressing is a compulsive behavior. It kind of looks adorable, but it isn’t something that should be taken lightly. My Dog Is Staring At The Wall Or Head Pressing. Pressing the Head Against Objects in Dogs. According to vet.cornell.edu, there is a wide range of reasons why a dog would be compelled to press its head against a hard surface. Head pressing is a veterinary condition characterized by pressing the head against a wall or pushing the face into a corner for no apparent reason. | iHeartRadio If your dog walked over to a wall, pressed his head up against it and just stood there without moving, you might pass it off as a random oddity … Your veterinarian will also include a urine analysis (which may reveal a problem with the metabolic system), and tests for blood lead concentration (which can indicate toxins in the system). Gentle head butts are not the same, however. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog's health, the onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have preceded this condition. Dogs who are head pressing against a wall or other hard surface may also have a neck injury, disk herniation or brain tumor. This generally indicates damage to the nervous system, which may result from a number of causes, including prosencephalon disease (in which the forebrain and thalamus parts of the brain are damaged), and some types of toxic poisoning. The term “head pressing” is actually pretty descriptive—the affected pet stands close to a wall or other hard surface (furniture, the corner, etc) and literally presses the top of her head against it. It would be best to have Bimbi examined by his Veterinarian for a neurological examination and possibly some blood tests. Often times, it looks as if the animal has put themselves into “time out.” As adorable as it may be, it is often a sign that there is a serious medical condition that needs to be addressed. Head pressing is when your dog stands near a wall or in a corner, hanging his head low and not moving. Head pressing in dogs have been observed by many veterinarians and the tests showed that this isn’t just a game your pet loves to play. There are a number of reasons for why a dog might feel a compulsion to press its head against objects, depending on the primary cause that is leading to this symptom. What Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food? This condition is seen in dogs, cats, cows, horses, and goats. It is unfortunate dogs cannot tell us their head hurts, so instead, they might rub their head or hold their head against the wall, furniture, or even you for no apparent reason at all. The conditions specifically cause continuous periods of head pressing. Head pressing is typically a sign that something isn’t right with your dog’s nervous system. Recognizing head pressing in dogs: Head pressing is a compulsive behavior. If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. Pressing the Head Against Objects in Dogs. According to Pet MD, head pressing is "a condition characterized by the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason." In addition to a dog pressing its head against a wall, a pet owner will observe the dog walking in circles, display vision problems, or forget learned behavior. Gentle head butts are not the same, however. Pet owners who notice this behavior should immediately schedule a visit with a local veterinarian. The act of head pressing is just one sign of prosencephalon disease, in which the forebrain and thalamus parts of the brain are affected. This is called “head pressing” and could be a big indicator of a serious underlying medical issue. Our Black and Tan Coonhound has a liver shunt. It’s called “head pressing” and could indicate a dangerous neurological condition in your dog or cat. Severe clinical signs will require hospitalization and immediate treatment. However, head pressing in dogs is an unusual compulsive behavior that signals that something is physically wrong with your pup. Some of these symptoms may lead to lesions, for example, sores on the feet as a result of compulsive pacing, or injurie… Knowing that this is a neurological problem allows you to take quick action and possibly save your dog’s life. Some dogs become very aggressive as the fluid puts pressure on the brain. Many dogs will press their head against walls or the floor hoping to relieve some of the pressure. Or another object to be a big indicator of a very big problem veterinarian know if you your... 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