Do Dogs Get Headaches?
If headaches are a condition that you have been plagued with, you are fully aware of the pain, discomfort, and inconvenience that is a part of the experience. Imagine feeling this often-disabling pain as an animal, and being unable to express it to anyone.
As a dog owner, if you have ever noticed some strange symptoms from your dog, you logically may be wondering if he or she is suffering from headaches. However, the question remains, do dogs get headaches? Let’s take a look at how the answer to this question is currently being approached.
Do Dogs Get Headaches?
Currently, there are no definitive tests that can be done on dogs to determine whether or not they have a migraine. Therefore, there is no definite way to answer this question with confidence. With that being said, just because it can’t yet be proven either way, it doesn’t mean the headache isn’t happening.
Instead of relying on a test of sorts, we can focus on noticing particular symptoms and behaviors that indicate pain and try to determine where the pain is localized. Paying attention to their body language will help us come to a logical conclusion.
A Veterinary Approach
Even though there isn’t definite proof, many vets believe that dogs do get headaches. In fact, veterinarians are trained to handle headaches in all animals, as headaches are often a symptom of a larger problem. Curing headaches often cause vets to search for many different forms of treatment in diagnosing a cure. In the process of doing so, successful diagnosis of more serious conditions is often discovered.
Symptoms of Headaches in Dogs
You may be all too familiar with the symptoms of headaches. When humans have headaches, we often feel distressed or simply want to spend time by ourselves. When it comes to symptoms of headaches in dogs, the following symptoms may manifest:
- Light Sensitivity: Typically caused by migraines, being sensitive to light is a clear sign of a headache in your dog.
- Nervousness: If you notice that your dog looks anxious, in that he is pacing, hiding, or drooling excessively for no apparent reason, he might be suffering from a headache.
- Avoidance: If your dog is avoiding all people like the plague and just wants to be alone, it may be because he is in pain with a headache.
- Sleeping a lot: Your dog might be trying to sleep through the pain.
- Not interested in eating: This is particularly true if your dog has a headache, as the chewing motion can aggravate his head pain even more.
- Keeping their head down low: This form of body language can be indicative of severe pain, particularly around the neck area.
These signs can clearly show you that your dog is in pain, however, you don’t really have a way to prove it is from a headache until everything else has been ruled out first. For this reason, it is of the ultimate importance that you take your dog to the veterinarian for a diagnosis.
Reasons for Headaches in Dogs
Just like humans, there are many reasons that dogs can get headaches. Let’s take a look at some of the most common triggers:
- Dental Issues: As the teeth are where many nerve endings are located and are positioned very close to the skull, dental issues can cause a dog to have a headache.
- Trauma: Logically, if your dog has had any head or neck trauma such as broken bones or sprained muscles, he needs immediate veterinary care.
- Hormonal or Chemical Imbalances: If your dog’s body is producing too much of any hormone, head pain can happen as a result.
- Being Exposed to External Chemicals: If your dog ingests a pesticide, a poisonous plant, or any other dangerous chemical, run, don’t walk to your nearest veterinarian.
Final Thoughts
If you believe your dog is suffering from a headache, there are a few things you can do to help. First of all, be sure to give them lots of space and avoid stroking their head. Follow the advice of your veterinarian, and apply a hot or cold compress if you get the green light to do so. Provide your pup a comfortable bed, away from the cares of the world, and be sure to give lots of love and compassion.