Puppy hit head on floor, acting normal. Is a concussion possible?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor baby!! I think if he is acting fine now he will continue to be fine! Just watch him closely for the next 24 hours. Things to be concern about are crying in pain, excessive tiredness, not wanting to eat, etc. I wish you the best!

Concussions can be tough to diagnose and can be very serious (just like in humans). Here is a link which may help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/concussions-in-dogs-what-you-should-know/ Without knowing the cause for the abnormal behavior, it's difficult to know how to treat him or if home care is even possible (just like humans, sometimes a doctor's care is absolutely needed). At home you want to make sure he is protected from harm such as falling down the stairs. You should make sure he is eating and drinking (you may need to bring him the bowls and hand feed him). There may only be so much you can do and there may be treatment he needs to avoid further complications. To be safe, I recommend to have your pup examined.

The first question to answer is, if he lost his consciousness when he fell. Being 'knocked out' suggest brain trauma, concussion at least. If he was conscious at all times, then most likely the brain did not suffer any serious injury. Dogs have relatively small brains (compared to human), which are also well protected by the skull bones. Brain injuries are much less common in dogs than in human patients. So, my advice is : as long as Milo is looking normal, he is bright and alert, he is not vomiting, his pupils are of equal size, he is not in any obvious pain or discomfort you should monitor him at home. If he becomes lethargic, weak on legs, crying for no reason or vomiting you need to call your regular vets or your nearest emergency service asap.

Hello. Max may have really bruised his head, or may even have a mild concussion. You will need to decide if his behavior is really strange & worrisome & this warrants an emergency visit. If he just shakes his head every so often & otherwise seems fine, then he should be OK. See how he is in the morning & if he still seems to be bothered by the fall, do have him evaluated by a veterinarian. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, I think he’ll be fine. Luckily puppies are very resilient and many minor injuries heal quickly in young animals. If there was a serious head injury he would be lethargic, not responsive or not eat or drink normally. He may have some discomfort on his head for a day or so but probably no lasting issues. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Rex.

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.

If Conley seems alert, responsive and non-painful at this point after the incident I doubt there is potential for head trauma. Signs of head trauma or internal injury would include lethargy, disorientation, different sized pupils or labored/irregular breathing. You also may want to make sure she is eating and drinking normally with no pain to make sure she didn't injure her mouth or a tooth during the fall. Puppies are pretty resilient and I would bet there are no lasting injuries.