Do cats get headaches? Veterinarian explains the facts and information

Like most veterinarians, I Cats can get headachesand we’ll explain why, although this has not been scientifically confirmed. When asked about headaches in cats, one case always comes to mind.

A middle-aged cat was brought into my clinic because of lethargy and loss of appetite. Blood tests and imaging were normal, and apart from appearing slightly withdrawn, the cat appeared physically fine. We provided the cat with hydration, pain medication, and anti-nausea medication, and within a day the cat was better and sent home.

A few months later, the same cat became unwell again, eventually developing neurological symptoms. To everyone’s surprise, an MRI scan revealed that the cat had a large brain tumor. This was soon identified as the cause of his mysterious illness many months earlier. What symptoms had the cat been experiencing then? Was it a headache?

Although this is an extreme and sad example, it highlights some of the challenges we face as veterinarians when working to diagnose and treat animals. The main problem is that animals cannot communicate their symptoms to us. Another problem is that their survival instincts prevent them from showing vulnerability, so some illnesses go unnoticed.

There is no test for headaches, so we can only make guesses based on observation and what we know about biology.

What we know about headaches

Headaches are one of the most common pains in humans. They can range in severity and can be extremely debilitating when severe. Headaches originate from the nerves surrounding the brain, as the brain has no sensory blood vessels.

People can suffer from primary and secondary headaches caused by stress. Migraines are severe headaches accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting.

Cats can suffer from each of the above conditions, and at least some of these symptoms may manifest as a feline headache. Rats and mice have been used as research models for migraines. Pain receptors in the trigeminal nerve innervate tissues around the brain, and stimulating these nerves has been used to induce migraines in rodents.

The fact that these same pathways exist in animals suggests that they too may experience migraines. In one studyCat nerves have been used to test migraine medications. In a 2013 case study A possible case of spontaneous migraine in a dog. The dog in question was a 5-year-old female Cocker Spaniel.

She was experiencing unusual attacks every month that could last up to three days. Extensive testing, including an MRI scan, found nothing abnormal. She had tried various painkillers, but they didn’t work. She even tried a human migraine drug called topiramate, which didn’t help.

The drug dramatically improved her quality of life. This is a rare condition in animals, but it’s strong evidence that animals suffer from migraines. The human brain is an amazing thing. Between 200,000 and 800,000 years ago, early human brains grew rapidly.

Increased intelligence has provided an evolutionary advantage, but the cost is still being paid: the brain is 2% of body weight but consumes 20% of blood flow and oxygen. Human accelerated regions of DNA are rapidly evolving areas, some of which are involved in brain development.

These are believed to be related to mental illness It is also found in humans: genes associated with schizophrenia, for example, are linked to these DNA sequences.Do human brains trigger headaches differently from animals, or more frequently?

How do you know if your cat has a headache?

A study They investigated the role of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in migraine and used it to induce a pain response in mice, which engaged in a “grimacing” movement by squinting their eyes. Cat-like frown This is a well-known sign of pain in cats, so a cat with a headache is likely to exhibit this grimacing.

How to help a cat with a headache

If you suspect your cat has a headache, you may be right. But it’s important to remember that cats can’t communicate with you. While you or I wouldn’t necessarily go to the doctor for a headache, it’s important to take your cat to the vet.

Your vet will examine your cat, take their vital signs, and assess the situation to ensure there’s no serious cause for your cat’s behavior. Remember, cats instinctively hide signs of illness, so if you notice any changes, it’s a sign your cat needs help.

Finally, your vet will develop a treatment plan for your cat. If your cat is dehydrated, he may be hospitalized and given intravenous fluids. Medications may include painkillers and anti-nausea medications. Follow your vet’s instructions carefully.

If it is determined that your cat can recover at home, make sure to provide a comfortable place for her to recover in. Headaches can cause sensitivity to light and sound, so your cat may prefer a dark, quiet environment.

Feed your cat with tasty, low-quality food like boiled chicken and encourage them to drink water. Feeding your cat boiled chicken in water is very effective in increasing your cat’s water intake. Keep a close eye on your cat until it recovers and report any new signs to your vet.

lastly

Headaches in animals are commonly undiagnosed and not considered, but that does not mean they do not occur. The lack of a specific test, the tendency to hide symptoms, and the inability of animals to describe their symptoms may all contribute to the underdiagnosis of headaches in animals.

There is a large body of evidence supporting the idea that cats can experience headaches. If your cat is showing signs of being unwell, it is important not to anthropomorphise the human experience of a headache onto your cat. While headaches are common in humans and usually not dangerous, this may not be the case in cats. Cats showing signs of headaches may be suffering from other, even more serious, illnesses and should be diagnosed by a veterinarian for the best outcome.

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Featured image credit: art nick, Shutterstock