Biology:Head pressing
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.[1] This condition is seen in dogs, cats, cows, horses, and goats. Head pressing is usually a sign of a neurological disorder, especially of the forebrain (e.g., prosencephalon disease),[1] or of toxicity due to liver damage, such as portosystemic shunt and hepatic encephalopathy.[2]
It should be distinguished from bunting, which is a normal behavior found in healthy animals.
Possible causes
- Prosencephalon disease
- Liver shunt
- Brain tumor
- Metabolic disorder (e.g., hyponatremia or hyperatremia)
- Stroke
- Infection of the nervous system (rabies, parasites, bacterial, viral or fungal infection)
- Head trauma[3]
Liver neurotoxicity
A liver shunt is a congenital or acquired condition that may lead to toxicity and head pressing. Additional symptoms include drooling and slow maturation early in development. Middle-aged and older animals more commonly suffer from liver cirrhosis than younger animals.[4]
Viral causes
Several viruses that cause encephalitis or meningoencephalitis can lead to the neurological sign of head pressing, such as eastern equine encephalitis and bovine herpesvirus 5.[5][6]
See also
- Bovine malignant catarrhal fever
- Canine brain tumors
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Cardenas, Cecilia (5 November 2008). "Head Pressing in Dogs". Chewy. https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_multi_headpressing.
- ↑ Faerber, Cody W.; Durrant, S. Mario; Fishman Leon, Jane (2004). Canine Medicine and Disease Prevention (5th ed.). Animal Health Publications. ISBN 978-0-9701159-1-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=-pU4pfEGqggC&pg=RA1-PA67.
- ↑ "Dogs Who Head Press Should See A Vet ASAP. Recognizing This Behavior Could Save Your Dog's Life.". 30 May 2014. http://www.dogheirs.com/dogheirs/posts/5625-dogs-who-head-press-should-see-a-vet-asap-recognizing-this-behavior-could-save-your-dogs-life#Ft2GmPo32sfaOsbr.99. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ↑ "Cirrhosis in Dogs". IDEXX Laboratories. https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/cirrhosis-dogs.
- ↑ Hostetler, Douglas E. (2013). "Nervous System". in McVey, D. Scott. Veterinary Microbiology (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 573. ISBN 978-1-118-65056-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=KcrUS1gaix0C&pg=PA573.
- ↑ Gilberd, Mark (2005). Natural Remedies For Sheep. pp. 30. ISBN 978-0-9775330-2-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=y-ZJs8ufKR0C&pg=PA30.
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