My dog hit his head. What symptoms mean he needs a vet visit?

He will probably be OK, however I would closely observe him for the next 24 hrs for signs of unusual behaviors, lethargy, or vomiting. If any of this occurs, Jax needs to be taken to a veterinarian or emergency room right away to assess him for more serious complications.

Poor Bruno! I am sure it hurt when he hit his head. Monitor him for any abnormal signs and have your vet take a look at him if you notice anything concerning, like disorientation, unsteadiness, unequal or dilated pupils, nausea, etc. If he just hit his head while turning around there probably wasn't enough force to cause any major damage.

I am sorry to hear about Thumps!!! It sounds like she is likely fine but you can watch for changes in mentation such as her acting drunken/unable to stand/walk straight, lethargy, vomiting, change in pupil size (i.e. if one pupil is larger than the other or if the pupils look extremly large or tiny), crying or whining as if in pain, and bruising or swelling. If you notice any of these, a vet visit is recommended, but most of these cases do just fine!

Hello, if Bubby has an open fontanel on his skull (brain skull not completely formed), then this can cause pets to be confused. He could have hit his head hard enough to have a concussion as well. If he does not start to be more alert within the next 30 minutes, or if he develops additional signs such as seizure and trembling, disorientation, or is not responding then he should be seen immediately by a veterinarian. Keep him head upright without putting him on his back. Hope he feels better soon.

I am not too worried from this single episode of vomiting. There is no way to evaluate an animal for concussion, so we just watch their behaviors and appearance. As long as Wrigley is walking normal, has a normal activity level, eyes appear normal and they are identical to each other, and he continues to have a good appetite, I don't think he needs to see a vet. Of course, if anything changes or you are very concerned, he needs to be examined by a veterinarian and have a thorough neurologic examination.

I would suggest to monitor him closely for the next 48 hours and record any abnormal sign you may notice. I would especially concern (so that would require an immediate check up) if you notice signs like lethargy, inappetence, vomiting or abnormal behaviour. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Max. Dogs have pretty hard heads, but keep an eye out for unconsciousness, disorientation, bleeding from the nose and eyes, pupils of unequal sizes, and seizures. If he's acting normally, it's unlikely you will see any of these signs, but if you do, have him seen by a vet immediately. I hope this helps!