Why is the dog shaking her head? Constant head shaking might indicate a medical problem.
Dog Shaking head is common. Dogs shake their heads reflexively to relieve discomfort, itching, or irritation; it’s also a good technique to clean the ear canal of water, debris, or insects since they don’t have fingers or thumbs. While the occasional head shake isn’t a reason for alarm, frequent and chronic head shaking is uncommon and might indicate a medical problem. It’s critical to comprehend why dogs shake their heads and to recognize the indications of a medical condition. Consult your veterinarian right away if your dog’s head shaking is frequent and lasts more than a day, or if your dog’s ears are red, swollen, and stinky.
Learn about the four most prevalent medical reasons your dog may be shaking his head a lot.
Table of Contents
1. Otitis is a possible cause.
When a dog’s outer ear canal becomes inflamed, it is known as canine otitis externa. This is the most common reason for visits to the veterinarian, and it has a variety of symptoms:
- Ears that are red and swollen
- Scratching of the ears
- Shaking of the head
- Discharge
- Odor
Allergies, ear mites, trapped water, and floppy ears are all common causes of otitis externa. Ear irritation, in most situations, requires medical attention and will not go away on its own. Dogs that have had otitis externa in the past may be at risk of getting it again. If left untreated, ear inflammation can develop and result in irreversible alterations to the ear’s structures, potentially impairing hearing. Inquire about otitis externa remedies with your veterinarian.
2. Ear trauma or damage
When dogs are generally strong creatures, they can injure themselves while out for a run, play at the dog park, or hike in the woods. A serious illness might be the reason for a change in your dog’s behavior (suddenly sluggish, subdued, or displaying indications of ear pain and sensitivity). Consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.
3. Vasculitis of the ear
Ear vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessel walls in the ear flaps, causes a potentially serious skin disease on your dog’s ear flaps. The following are some of the most common ear vasculitis symptoms:
- Ears with red or purple patches
- The skin becomes crusty.
- cysts that are filled with fluid
- Hair loss is a common problem.
- Itching and discomfort are present at the afflicted location.
In about half of all documented instances of ear vasculitis, the etiology is unclear. In certain situations, however, this painful skin disease is caused by an aberrant immune system reaction. If your dog exhibits symptoms of ear vasculitis, see your veterinarian straight once for a diagnosis and treatment.
4. Haematomas in the ears
A pool of blood forms between the skin and cartilage of a dog’s ear flap causes discoloration, swelling, bleeding, and discomfort. Self-trauma, such as too vigorous scratching or head shaking resulting from an underlying medical problem, such as an ear infection or skin disease, is the most common cause of hematoma.
Treatments range from using a needle to empty the hematoma to surgical repair. It’s critical to treat the hematoma right once to avoid infection and further damage, as well as to figure out what’s causing the itching and shaking in the first place. A bacterial infection or itchy skin condition is almost always present.
While ear hematomas are difficult to prevent, the risk of this consequence can be reduced by preventing or properly treating the underlying problems that cause head shaking. Chronic head shaking is only one symptom of a more significant health problem. Consult your veterinarian immediately away if you observe your dog shaking his head a lot or displaying other signs including inflamed ears, itching, ear sensitivity, or an unpleasant odor emanating from the ears.
