2025 Vet Guide: Why Is My Dog Shaking Its Head? Causes & Care 🐶👂

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Seeing your dog shake its head is normal sometimes, but persistent shaking can signal discomfort or illness. Here’s how to spot when it’s okay and when vet care is essential. 🩺

🔍 1. When Head Shaking Is Normal

• After a bath or swim—dogs shake to clear water from their ears.
• Occasionally, after itches or minor irritations, just a quick shake.

⚠️ 2. Signs of Head Shaking Need Attention

• Frequent, vigorous shaking with little pause.
• Pawing at the ears, whimpering, redness, swelling, discharge or odor.
• Accompanied by head tilt, ear pain, bleeding, or aural hematoma.
• Other symptoms like ataxia, facial asymmetry, tremors, or sudden behavior changes.

🦠 3. Common Medical Causes

1. Ear infections (otitis): Most common—caused by bacteria or yeast. Look for odor, redness, and discharge.
2. Allergies: Environmental, food, or flea-bite allergies can lead to itching and head shaking.
3. Foreign objects: Grass seeds, foxtails, or debris lodging in the ear trigger sudden and intense shaking.
4. Water or wax build-up: Post-bath or swim residual water/wax can irritate.
5. Parasites: Ear mites or ticks within the canal, often accompanied by debris and intense scratching.
6. Neurologic issues or tremors: Idiopathic head tremors (no pain, short bobbing) or other central causes.
7. Tumors or polyps: May cause chronic irritation or discharge—less common but serious.

🩺 4. Veterinary Diagnosis

• Otoscopic exam & ear cytology; may require sedation in painful cases.
• Assess the ear canal and middle ear via imaging (X-ray/CT) if deeper disease is suspected.
• Skin allergy testing, culture, and bloodwork if recurrent infections occur.
• Neurologic exam to distinguish tremors from seizures or vestibular issues.

🛠️ 5. Treatment Options

• Ear infections: Clean with vet-approved solutions; topical/systemic antibiotics or antifungals.
• Foreign body/water: Remove by vet; use gentle drying solutions; use cotton balls for bath time prevention.
• Allergies: Treat underlying condition; manage chronic ear inflammation and restart skin treatments.
• Parasites: Specific antiparasitic medication and cleaning.
• Neurologic head tremors: Often benign; counseling, mild sedation or distraction if frequent.
• Tumors/polyps: Surgical removal or biopsy-guided intervention.

🏡 6. Home Care & Prevention

• Clean ears weekly with vet-approved solution—use cotton balls, not Q-tips.
• Dry ears well after water exposure; consider ear bands or cotton during swims.
• Keep fleas & ticks controlled—year-round preventatives.
• Manage inflammation or allergies with diet, meds, or immunotherapy.

📱 7. Tools: Ask A Vet, Woopf & Purrz

• Ask A Vet: Remote triage for head-shaking causes and decision-making on urgency.
• Woopf: Logs for treatment reminders, ear-cleaning schedules, vet appointments.
• Purrz: Tracks frequency, triggers (swims, baths), and response to care for vet follow-up.

📚 FAQ

Q: Can I clean my dog’s ears at home?

Yes—use a *vet-approved ear cleaner* weekly, especially after water exposure. Avoid inserting cotton swabs deep into the canal.

Q: What’s the difference between head shaking vs shame shakes?

Head shakes are rapid side-to-side movements to clear the ear. A full-body “shake-off” resets after stress or water—not necessarily ear-related.

Q: Are ear mites common in dogs?

They’re less common than in cats, but possible, especially in puppies or stray-exposed dogs. Requires vet diagnosis and specific treatment.

💬 Owner Insight

> “Our spaniel shook its head after swimming; after drying and a vet ear clean, no shaking returned even after a month.”

🏁 Final Thoughts from Dr Houston

Head shaking is a natural behavior—unless it’s persistent, painful, or frequent. Prompt evaluation, focused diagnosis, and targeted treatment (cleaning, meds, addressing triggers) usually resolve the issue. Use Ask A Vet for guidance, Woopf for care routines, and Purrz to track healing. With these steps, your pup’s ears will be happy, healthy, and shake-free in 2025 and beyond! 💙

Download the Ask A Vet app for expert ear-care advice, treatment support, and symptom tracking. 📱

AskAVet.com – Clear ears, happy pups.