If your dog keeps shaking her head, scratching at her ears, or if your dog's ears look red and irritated it's time to visit the vet. Head shaking can lead to aural hematomas which often require surgery to repair.
Head shaking that occurs because of water getting into the ears is easily prevented by placing cotton balls (or half a cotton ball for small breeds) in the dog's ears prior to bathing or swimming.
Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder that causes your hands, head, trunk, voice or legs to shake rhythmically. It is often confused with Parkinson's disease. Essential tremor is the most common trembling disorder.
Dogs shake their heads to try to get rid of the itching and the discharge from an infection. Some ear infections may be located too deep inside the ears to see visually, however, so even if you don't see obvious symptoms of an ear infection, you should still take your dog to the vet if you suspect an ear infection.
Common Reasons Dogs Shake Their Heads Itchiness due to skin allergies. Irritant trapped in their ear such as grass seeds, water or insects. Bacterial or yeast infection. Inflammation of ear canal.
Head shaking is a brilliant way for dogs to get something out of their ears that shouldn't be there. The forces generated by a vigorous shake are impressive, as anyone who has been whacked by a dog's flailing ear can tell you. When dogs feel itchiness or irritation in their ears, they instinctively shake their heads.
Ear Infections If your dog is persistently shaking their head, chances are good that they may have a yeast or bacterial infection in their ears. A yeast or bacterial infection in the ears is the most commonly diagnosed condition for which persistent head-shaking is a symptom.
Persistent head shaking could point to a medical issue. Head shaking is normal dog behaviour. Without fingers and thumbs, dogs instinctively shake their heads to relieve discomfort, itchiness or irritation; it's an effective way to clear the ear canal of water, dirt, or insects.
A stressed out dog may also shake their head and let off a high pitch whine whilst stress yawning. Panting for no reason is the third most obvious sign of stress and anxiety in a dog. If your dog isn't hot or trying to cool themselves after a walk, yet is still panting heavily, then this is a clear indicator of stress.
Ear Infections Dogs shake their heads to try to get rid of the itching and the discharge from an infection.
Head shaking can be perfectly normal behavior for dogs if it only happens on occasion. Dogs use head shaking as an effective way to force irritants out of their ears.
Ear infections are usually very painful and your dog will show some or all of the following signs: Pain – yelping when touched. Head shaking.
If your dog is persistently shaking their head, chances are good that they may have a yeast or bacterial infection in their ears. A yeast or bacterial infection in the ears is the most commonly diagnosed condition for which persistent head-shaking is a symptom.