Head pressing is aveterinary condition characterized by pressing thehead against a wall or pushing the face into a corner for no apparent reason.[1] This condition is seen indogs,cats,cows,horses, andgoats. Head pressing is usually a sign of aneurological disorder, especially of theforebrain (e.g.,prosencephalon disease),[1] or oftoxicity due toliver damage, such asportosystemic shunt andhepatic encephalopathy.[2]
It should be distinguished frombunting, which is a normal behavior found in healthy animals.
Aliver shunt is a congenital or acquired condition that may lead to toxicity and head pressing. Additional symptoms include drooling and slow maturation early in development. Middle-aged and older animals more commonly suffer from liver cirrhosis than younger animals.[4]
Several viruses that causeencephalitis ormeningoencephalitis can lead to the neurological sign of head pressing, such aseastern equine encephalitis andbovine herpesvirus 5.[5][6]
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