Your vet will be able to prescribe medications to heal the infection. This actually isnt the case. These days, ear cropping is done for cosmetic reasons. While there are many common reasons why your dog keeps shaking their head, just keep in mind that its most often nothing to worry about, especially if they do it infrequently. Below mentioned is a step-by-step guide to cleaning your dogs ears successfully. If your dogs ears are red, its most likely an infection, but it could also be inflamed if theyre scratching at them and injuring the tissue. If you lift up the flap of your dogs ear(s) and see redness, swelling, or discharge, an infection is likely. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php. Otoplasty, popularly known as ear cropping, is the process of surgically modifying the form of a dog's external ear. After that, its all downhill! Some groomers say that you should pluck the hair from certain dog breeds ear canalslike Poodles, Shih Tzus, and Bichon Friseswho grow extra hair in their ears. The most likely reasons your dog keeps shaking their head include: Earwax A buildup of wax in your dog's ears may cause some minor itching and irritation. Ear cleaners are a good catch-all treatment for many common ear problems in dogs, such as allergies, trapped debris, ticks, wax build-up, and even some yeast infections (when using medicated drops). After a bath or a swim, dogs shake their heads. Ear infections are another very common cause of head shaking in our furry friends, mostly because they cause itchiness, discharge, and inflammation. They enjoy running on the grass and exploring all the corners of the house. Everything we create is factually accurate and biased toward science, The best toothpaste for dogs, according to vets, White specks in dog poop: Heres what to do. It is crucial to remove them as soon as possible to reduce the chances of disease transmission. Three possible causes of involuntary head shaking in dogs include: For unvaccinated dogs, canine distemper virus is a highly contagious and often fatal virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems causing severe illness. This article explained the potential reasons for your dog shaking head after ear cleaning. To get rid of the foreign entity, the dog might shake his head or paw at his ear. Surgery can be a solution to excessive head shaking in extreme cases, such as if your pooch has a blood blister (aural hematoma) on their ear flap, ear polyps, or a more complex neurological disorder. Also, while drying, that warm floppy wet ear covering the ear opening may create enough moisture to cause bacteria overgrowth. Ear itching in dogs is one of the prominent symptoms of allergies. Dog head shaking can mean different things to different people. While holding your dog's ear flap, gently but firmly with one hand, hold the ear cleaning solution in your other hand. It can also be a bacterial infection, causing irritation. But its always helpful to ask your veterinarian which dog ear cleaners they recommend. Healthy ears shouldn't be cleaned at home, though. Symptoms of cerebellar hypoplasia can range from mild to severe: The origin can be either infectious or genetic, but it is always congenital (present at birth) with symptoms becoming evident when puppies attempt to walk, around six weeks old. there may be certain things the groomer is doing that are irritating your pups ears, extra hair blocks proper air flow from the ear canal, and traps in extra ear wax, dirt, and debris, plucking those hairs will cause more damage than it does good, plucking inside their ears can help with air circulation. Instead, bathe his body from the neck down and wipe down his face and ears with a damp washcloth. See more Reply Save Learn the hows and whys of head shaking in dogs, as well as how to treat the underlying causes. Ensure your dog gets regular visits to the veterinarians office. Crazy, right?! If your vet suspects a food allergy, your pet may be started on an elimination diet to identify the allergen culprit. There could be a bloody discharge as well. If this isnt the case, its best to seek advice from a veterinarian. Ear Cropping in Dogs | RSPCA At least this way you can remove two possible situations that might trigger another ear infection. Another reason why dogs shake their heads is because there's too much earwax, which can be uncomfortable, block air flow, and be another precursor of infection. As you may know ear cropping is a surgical procedure in which the ear is trimmed back so that it stands up, rather than flopping over. After this, the chances of success drop, as Fidos ears may already be drooping. The best vitamins and supplements for senior dogs, 8 experts share their best dog training tips, Here's how to give special dogs a special home, The best pet insurance companies reviewed, 10 ways to encourage your cat to drink water, The cost of a cat, from adoption to emergencies. The main reason why your dog would be shaking their body after a bath is to dry themselves off. Apply creams and sprays recommended by a veterinarian to your dogs ears. Cotton swabs tend to push wax and debris deeper into the ear canal, making it impossible to remove them. Dog Shaking Head After Ear Cleaning: What to Do Guide But headshaking can become a problem when you see your dog doing it frequently. If your dog has recurrent ear infections, you and your veterinarian need to go on a search for an underlying cause, such as allergies, anatomical abnormalities, or hypothyroidism. Itchy ears and head shaking in dogs - PDSA Frequently asked questions regarding your dog shaking head after ear cleaning are also answered. Very few parasites reside inside dog ears, though they arent prevalent. Basically a canine version of cerebral palsy, cerebellar hypoplasia is a condition that causes parts of the cerebellum to not completely develop. There are many causes of head shaking in dogs. This permits any leftover ear cleaning fluid and dirt from the ear canal to drain into the ear's outer aperture. If your dogs head shaking is caused by an infection, take note that most often, ear infections wont go away on their own. The income lost was a non-factor in my decision not to do ear cropping. In fact, adding additional calcium above the usual balance of that mineral with phosphorus and vitamin D has actually been shown to cause growth problems in dogs. However, if headshaking persists for more than 1-2 days, its high time to have your pet checked by your veterinarian. Waiting to see your veterinarian. So, when should you start to worry about your pets head shaking? In fact, some countries have gone as far as to ban the practice. Advertisement. If your dogs head is shaking involuntarily, the search for answers should be directed inward to the central nervous system. But if your pup is prone to ear infections, there may be certain things the groomer is doing that are irritating your pups ears, and causing their ear infection to return. Your dog may start scratching more than usual. Avoid spraying or dumping water directly on your dogs head during a bath. If you sniff your pup's ears and notice an odor and brown gunk but no skin irritation or discharge, it's time to clean your dog's ears. While we provide information, resources, and education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. If your dogs ears are in good health, you know he appreciates having them rubbed. Watch Dog ear infections: DIY remedies that work | Video, Top 5 FAQs and answers related to a dog shaking head after ear cleaning, Are Corgis Good for First Time Owners: Guide with 7 Tips. If left untreated, an ear infection can permanently harm the ear canal or develop into a more severe middle or internal ear infection. The pup "loosing it's teeth" has no impact on the strength or rigidity of the pinnas, either. Anytime you suspect your dog might have an ear infectionor an infection of any kindplease contact your veterinarian right away. Early veterinary intervention and treatment of persistent head shaking in dogs are very important. A dogs ear canal is much deeper than a humans, and if it isnt correctly cared for, it can cause many complications. You may have heard that this is very painful for dogs. But some of you are noticing a different problem with your pup. Although there are additional possibilities, the most common reasons are an ear infection or an allergy. Cane Corso Ear Cropping - Is It Necessary Or Cruel - Dog Food Smart Ear infections are common . Grain-free dog food: a lasting trend or a danger to your dog? Not to be proud, but I kind of know how to take everything along. All rights reserved. When your dog gets their hair cut, some of those loose hairs could fall into their ear, causing irritation and inflammation. Instructions for Ear Cleaning and Administering Ear Medication in Dogs The cleaners will be able to break up the debris in the ear canal as a result. Infections are one of the most common conditions among humans and their pets. As the cleaning solution flows around in the horizontal area of the ear canal, you would hear a squishing sound. Check your dogs ears and look for signs of ticks and mites. Dog Head Shaking: Causes and What to Do - Southeast Veterinary Neurology Common causes include allergies, ear mites, trapped water and floppy ears. Without such advice from a veterinarian, ear infections must not be treated at home. Squeeze a little ear cleaner into your dogs ear. Clean the wound to reduce the risk of infections. What are the most common ear problems in | FirstVet Do not take matters into your own hands if it occurs in conjunction with any other ear infection symptoms. Mistakes to avoid while cleaning dog ears. It appears to be a little irritated. While shaking can solve the problem if its just some water or an insect in the ear, continued shaking indicates that there is still something inside the dogs ear that needs to be addressed, sooner rather than later. Clinical signs associated with it include head shaking, swollen and red ears, ear scratching, an odor, and discharges. Its a natural dog trait that you shouldnt be concerned about. Ear mites very rarely cause head shaking in adult dogs. Check your email for magic link to sign-in. If your dog has recurring ear infections, then an allergy might be the root cause, although thyroid issues can also cause recurrent ear infections in dogs. Lets begin by differentiating between a dog intentionally shaking its head side to side and a dogs head shaking involuntarily. A lump in the ear. The revenue for a practice can be substantial for doing ear cropping. This can either be due to a hot day, a fever, or an ear infection. Shaking their head. First of all, because the actual shaking could cause damage to their delicate ear flaps. If the symptoms disappear or at least significantly improve, a food allergy is likely. Common reasons include: Itchiness due to skin allergies. This is most likely dirt, grass seeds, water, a parasite, or an insect. If youre not sure, make sure to contact your groomer and ask right away. Headshaking, however, can become a concern if your dog does it frequently. If your dog spends a lot of time swimming, they are more likely to have a bacterial ear infection. Head shaking can be caused by bacterial infections, especially when theyre persistent or prolonged. Some of these symptoms include the following: Allergies cause a lot of itchiness. For example, Boxers were often used as guard dogs. While its vital to clean your dogs ears as needed, excessive washing can create ear canal inflammation, which can cause infections. Your dog shakes its head to relieve this irritation. Excessive scratching can indicate an issue that a veterinarian should examine.If you turn your ears back and notice that they are always moist, its essential to do some screening. Alternatively, scrub his cheeks and ears with a damp washcloth and wash him from the neck down. The moral of the story here is that if your dog doesnt suffer from chronic ear infections, and doesnt have excess hair in their earsthere is no reason to pluck their ear hairs. For hypersensitive dogs, head shaking is usually accompanied by itchy skin, scratching at the ears, rubbing of the affected ear on surfaces, hair loss, and recurrent skin and ear infections. The American Kennel Club, Inc. 2022. Ear Infections in Dogs Canine otitis externa, also known as an ear infection, occurs when a dog's outer ear canal is inflamed. Furthermore, cotton tip applicators might force material deeper into the ear canal. If your dog continues to shake his head or scratch his ears, or if his ears appear red and irritated, it's time to take him to the vet. Identifying the cause is important to provide proper care to your dog. Consult a veterinarian to know more about what type of allergies your dog has and how to handle it when your dog encounters an allergen. First, its important to understand why dogs shake their heads. Pull the ear flap up gently, and use a cotton ball or gauze to extract the dislodged debris and cleaning fluid from the outer aperture of the ear canal. September 30, 2022 by Jordan Seals. Rubbing their ears or face on furniture, the floor, etc. 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Your Dog's Ears | PetCoach Were reader-supported. The procedure is usually done with Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, Boston Terriers, or Great Danes. I am kind of a person whom you call pet person. If you've ever wiped your dog's ears with antibacterial wipes, you should read: Can You Use Antibacterial Wipes on Dogs? Most dogs shake and scratch their ears from time to time, but if your dog does it regularly, it could indicate a problem with their ears or skin, such as: Allergic skin disease. The veterinarian is likely to have several specialized products on hand, some of which may contain substances that help break down earwax and others that may help prevent germs or yeast from adhering to the canals wall. Both seasonal and food allergies can cause head shaking in dogs as they lead to itchy skin, hair loss, and sometimes even ear infections. Lack of coordination and balance, circling, head tilting, facial paralysis, deafness, flashing of the eyes back and forth (nystagmus), or other neurologic symptoms usually develop if the growth originates in the middle or inner ear. It appears to be a little irritated. Founded in 1884, the not-for-profit AKC is the recognized and trusted expert in breed, health, and training information for all dogs. Owners who know the significance of a dogs hearing, the shape of its ears, and the diseases that might occur will be able to see why cleaning them is so important. you may be using too wide of a post or just not setting them far enough into the ear. I have owned three animal hospitals since my first year out of veterinary school back in 1970. Be careful when removing a tick because it can transmit diseases if you leave its mouthparts behind. Share a few contact details to get your FREE e-book. Excessive earwax buildup in his ear or medical issues such as brain tumors, epilepsy or other neurological disorders can also lead to his shaking action. Keep reading to find out more. Avoid spraying or dumping water directly on your dog's head during a bath. Check for any signs of injuries on your dogs head. You may notice redness, swelling, and drainage inside your dogs ears, which is frequently accompanied by a foul odour. Treating with the correct antibiotics is important to avoid antibiotic resistance, which can be common in bacterial ear disease. If they look red and contain rash, there is a possibility of a mite attack. While this can solve the problem if the dog has some water, a piece of grass, or an insect in his ear, continued head shaking indicates that the irritation is ongoing and needs to be addressed. Also, continuous vigorous headshaking can cause blood vessels in the ear flap to rupture leading to the formation of aural hematomas. The source and severity of the condition and the eardrums integrity must all be determined. There are many reasons why this can occur, including: The following is a discussion with a dog owner via e-mail: QUESTION: My Great Dane's ears will not stand up, what can I do myself to get them to stand? Cerebellar hypoplasia can be hereditary in some breeds: There is no cure or treatment for cerebellar hypoplasia, but affected dogs do not worsen over time, and instead, have normal lifespans. There are actually 20 breeds with cropped ears recognized by the AKC. In these cases, antibiotics and medicated ear drops in combination are often prescribed. Dog Shaking Head: Causes & Treatment For Head-Shaking - Misfit Animals