The severity of the condition is determined by how bad the initial injury and trauma were.ĭepending on the overall injury causing a TBI, your pet may also experience difficulties with physical movement or injuries to other parts of the body.Ĭhanges within the brain occur immediately after the primary injury, affecting the processes, or metabolism, at work in the entire body.īecause metabolism uses energy to drive many functions of the body, the changes are linked and result in numerous systems reacting, furthering the damage to the brain. If there is a skull fracture, brain damage can be worse. Broken blood vessels cause blood to pool, forming clots (hematomas). Swelling reduces blood flow, and compressed blood vessels cause pressure to build up in and around the brain. There is swelling where there is an injury to any of the body’s tissues. Generally, TBI is divided into two categories: primary, which refers to results from the initial injury, and secondary, referring to damage caused by the primary injury. Additional imaging such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT scanning may be indicated so that your veterinarian can see your pet’s brain and other areas, if needed, in better detail. Continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring may be needed to check your pet’s heartbeat. X-rays will usually be recommended as your pet may have a skull fracture or other broken bones (in other areas). This behavior generally suggests a more serious brain injury. The limbs are held unnaturally, straight out, and ridged, with the head back and neck arched. Your pet may experience seizures.Īnother severe and recognizable symptom of TBI is known as decerebrate posture. Motor control issues such as circling in one direction, head tilting or displaying rapid or abnormal eye movement, or a difference in the size of the pupils may be present. There can be a variety of neurological symptoms from brain trauma that your pet may experience. In that case, your veterinarian will use this information to help evaluate the effects of the original injury.
Suppose the potential TBI happened in the past, and the history of the trauma that caused the head injury is available. More so if you have no idea what is causing them. If your pet is showing signs consistent with TBI, seeing these signs exhibited can be frightening. Cuts, scrapes, or broken bones may help tell the story if you were not present when the trauma happened. Blood pressure may be monitored.Įvidence of an injury may be apparent. Neurological examinations and images of the head and brain using X-rays, MRI, or Computed Tomography (CT) may be needed when there is a suspected history of head trauma. Blood and urine testing can help determine the extent of the injuries and establish a baseline for further evaluation. Your pet may have also been injured in other parts of the body, and your veterinarian will check for those. A clinical examination will be completed, and your veterinarian may recommend various tests depending on your pet’s status. If your pet is not stable upon arriving at the veterinary hospital, it will be stabilized.
However, violent trauma can easily overcome the protective effect of a thicker skull.Īn auto accident, fall, blunt trauma, a bite, kick or violent shaking, or any other sudden injury to the head can result in TBI. One fortunate advantage that dogs and cats have over humans is that their skulls are relatively thicker and, thus, a bit more protective of the brain. Pets spending time outdoors may be more vulnerable to traumatic brain injury as they are likely exposed to more injury-causing risks. TBI can occur in any age group or breed of dog or cat. There has been increased attention on TBI in humans as sports injuries have become more recognized and acknowledged, and you may hear the term TBI more often now than in the past.
A concussion is a mild form of TBI that occurs when there has been a rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, essentially causing the brain to come in contact with the skull. Humans are diagnosed with concussions (a mild form of TBI), and veterinarians may use that terminology to describe a dog or cat with an externally caused brain injury. In both humans and animals, a head injury severe enough to damage the brain is referred to as traumatic brain injury or TBI. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden event, such as a blow or fall, happens to the head. If your pet has been involved in any event that may have caused head trauma, always see your veterinarian or an emergency practice for immediate attention.