{"id":2673,"date":"2026-01-16T23:55:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T23:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/can-dogs-get-headaches-whole-dog-journal-2\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T23:55:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T23:55:02","slug":"can-dogs-get-headaches-whole-dog-journal-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/can-dogs-get-headaches-whole-dog-journal-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Dogs Get Headaches? – Whole Dog Journal"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Since dogs can\u2019t tell us what hurts, it can be difficult to determine where exactly their pain is coming from. Credit: dohlongma – HL Mak| Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Most of us have experienced a headache at some point in our lives. In fact, more than 50 percent of people worldwide have some form of headache disorder. But what about our dogs? Can dogs get headaches?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s very little known about headaches in animals, and that goes for our dogs too. Because animals are nonverbal, we need to rely on outward signs to tell us if a dog might have a headache or if there is some other medical problem. The only true research on headaches in dogs dates back to 2013, in a study done at the Royal Veterinary College Small Animal Referral Hospital in Great Britain.<\/p>\n

The 2013 Study of Dog Headaches<\/h2>\n

The 2013 study focused on a 5-year-old female Cocker Spaniel who presented with a long history of sudden, recurring episodes of vocalization (whining, whimpering, barking) and apparent fear. Just before the vocalizations began, the dog would appear fearful, quiet, and would hide under furniture; once she started whimpering in apparent pain, she would hold her head low, become sensitive to light and sound, and refuse to eat or drink. After each episode, she would remain quiet for 1\u20132 days and then return to an apparently normal condition.<\/p>\n

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Eventually, veterinarians came to suspect a migraine-like disorder and prescribed the drug topiramate, first approved in 1996 as an anticonvulsant, but later found to be effective in treating migraines. The dog showed marked improvement in both symptoms and duration. In the end, the study authors had to admit that \u201cTo [our] knowledge . . . the current review of literature does not confirm the existence of migraines in dogs. The dog presented here has shown a combination of unusual clinical signs, which could be suggestive of a migraine or another severe headache disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Research and Veterinary Insights On Headaches in Dogs<\/h2>\n

Since that 2013 study, scientific research on canine headaches has been essentially nonexistent. While there have been some studies on headaches in laboratory animals such as mice and rats, those animal models don\u2019t compare well to canines, simply because of the significant physiological and genetic differences between the species.<\/p>\n

The majority of post-2013 research on head pain in dogs focuses on secondary headaches: that is, pain that\u2019s a symptom of an underlying condition. This is where the diagnostic challenge lies, notwithstanding innovations in the tools veterinarians can use to quantify and classify pain. The fact remains that headaches fall into the category of difficult-to-diagnose pain. Despite this, science and insights from veterinarians suggest that dogs might indeed suffer from headaches.<\/p>\n

Causes of Possible Headaches in Dogs<\/h2>\n

Dehydration and Heat\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We humans can get headaches while outside in hot weather and as a result of dehydration. The presumption is that the same could be true of dogs. Both dehydration and heat can cause the brain to shrink in volume, which causes pain: lack of fluids reduces brain volume and can even damage the brain cells directly. Dehydration and overheating can also affect cognitive function such as alertness and memory.<\/p>\n

Dental Issues <\/em><\/h3>\n

As with humans, dogs can develop dental problems, which can create pain in the jaw and head.<\/p>\n

Ear and Sinus Infections <\/em><\/h3>\n

Ear or sinus infections can lead to pain and pressure that may be similar to headaches.<\/p>\n

Head Trauma<\/em><\/h3>\n

Blunt force injury to a dog\u2019s head\u2014falling, being hit by something hard, a car accident\u2014could cause a concussion or, in the worst case, traumatic brain injury. Any<\/em> kind of head injury, even if it\u2019s asymptomatic, calls for immediate veterinary care.<\/p>\n

Allergies <\/em><\/h3>\n

Allergic reactions to everything from dust and mold to food to medications have the potential to cause headaches.<\/p>\n

Neurological Disorders<\/em>\u00a0 <\/em><\/h3>\n

Conditions affecting the brain, such as tumors, infections like meningitis or encephalitis, neuropathy, or stroke, can result in symptoms similar to headaches.<\/p>\n

Signs of Possible Headaches in Dogs<\/h2>\n

Humans and dogs share many of the same health disorders and often the signs are similar. However, while we humans can verbalize where our pain is located, to determine the locus of a dog\u2019s pain in the absence of an obvious injury like a broken leg or condition such as arthritis, veterinarians need to rely on observing the dog\u2019s behavior and ruling out underlying causes. Caregivers can play an important role in this, since they are most familiar with the dog\u2019s behavior and will know when something isn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of possible headaches in dogs include:<\/p>\n