One of the tricks a dog owner might teach their dog is to shake its head “yes” or “no.” It’s always adorable when your pup seems to automatically respond to your conversation by shaking its head.
After all, everything your dog does is the cutest thing in the world. It calls for photo ops and a quick video to share online.
But when is your dog’s cute behavior an indication of something wrong? Is your dog’s head shaking a sign that they’re feeling poorly? Here’s the scoop on your dog shaking its head.
What Causes Your Dog to Shake Its Head?
Your dog’s head shaking can be anything from a simple ear scratch to symptoms of a more serious disease. Dogs shake their heads to relieve an itch around the ear or to dislodge something within it, like water or a flying bug.
If your dog only occasionally shakes its head or scratches around its ears, it’s likely just a temporary itch. Just like humans, dogs can get itches as well.
If your dog seems to be trying to respond to something you’ve said, or has previously learned a head-shaking trick, that may be the culprit. However, if your dog shakes its head excessively or is constantly scratching around its head, there are several possible causes. Here are some serious conditions that could cause your dog to shake their head.
Ear Infections
One of the most common causes of dog head shaking is an ear infection of some type. Ear infections cause inflammation, itchiness, and discharge. Because of these symptoms, a dog will need to shake its head for relief.
Ear infections can be caused by bacteria or yeast. You can lift up your dog’s ear flap and check for redness, swelling, or discharge. If you see any of these signs, the culprit is likely an ear infection.
Similar symptoms can occur with ear mite infestations, but they’re not as common as ear infections. Also, infections can sometimes occur deep within the ear, so the lack of obvious signs does not always mean there’s no infection.
Allergies
Allergies in dogs, just like people, can be caused by ingredients in their food or by something in their environment. This includes:
- Pollen
- Mold spores
- Storage mites
- Dust
- Cleaning chemicals
- New paint
Some common symptoms of allergies that dogs may show are:
- Head shaking
- Ear scratching
- Feet chewing
- Face rubbing
- Hair loss
- Itchy skin
- Recurring ear or skin infections
Foreign Objects in the Ear
Head shaking can occur because of something lodged in your dog’s ear. This can be caused by:
- Water
- Dirt
- Debris/grass
- Seeds
- Burrs
- Insects
Dogs like to play outside, and dirt is unfortunately a part of being a pup owner. You can’t keep your dog from getting dirty. Nor can you keep them from getting water in the ears when bathing or swimming.
You can place cotton balls within your dog’s ears before swimming or bathing, if he will allow you to. If your dog has a history of ear infections, keeping the ears dry can help prevent them. You can also use a headband around the ears or clean the ears with a drying solution after bathing or swimming.
Serious Diseases
Head shaking in dogs can sometimes be caused by more serious conditions. Some neurological conditions can lead to head bobbing or tremor-like shaking.
Some inflammatory conditions and auto-immune diseases can lead to head shaking and constant scratching. These conditions, like pemphigus (a blistering disease), often include symptoms like crusts, ulcers, and skin redness.
Some types of cancer can also cause problems with head shaking or excessive scratching.
When Is My Dog’s Head Shaking Serious?
Sometimes, head shaking in dogs is just a temporary itch or an attempt to dislodge a bug or burr. However, if your dog is shaking its head excessively or the head shaking does not stop after around a day, it can indicate something more serious.
In the case of excessive head shaking, it’s important to get the behavior diagnosed and treated. Excessive scratching and vigorous head shaking can lead to ruptured blood vessels in a dog’s ear flap. This can require treatment by draining the swelling with a needle or by a round of steroids.
What Can I Do About My Dog’s Head Shaking?
If your dog keeps shaking its head after a day and the action is excessive, you need to take them to a vet. The veterinarian needs to properly diagnose the problem in order to determine the best course of treatment.
Diagnosing Dog Head Shaking
Your veterinarian will normally conduct an otoscopic examination in order to look into your dog’s ear. The vet will be able to then determine if the head shaking is caused by any foreign objects lodged within your pup’s ear. If so, your dog may require an ear cleaning, which may need sedation.
If your vet suspects an ear infection, a sample will be swabbed and diagnosed by microscope. A round of antibiotics or antifungals will then be prescribed to cure an ear infection. In the case of suspected food allergies, a food trial may be required in order to determine the allergy.
Final Thoughts
Remember that, when in doubt, the best solution is to take your pup to your veterinarian. It’s always better to err on the side of caution. Your vet will be able to diagnose and treat anything wrong, and you’ll soon have your pup back to normal levels of head shaking and scratching.Clean your dog’s ears regularly with a veterinarian-recommended ear cleaner, which will help prevent infection. Don’t forget to pamper your pup while he’s on any medication and healing. Ear infections can be painful and miserable until the antibiotics kick in. A new cuddle toy might even be in order!