Dogs make gestures that can be adorable and even funny to humans, such as when they tilt their heads a little when you talk to them. They do this to better perceive the sounds you make when you speak, and it is absolutely normal behavior. However, sometimes dogs move their heads from side to side insistently, which indicates that something is wrong. Knowing how to detect the symptoms will help you provide a better report of what happened to the veterinarian, so that he knows how to care for the dog. If you want to know why your dog shakes his head a lot, don't miss this article on our site.
Does the dog shake its head and scratch its ear?
Sometimes a foreign object may end up in the ear canalof your dog for various reasons. In times of summer and spring, for example, when the dog usually has more freedom to go out and play outside the house, outdoor fun can transport some spike or other debris to your dog's ears, which will cause a lot of discomfort.
Similarly, if you have children, it is likely that at some point they find it funny to insert an object into the dog's ears, so interaction with the pet should always be supervised by an adult. Also, don't forget to educate the little ones at home about the care and respect they should have towards all animals.
In both cases, the presence of a foreign object in the ears will cause pain to the dog, which will shake its head and scratch so much in an attempt to ease the discomfort as to try to get it out. This, however, is counterproductive, since it is possible for the residue to penetrate further into the ear canal, even perforating an area.
Only your vet will be able to determine if this is the reason your dog is shaking his head a lot. If so, minor surgery may be needed to remove the object.
Does the dog shake his head a lot because he has mange?
Mange is one of the major he alth problems affecting dogs. Although treating it is not difficult, it causes a lot of annoyance and discomfort to the dog, and if it is not treated in time it can get worse.
localized demodectic mange mainly attacks the ears of dogs, causing intense itchingand dark earwax discharge The dog will shake his head a lot, move his ears and even scratch vigorously to relieve the itching, but this is only It will bruise your ears. There are different treatments to treat this type of mange, so go to the vet as soon as possible.
Does the dog shake its head and move its ears because it has otitis?
Canine otitis is an infection that develops on the outside of the ear. It begins as an inflammation caused, in most cases, by the presence of an intruder in the ear canal, but whose presence encourages the appearance of bacteria and, therefore, an infection.
Symptoms include:
- Shake your head
- Visible swelling of the pinna
- Wax secretion
- Bad smell
- Intense pain
- Pruritus
- Nervous behavior
- Ear crusting
There are different types of canine otitis, which are classified according to the agent that caused it. Thus, we have:
- Otitis due to mycosis: the culprits of its appearance are fungi.
- Otitis due to bacteria: microorganisms proliferate due to inflammation.
- Otitis por cerumen: some dogs produce excess earwax, which will encourage the appearance of bacteria if it is not removed routinely proper hygiene.
Any of these types of otitis is dangerous for the dog, because if they are not treated in time the infection will spread, damaging the eardrum and causing irreversible deafness and even neurological problems if the bacteria reach the brain.
Are your blood vessels swollen?
Also called vasculitis, inflammation of the blood vessels in the ear has different causes, whether it is the product of a bite, an effect from cold or from a wound that was made worse by contact with flies, among others, and may be the reason why your dog shakes his head a lot.
The symptoms are:
- Pruritus
- Pain
- Inflammation of the ear
- Crusts
- Thickening of the ear
- Ulcer formation
As we say, the discomfort caused by the inflammation of the vessels makes the dog shake its head, which causes it to hit its ears more, causing bruises to appear in the area.
Are there bruises on the ears?
These bruises occur not only when the vessels are swollen, but any of the causes mentioned for why the dog shakes a lot head from side to side will result in bruising if the ears are hit during this process.
These bruises, moreover, can only be seen if the blood vessels have burst from the shaking, further aggravating the problem, as this inflammation adds to the general discomfort that the dog was already experiencing. The main cause of the discomfort must be resolved to stop this worsening.
Why does your dog develop these problems?
Now that you know all the causes that can explain why your dog shakes his head a lot and scratches his ears, you are surely curious to know if there are factors that predispose him to developing any of these problems.
Among these factors it is possible to mention the following:
- Your dog's ears are too long or droopy. This is an attribute that we find very adorable, but this type of ears prevent the passage of air, so bacteria easily develop inside the ear.
- Your dog's ears are very furry. In many breeds with abundant fur, hair grows not only on the body, but also inside the ears, where a mixture of this with earwax predisposes the dog to suffer from otitis.
- Your dog's coat is very greasy. As with human hair, some dogs have oilier hair, a fact that predisposes them to canine seborrhea and problems caused by ear wax.
- Your dog loves water. Fun at a beach, lake or just with the garden hose is a favorite for many dogs, but if moisture gets into the ears bacteria can grow.
- Your dog needs better hygiene When bathing and caring for the dog's coat, the ears are often forgotten, so the lack of hygiene in them favors the accumulation of cerumen, with the consequences that this implies. Check out our article to learn how to clean a dog's ears step by step and don't neglect this habit.
Recommendations to avoid problems in your dog's ears
Hygiene and caring for your dog are essential to preserve its he alth and prevent illness, so we give you some recommendations to avoid the appearance of ear problems:
- Use ear drops and cotton balls to remove earwax. Check with your vet for the best way to do this based on the shape of your dog's ears.
- When you bathe the dog, place two cotton balls in the ears to prevent water from entering them. Remember to remove them when finished.
- Pay attention to your dog's behavior and outward appearance. The truth is that they are capable of enduring a lot of pain for a long time, so it is likely that when they start to complain about earaches, the disease is quite advanced. If you notice any strange changes on the outside of your ears, it's time to find out what's going on.
- Never clean the dog's ears with products such as alcohol or ether, as they are irritating, use only those recommended by the specialist.
- After an afternoon of games outside, check your dog's ears for any foreign objects.
