Symptoms of a concussion in cats and what to do about it

Cats are very active and playful animals, but despite their agility, they can suffer serious injuries under certain circumstances, and concussions are no exception. How to recognize the symptoms of a concussion in cats and provide the necessary first aid should be understood in order to prevent severe consequences of the injury in the future.

Possible causes of head injury

The active lifestyle of cats allows for various types of injuries. The well-known beliefs that cats always land on their feet and have 9 lives do not always work. A cat can get a concussion for many reasons, including a fall from a height, a head injury from a falling heavy object, a blow to a hard surface, or even beating from a person.

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Depending on the severity of the injury, circulatory disturbances, damage to the brainstem and hypothalamus, hemorrhage or tissue necrosis may occur in the brain, which in any case will affect the functioning of the central nervous system and the general condition of the pet. The most dangerous thing is that signs of a concussion in a cat may not appear immediately, but only after months or even years, when the process of pathological changes due to injury may no longer be reversible.

Causes of brain damage

A concussion in cats is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is characterized by compression of areas of the organ and disruption of blood flow due to a strong collision with the skull. Damage can be closed, when the integrity of the skull is not violated, and open, which is characterized by crushing of the cranial bones and mechanical damage to the brain. Pathology occurs after a blow to the head under the following circumstances:

• falling from a great height;
• auto injury (when a cat was hit by a car);
• accidental trapping of an animal in the door wings;
• a heavy blunt object falling on the cat's head;
• Hitting your head on hard furniture or a wall while playing.

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What are the survival prognoses?

If the cat’s head was not severely bruised, and therapy was started in a timely manner, the prognosis is favorable, although the injury does not go away completely without a trace. With open trauma resulting in a coma, the prognosis is unfavorable. Survival is also influenced by the severity of the condition, factors of concussion, and concomitant pathologies that arose after the injury or simultaneously with it.

Cats are very curious by nature. They need to stick their wet nose everywhere and climb to the highest point. Despite the fact that these animals are distinguished by amazing dexterity, their curiosity sometimes leads to sad consequences - they receive various injuries, including concussions.

What happens when you get a head injury?

Falls from heights and blows to the head lead to disruption of the central nervous system of the animal. A severe concussion in a cat is equivalent to a brain contusion. That is, in a limited area of ​​the brain, organ tissue is damaged. Along with the immediate impact zone, the brainstem and hypothalamus are affected.

Strong impacts cause destruction of brain tissue both at the site of impact and at the opposite wall of the skull. A concussion disrupts the functioning of vital centers. Blood circulation may be impaired. In severe cases, a severe concussion in a cat is accompanied by hemorrhages in the brain tissue and necrosis.

Cautious Actions

It should be remembered that after being injured, a cat is in a state of shock and may react hostilely to attempts to provide help. Therefore, you need to act as carefully as possible so as not to worsen the condition of your mustachioed pet.

If the cat is unconscious, it must be transported by first laying it on its side and straightening its body. In this case, it is strictly not recommended to put the pet in a carrier or transport it while holding the animal in your arms. For transportation, a flat surface must be provided. If you notice a concussion in a cat, what should you do in this situation? A veterinarian can tell you about this.

Spinal cord concussion in a cat

This injury most often occurs due to a fall from a great height. When the spinal cord is concussed in cats, the functioning of the pathways is disrupted, which causes problems with the functioning of any part of the organ. For example, if brain function is disrupted in the area of ​​the cervical thickening, then the cat will experience paralysis of the limbs and parts of the internal organs. However, the animal will continue to live, so the brain will ensure the functioning of the lungs and heart. If a concussion of the spinal cord causes disruption of its functioning at the level of the 4th and 6th pairs of nerves , then the animal is likely to die, since this pathology will lead to paralysis of the respiratory center.

Symptoms of Concussion in Cats

The most characteristic symptom for this injury is loss of consciousness immediately after the blow. The animal remains unconscious for several minutes, then comes to its senses. However, if there is a brain injury, the cat may fall into a coma. The severity of the concussion can be determined by the duration of unconsciousness. The longer the cat does not come to its senses, the more severe the injury and the more dangerous the consequences.

After the return of consciousness, the cat has poor spatial orientation for quite a long time. In some cases, memory loss may occur. The cat is afraid of the owner, does not recognize him, and can even show aggression.

You should contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat exhibits the following symptoms:

• The pupils have different sizes.
• The pupils react poorly or not at all to light.
• There are rapid, unpredictable movements of the pupils.
• A cloudy spot appeared on the pupil. The iris is shaking. This may indicate possible displacement of the lens due to ligament separation.
• Bruises were found on the head.
• The mucous membranes turned pale or, on the contrary, became excessively engorged with blood.
• The cat moves with an unsteady step.
• She has unmotivated attacks of aggression.
• Limbs twitch involuntarily.
• There is paralysis of the limbs.
• The cat is poorly oriented in the surrounding space.
• Breathing is intermittent, accompanied by wheezing.

It is important to understand that the intensity of symptoms depends on how severe the injury was to the animal. But this does not mean that if symptoms are mild, you do not need to take your cat to the veterinarian. It is necessary to consult a specialist in any case.

Strange animal behavior

You should promptly consult a specialist if your cat exhibits the following signs:

1. Uneven pupils.
2. Lack of pupillary response to light stimulus.
3. Rapid and unnatural eye movements.
4. A cloudy spot on the pupil, trembling of the iris, an abnormal appearance of the eye associated with displacement of the lens or damage to the ligaments that support it.
5. Bruising on the head.
6. Too pale or, conversely, too reddened mucous membranes.
7. Dizziness (its sign is an unsteady and unsteady gait).
8. Headache is a sign of it: the animal rests its head on a hard surface and stands motionless.
9. Drowsiness.
10. Attacks of aggression.
11. Involuntary twitching of paws and facial muscles.
12. Paralysis of limbs.
13. Short-term loss of hearing or vision.
14. Difficulty in orientation.
15. Increased heart rate.
16. Intermittent breathing accompanied by wheezing.

You need to know that the intensity of the symptoms of a concussion in a cat directly depends on the severity of the injury and the area affected. The mechanism of brain damage during trauma is as follows: the place where the blow was directly received suffers, and after that the brain hits the opposite wall of the skull, also receiving injury.

During a concussion, the hypothalamus and brain stem are most vulnerable. Brain hemorrhage is very dangerous. This condition can lead to paralysis of the animal, temporary or permanent, so it is very important to get help as soon as possible. Typically, the main symptoms in animals disappear within 2 weeks. In any case, calling a veterinarian will not hurt.

Causes of the disease

Statistics show that the most common causes of a concussion in a cat are:

• Collision with road vehicles: cars, motorcycles, scooters and even bicycles.
• Falling from a great height, unsuccessful landing when jumping from a tree to the ground. This is especially true for those pets who have the right to walk freely wherever they please. However, domestic cats are also at risk, as they often fall off balconies and window sills. Most often this happens in the summer, when apartment windows are wide open.
• Deliberate harm by hooligans. Unfortunately, in our time there are still enough people walking the streets of the city who find pleasure in inflicting pain on a weaker creature.
• Heavy objects falling on your pet's head. Such injuries are most dangerous for a small kitten, which simply will not have time to orient itself in the current situation and will not jump to the side. In addition, his skull is not yet strong enough, which means the consequences of the accident could be disastrous.
• In pursuit of prey, a furry predator is capable of reaching such a level of excitement that it may simply not notice a suddenly arising obstacle and slow down in front of it.
• Sometimes the owners themselves cause head injuries to a mustachioed friend by opening the door too sharply or accidentally stepping on the cat while it was sleeping.

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How to provide first aid?

It is strictly forbidden to independently reduce or remove bone fragments in the event of an open injury.

In the room where the pet is, you need to close the curtains so that it is not disturbed by bright lighting.

If a cat hits its head, you need to act quickly, as the prognosis depends on it. Algorithm of actions:

• Ensure peace and quiet, turn off bright lights or draw curtains.
• Apply cold to the head for 15-20 minutes, this will reduce the risk of developing a hematoma and prevent brain swelling.
• Place a thin cloth band between your teeth to prevent your tongue from sticking.
• If vomiting begins, you need to make sure that the animal does not choke. Remove the remaining vomit from the mouth with a finger wrapped in a bandage.
• In case of cardiac arrest, perform artificial respiration:
  Place the cat on its side and sharply squeeze the chest 6 times towards the neck.
• Exhale into the cat's nose.
• Repeat pressing (at least 80 rubles per minute) and exhalation, alternating cardiac massage with artificial respiration - 15 sec./10 sec.
• If the injury is open, treat the wounds with hydrogen peroxide and apply a loose bandage, being careful not to damage the brain.
• Deliver the animal to the veterinary clinic on a hard surface without changing the animal’s position.

Diagnostic measures

First, the sick animal is examined externally by a doctor.

To identify a concussion in a cat, the doctor finds out the causes of the injury, listens to the owner’s complaints, conducts an external examination and prescribes diagnostic procedures, such as:

• neurological reflex test;
• ophthalmoscopy;
• radiography of the skull bones;
• computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging;
• blood pressure measurement;
• General and biochemical blood test.

Diagnostics

In cases where external trauma to the skull, bleeding from the ears or nose, neurological deficits, depression of consciousness, and lack of coordination are present, the diagnosis of trauma is obvious. If the animal's history indicates that injury is likely, the animal should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.

Depending on the condition of the animal, medical history and clinical signs, the following should be carried out:

• history taking and general physical examination (assessment of general condition)
• neurological examination - to assess the location of the injury and its severity;
• ophthalmological tests, first of all, examination of the fundus of the eye using an ophthalmoscope, which allows us to identify signs of high intracranial pressure and the condition of the vessels of the fundus;
• in some cases, it is advisable to perform X-ray scanning of the skull to exclude fractures and foreign objects (shots);
• special diagnostic methods (CT and MRI) can be used if there is a suspicion of intracranial damage (subdural hematomas, hemorrhages directly into the brain tissue, skull fractures, secondary cerebral edema).

Additionally, the general condition of the animal is assessed:

• Using a plain X-ray, it is possible to exclude other injuries (limb fractures, pneumothorax, hemothorax);
• Using ultrasound, the abdominal cavity of the animal is examined to exclude bruises and rupture of internal organs, intra-abdominal bleeding;
• a general blood test is performed;
• a biochemical blood test is performed;
• measure blood pressure.

Treatment: which methods are effective?

To avoid severe consequences, the following treatment methods are used for traumatic brain injury in cats:

• Taking medications: To prevent edema, diuretics are prescribed - “Hypothiazide”, “Urotropin”, “Furosemide”, “Veroshpiron”.
• To maintain the functioning of the heart, injections should be made with drugs such as “Caffeine benzoate sodium 20%”, camphor solution 20%.
• Antishock medications - Prednisolone, Travmatin, Dexamethasone.
• Metoclopramide and Cerucal are effective in suppressing the gag reflex.

What are the consequences?

One of the complications from injuries sustained in a pet may be partial paralysis.

Traumatic brain injury is a serious injury and, even if signs are identified promptly and treatment is started, the following complications may develop:

• Hemorrhagic stroke. It is characterized by rupture of a vessel and accumulation of blood in the space between the brain and the skull. May cause blurred vision, gait and memory impairment.
• Loss of vision. Occurs when the visual areas of the brain or nerve are injured.
• Brain swelling in a cat. The condition threatens the life of the animal, since the adult or kitten is subject to impaired oxygen exchange in the lungs and suffocation, which leads to death.
• Paralysis. Occurs when there is dysfunction of the areas of the brain responsible for the innervation of the limbs. May be partial or complete.
• Malignant neoplasms. Trauma can trigger a cell cycle failure, when cells begin to divide and grow abnormally quickly and form a tumor. The condition is dangerous due to the spread of metastases to vital organs, which leads to death.

Symptoms: how to recognize the problem?

If the pet has received moderate injuries, then it may become aggressive.

The most severe injury is considered to be a fracture of the base of the skull, when the cervical vertebrae connecting the spine and the skull are broken. In this condition, the animal loses consciousness and falls into a coma, after which death occurs. In a kitten, traumatic brain injury occurs faster and is more severe due to the fragility of the skull bones and the high risk of swelling. Symptoms of a concussion in cats depend on the severity of the injury, they are shown in the table:

Forecast

The prognosis depends on the severity of the disease, the area of ​​injury and its degree. Coma that lasts more than 48 hours or a progressive deterioration of the condition is considered to have a poor prognosis.

Cats who have suffered a TBI should be regularly examined by a neurologist to monitor the dynamics and correct the prescribed therapy. Some patients recover quite slowly and the extent of their recovery cannot be predicted. Neurological signs can persist in cats for almost months and it is important to be patient, follow all the recommendations of a veterinarian, provide a high-quality diet and good care.

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