If you see your pet compulsively pressing their head against the wall, floor, or other solid objects for extended periods of time for an unknown reason, you should take them to the vet as this could be a sign of a serious medical condition.
This behavior, called “head pressing”, usually indicates a neurological disorder or toxicity due to liver damage.
Possible causes include:
-Prosencephalon disease (damage to forebrain or thalamus parts of the brain)
-Liver shunt
-Brain tumor
-Metabolic disorder such as hyponatremia or hyperatremia (too low or too high sodium concentration in the blood)
-Stroke
-Infection of the nervous system (rabies, parasites, bacterial, viral or fungal infection)
-Head trauma
Head pressing can be just one of many symptoms and behaviors of a neurological or metabolic disorder including:
-face rubbing (i.e., pushing face into the ground)
-constant pacing and walking around in circles
-damaged reflexes
-visual problems
-staring at walls
-seizures
Head pressing should not be confused with the normal behavior of your pet rubbing its head against you for attention or affection but if you see unusual head pressing, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately. It could save your pet’s life.
