A concussed dog will typically show one or more neurological signs within minutes to hours of a head impact: disorientation, unsteady walking, unequal pupil sizes, or a noticeable change in behavior like sudden lethargy or failure to recognize you. Some dogs lose consciousness briefly, while others seem “off” in subtler ways. Knowing what to look for, and how quickly to act, can make a real difference in your dog’s outcome.
The Most Common Signs to Watch For
After a blow to the head, whether from a car accident, a fall, a kick, or running into a hard object, the clearest signs of a concussion involve how your dog moves and how their eyes look. Motor control problems are among the most recognizable: your dog may walk in circles, tilt their head persistently to one side, or stagger as though drunk. Rapid, involuntary eye movements (where the eyes flick back and forth or up and down) are another hallmark. One pupil being noticeably larger than the other is a particularly telling sign of brain involvement.
Beyond movement and eyes, pay attention to your dog’s overall awareness. A concussed dog may seem confused, fail to respond to their name, or stare blankly. Some dogs become unusually quiet and withdrawn. Others become agitated or restless in a way that’s out of character. Vomiting after a head impact is common, too. Any combination of these signs after known or suspected trauma to the head warrants a veterinary visit.
Emergency Signs That Need Immediate Care
Some symptoms signal a more severe brain injury, not just a mild concussion. Seizures after head trauma are a clear emergency. Loss of consciousness, even briefly, means the brain took a significant hit. Bleeding from the ears or nose after an impact can indicate a skull fracture or internal bleeding.
One of the most serious visible signs is called decerebrate posture. Your dog’s limbs go rigid and straight, the head tilts back, and the neck arches unnaturally. This indicates severe damage to deeper brain structures and requires emergency veterinary care within minutes, not hours. If your dog shows any of these signs, transport them immediately while keeping the head and neck as still as possible.
How to Safely Move an Injured Dog
If you suspect your dog has a head injury, how you handle them on the way to the vet matters. Minimize any movement of the head, neck, and spine. Use a flat, firm surface like a board or a stiff piece of cardboard as a makeshift stretcher for smaller dogs. For larger dogs, a blanket held taut between two people works.
Keep your dog’s head level with or slightly elevated above the body, around 20 degrees. This helps reduce pressure inside the skull by improving blood drainage from the brain. Avoid bending or compressing the neck, and don’t let anything press against the throat or the veins along the sides of the neck. Keep the ride as smooth and calm as possible, avoiding sudden stops or sharp turns.
Symptoms That Show Up Later
Not all concussion signs appear right away. Some dogs seem fine initially and then deteriorate over the following hours or even days. This is because brain swelling and secondary injury processes can build gradually after the initial impact. A dog that walked away from a fall looking normal might start showing confusion, lethargy, or balance problems six or twelve hours later.
This delayed onset is why close monitoring for at least 48 to 72 hours after any significant head impact is so important. Watch for changes in appetite, energy, coordination, and responsiveness. If your dog was initially alert but becomes progressively harder to rouse or starts showing any of the neurological signs described above, that’s a worsening trajectory that needs veterinary attention.
In some cases, concussion symptoms can linger well beyond a week. Recovery that extends past seven days is considered post-concussion syndrome. While rare, there are documented cases of post-concussion symptoms persisting for months or even years. Perhaps more concerning is the risk of second impact syndrome: if a dog suffers another head injury before fully recovering from the first, even a relatively minor blow can trigger catastrophic brain swelling. This is why strict rest during recovery is essential.
What the Vet Will Do
At the veterinary clinic, the first step is a neurological exam. Your vet will check your dog’s pupil responses, reflexes, ability to walk, and level of consciousness. Veterinarians use a standardized scoring system that evaluates motor activity, brainstem reflexes, and awareness on a scale from 3 to 18. A score of 8 or below indicates a roughly 50% chance of survival in the first 48 hours, which helps the veterinary team gauge severity and guide treatment decisions.
Advanced imaging like CT scans or MRIs can reveal bleeding, swelling, or fractures inside the skull, but availability varies widely between clinics. Many general veterinary practices don’t have these tools on-site, so your vet may refer you to a specialty hospital if imaging is needed. The decision to pursue imaging depends on how severe the symptoms are and whether your dog is responding to initial treatment.
For mild concussions, treatment is primarily supportive: rest, pain management, and monitoring. For more severe injuries, your dog may need to stay in the hospital for fluid therapy, medications to reduce brain swelling, and continuous observation. The head is typically kept elevated at 15 to 30 degrees during hospitalization to help reduce pressure inside the skull.
Recovery and Rest at Home
Recovery from a mild concussion in dogs generally takes one to two weeks of restricted activity. “Restricted” means no running, jumping, rough play, or excitement. Short, calm leash walks for bathroom breaks are fine, but your dog should otherwise be resting in a quiet environment. Think of it the same way you’d treat a person with a concussion: the brain needs stillness to heal.
During this period, keep monitoring for any new or returning symptoms. Appetite should gradually return to normal within a day or two. Energy levels will likely be lower than usual at first. If your dog seems to be improving steadily, that’s a good sign. If they plateau or get worse at any point, even days into recovery, that warrants a follow-up visit. Gradual return to normal activity should only happen once your dog has been symptom-free for several days, and ideally with your vet’s guidance on timing.
Common Causes to Be Aware Of
The most frequent causes of concussions in dogs are being hit by a car, falling from a height (off a deck, out of a truck bed, down stairs), being accidentally kicked or stepped on, and collisions with hard objects during play. Small dogs and puppies are especially vulnerable because of their size, both more likely to be stepped on and more susceptible to injury from falls that a larger dog might shrug off. Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs like pugs and bulldogs) may also be at higher risk because their skull structure offers less cushioning for the brain. If your dog has experienced any forceful impact to the head, even if they seem fine afterward, monitoring them closely for the next 48 to 72 hours is the safest approach.