Yorkie dropped by owl: Will my dog recover from a serious concussion?

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.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that your Yorkie got attacked by another dog. He could absolutely have injuries that you cannot see, either to his muscle or spine/neck. If he is moving slower, he may have neck pain that hurts him when he moves. I recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian at their next available appointment, so he/she can perform a physical exam and localize any pain. Your vet can prescribe pain/anti-inflammatory medications that help your pet be more comfortable. If you cannot get him to the vet, I recommend keeping him rested (ie restricted to a crate) so he cannot hurt himself further. I hope this is helpful!

I think you should just keep a close eye on him for the next 24-48 hours. If he shows no signs of illness then I wouldn’t be worried. If he starts acting abnormal at all then you should get him to a vet for an exam.

I am sorry to hear that your pet suffered such a traumatic event. Brain trauma is quite serious and the prognosis (chance of survival) of your pet can only be evaluated and determined by the vet who physically examined him unfortunately. We cannot make that determination, but we can tell you that brain trauma is crucial in the first 24-48 hrs and if his mental and neurological functions are still intact (once he is un-sedated) and if they can control any intracranial hemorrhage before it has permanent nerve damage, then prognosis is promising for a potential recovery. Keep Monster hospitalized and continue to inquire about your pets current condition so that you are informed on his progress every step of the way.

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 and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. When animals are sleepy after a hit on the head, which is the my biggest concern for what you are describing, it could be that they have a condition called 'cerebral edema'. Your vet will check for this by assessing your puppies mentation, pupil size and shape and responsiveness, blood pressure, heart rate, and the rest of his physical exam. This, if present, is very serious and sometimes can be fixed and sometimes cannot be fixed. Your vet, if they feel that cerebral edema is present, will give a drug called Mannitol, or will give a drug called 'Hypertonic Saline', to try to decrease this pressure. I am glad you brought Bentley to the vet, that is the best place for him. If you are concerned about Bentley then I recommend you call the clinic and get an update on Bentley, as we cannot know his prognosis without knowing exactly what is happening. Best of luck with Bentley, I hope he feels better soon!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Daisy is acting normal and is not showing any abnormal symptoms, then I would continue to monitor her for now. If she still seems depressed / lethargic, then I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.