Signs of head trauma in cats
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These may all present with similar signs as a concussion, as well as with far more obvious signs than a typical concussion. For instance, high blood pressure can cause neurological issues, as can brain infections, ear infections, and spinal cord injuries. Other neurological issues in cats can have some overlapping signs. Other Things to Know Image Credit: chie hidaka, Shutterstock Similarly, keeping cats inside, especially at night, reduces their risk of being struck by a passing car, or fighting with another animal outside. However, you can consider limiting access to areas with high furniture that your cat might fall off of, or to stairs, especially when no one is home. So, it’s not practical to expect that a house could be completely “cat-proofed”. Cats are great athletes, or they are at least great at getting into some tough situations (maybe the athlete part is a bit of a stretch for some cats!).
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It would be pretty hard to remove all chances of your cat developing a concussion at home. So give your cat time, keep a close eye on them, and promptly report any concerns to your vet. Similarly, if your cat is recovering from a concussion, don’t assume everything is normal just because they look ok! Brain trauma and concussions can take weeks to fully recover from. Brain injuries can have a delay from the time the actual trauma occurred, so the changes might take up to a day to develop. If, in the rare case, you are instructed to watch your cat at home, continue to check on them every hour or so, for the first few hours after the event. Do a quick once-over of your cat, paying especially close attention to the checklist items above. If you see your cat involved in any event that might lead to a concussion, definitely contact your vet. Your Cat May Look Normal, But Healing Still Takes Time They can then advise you about the next steps to take before bringing your cat in. Start by calling and letting the clinic know what you suspect, and why. If your vet is not open, your cat should probably be seen at an emergency clinic. If you think your cat may have a concussion, your cat should be seen by a vet for a full physical exam. What to Do if You Think Your Cat May Have a Concussion Image Credit: Pressmaster, Shutterstock Scuffed or torn nails may indicate recent trauma. Check for bleeding, bruising, or broken teeth-all of which could also indicate head trauma. Is there any new movement in the pupils, especially back and forth or up and down? There should be no movement in their eyes or pupils-the only exception being if your cat was born with a condition called nystagmus (common in Siamese cats). Especially check their eyes and pupils for any movement.Are their pupils both the same size and shape? If changes are present, this could indicate head or facial trauma. Check for symmetry of their facial features-ears, eyelids, whiskers. Is it normal? Or are they stumbling and/or falling over? Do they show any other difficulties in walking?