As pet parents, you have probably noticed your dog participating in some weird, but usually harmless, behaviors. A good pet owner should research these behaviors to ensure their dog is not indicating any illness or hidden condition. Your dog’s head shaking could be harmless or could indicate a more severe situation.
In most cases, your dog will perform a quick head shake when the occasional irritant or debris gets into its ear, causing discomfort. This can be a quick itch that is easily solved. Other times, this can be an indication of more serious health conditions.
In this article, we will discuss the possible reasons why dogs shake their heads and when you should take your dog to the vet. Keep reading along for more details!
Why Do Dogs Shake Their Heads?
Dogs can shake their heads as a useful way to itch or get foreign materials out of their ear. The vigorous shaking and flailing of their ears will remove any bug, blade of grass, or excess water that is in their ear and causing them irritation. In most cases, your dog will only do this on occasion. But, if your dog keeps exhibiting excessive headshakes, it might be time to call your veterinarian. Consistent head shaking could mean your dog is suffering from allergies or infections.
Most Common Reasons Your Dog Is Shaking Their Head
Bacterial or Yeast Infections
This is one of the most common reasons your dog could be shaking their head is due to a bacterial or yeast infection in your dog’s ears. Ear infections, also called otitis externa, result in itchy ears and produce a lot of discharge and inflammation of the ear canals, both of which will cause your dog to shake to provide some relief from the discomfort.
Ear infections can occur in any dog breed, but some breeds can be more prone to recurrent ear infections. Particularly those with large, floppy ears like Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Poodles, or Old English Sheepdogs.
Ear Mite Infestations
Many of the symptoms of an ear infection are similar symptoms to an ear mite infestation. Black discharge, foul odors, scratching, and head shaking are all caused by ear mites. It is important to note that this medical problem is more common for puppies rather than adult dogs. But, your grown dog can contract ear mites by interacting with an infected puppy. Ear mites burrow in the ear canal which can lead to a secondary infection such as bacterial infection or yeast (fungal) infection.
Water in the Ear
Just like humans, water can get into your dog’s ear when they are bathing or swimming. Unlike humans, dogs have long, L-shaped ear canals that can be extremely difficult to get the moisture out of. The water inside a dog’s ear canal is a very common cause of infection. Dog owners should be very aware that this kind of infection can cause pain, itchiness, and even hearing loss.
If you notice your dog repeatedly giving powerful head shakes after spending time in the water, this may be the problem. The best way to prevent this issue is to place cotton balls in the dog’s ear flaps before bathing or swimming. It’s also a good idea to avoid spraying or pouring water on your dog’s head while bathing to ensure as little water as possible gets near the area.
Debris or Foreign Matter
A foreign body or other debris can get into your dog’s ear at any time during their normal behaviors. Whether they are playing, sunbathing in the backyard, or on a walk. If your dog has dangly ears, such as a Bassett Hound, this could be a common issue. The debris could be a combination of pollen, grass seeds, or any other environmental factor. This might cause your dog’s head to shake. Most of the time, these foreign bodies of debris will turn into ear wax. Ear wax is how your dog’s ear self-cleans. Normal dog ear wax ranges from pale yellow to light brown.
To avoid a stressful situation in which a build-up of ear wax turns into an infection, it is best to clean your dog’s ears frequently. This can be done with a damp washcloth or an effective product such as ear cleaners.
Allergies (Food or Environment)
Allergies are another factor that could cause dog head shaking. Dogs can have food allergies or environmental allergies. Signs of allergies in dogs typically include some combination of itchy skin, hair loss, recurrent ear infections, scratching at the ears, head or full body shaking, chewing on the feet, and rubbing at the face.
Diagnosing a food allergy in dogs can be tricky. It is important to put them on a diet that contains a single carbohydrate and a single source of protein. Environmental allergies can be diagnosed by blood testing.
When Should You Take Your Dog To The Vet?
You should seek veterinary care for your dog’s shaking if it becomes more than an occasional head shake. More serious health conditions that can make dogs excessively shake their heads include foreign objects that become lodged in the ear canal, inflammatory diseases, or even neurologic disorders causing idiopathic head tremors that are easily confused with head shaking.
It is important to diagnose the cause of your dog’s head shaking as quickly as possible. Repetitive and excessive head shaking can lead to ruptured blood vessels within a dog’s ear. The aural hematomas that result often require surgery to repair.
Summary
As a dog owner, it is important to be aware of your dog’s behaviors to ensure they are not ill or causing harm to themselves. You may have noticed your dog shaking its head occasionally to scratch an itch or remove some debris on its ear. If you see that your dog is excessively shaking their head, this could be cause for concern.
Dogs can shake their head for several reasons, the most common causes of head shaking are bacterial or yeast infections, ear mite infestations, water in the ear canal, debris or foreign matter in the ear, or allergies that can be caused by diet or environmental factors. Each of these issues can result in itchy, irritated, or inflamed ears – which will cause your dog to shake their head to provide relief from discomfort.
As with any medical scenario, it is important to diagnose early. Finding out the underlying cause problem will allow you to properly treat your dog, whether it be topical medication, a new diet, a cotton ball, etc. Lack of treatment can lead to further infection, ear hematomas, or other skin conditions. We hope this article has helped you learn “Why Do Dogs Shake Their Head?”
Sources
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/ears/head-shaking-dogs-when-worry
https://mypetandi.elanco.com/en_gb/health/four-reasons-dogs-keep-shaking-their-heads
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-infections-in-dogs-otitis-externa
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