Hydrocephalus literally means “water on the brain.” The “water” referred to is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a liquid that generally flows around the brain and spinal cord before being absorbed into the circulatory system. If your dog has hydrocephalus, it means that there is an improper accumulation of CSF in the cavities of your dog’s brain. This accumulation occurs either because your dog is producing too great a volume of CSF, or because there is a blockage preventing absorption of the CSF. The increased amount of CSF creates pressure on your dog’s brain and pushes it against the skull which may cause brain damage.

Hydrocephalus is classified as either primary, meaning your dog is born with this condition, or secondary, meaning that it develops later in life due to an underlying disease or condition. Primary hydrocephalus tends to occur most frequently in toy dogs and brachycephalic dogs (dogs with pushed-in faces).

Symptoms may include tilting of the head, loss of balance, strange eye movement, seizures, decreased vision or blindness, and decreased hearing ability or deafness. If your puppy has primary hydrocephalus, you may also be able to notice a large soft spot on the top of his head.

Hydrocephalus may either be congenital, meaning the condition is present or birth, or acquired due to an underlying condition such as dermoid cysts, brain tumors, distemper or parvovirus.

Your vet will use diagnostic imaging techniques such as an ultrasound or MRI to look at your dog’s brain. Some vets will use an electroencephalogram (EEG) which provides an electrical recording of brain activity.

Hydrocephalus can be treated in some cases with the use of steroids or by surgically removing excess fluid. For most dogs suffering from hydrocephalus, the prognosis is not good.

To prevent primary hydrocephalus, afflicted dogs should not be bred. And, likewise, you should not acquire a dog with a family history of this condition. For secondary hydrocephalus, the prevention is to safeguard your dog, if possible, from underlying causes that may trigger hydrocephalus.

No, you cannot get hydrocephalus from your dog.