Should I Bring My Dog to the Vet if It Shakes Its Ear Often?
You should monitor your dog for any signs of ear infections if it is shaking its head more than normal. You could perform self-checks first to see if it is just water or if there are any foreign objects trapped in its ears. If there are signs of ear infections or growth (polyps), it will be wise for you to bring your dog to the vet for a thorough treatment.
Why Do Dogs Shake Their Heads?
First, it’s important to understand why dogs shake their heads. Head shaking is a brilliant way for dogs to get something out of their ears that shouldn’t be there. The forces generated by a vigorous shake are impressive, as anyone who has been whacked by a dog’s flailing ear can tell you. When dogs feel itchiness or irritation in their ears, they instinctively shake their heads. 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.
If your dog is shaking his head repeatedly and the behavior does not stop over the course of a day or so, it’s time to make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Dogs Shake Their Head While Barking Due to Excitement, the Presence of a Foreign Object in Their Ears, Ear Infections, or Neurological Causes
When your dog gets excited or becomes threatened, you will likely see him shaking his head when he barks. However, this does not happen frequently unless they are already prone to barking a lot. In that case, this behavior really isn’t something to be worried about, and your dog won’t need any present or future health care pertaining to it.
However, if your dog is an excessive barker, you can prevent that behavior by ensuring your dog isn’t exposed to any stimuli that would make them feel threatened and warrant the barking behaviors in the first place. They should be kept away from any environments or individuals that might provoke them to become startled and feel the need to bark and shaking their heads.
Another reason your dog may shake its head when it barks is due to foreign objects getting lodged in its ear. These foreign bodies can lead to itching and irritation. When your dog becomes uncomfortable, he may feel this unusual ear sensation to be a threat, and he’ll bark and shake his head frequently to remove that unwanted irritant from his ear.
Ear infections are also a factor to consider when a dog is seen shaking its head excessively when barking. An ear infection can be in the outer ear or the inner ear, but it is mostly an inner ear problem. Therefore, it would be a good idea before running to the vet clinic to look inside of your dog’s ears and check for any signs of infection that may explain your dog’s acts of barking and shaking their head.
Below are some of the common ear infections that can make your dog shake his head when he barks:
This infection is characterized by an inflamed outer ear canal. Clinical signs associated with it include head shaking, swollen and red ears, ear scratching, an odor, and discharges. Allergies, floppy ears, ear mites, and trapped water are some of the common causes of dogs’ otitis externa. If left untreated, this could lead to permanent ear damage.
This refers to the inflammation of the blood vessel walls in the ear flaps, resulting in a severe skin condition on the flaps of your dog’s ears. Some of the common symptoms seen with ear vasculitis include ears with red or purple spots, skin crusts, fluid-filled cysts, alopecia (hair loss), itchiness, and pain at the site of infection.
Some other potential causes for excessive head shaking when barking can include ear trauma or an ear hematoma, which is when a pool of blood accumulates between the skin and cartilage of a dog’s ear flap, causing discolored skin, bleeding, swelling, and pain. There are commercially available antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory ointments used against ear infections. Nevertheless, it is a must that you contact your veterinarian to properly assess your dog so they can prescribe the correct ointments and other necessary medications in the right dosages.
In some instances when your dog shakes his head when he barks, there may be a neurological problem. In that case, a quick trip to the nearest veterinary clinic is essential, and it is very important to inform your veterinarian of the complete history of what your dog is going through to ensure a better diagnosis and the correct medical intervention.
Head shaking when a dog barks can also be attributed to an illness called vestibular disease. The disease is commonly seen along with other signs or symptoms like walking in a circle, scratching at the ear, ataxia (impaired coordination), abnormal head posture, frequent head tilt, or signs of dizziness such as vomiting and nausea. In that case, your dog is experiencing a serious condition that can be a result of several possible problems ranging from severe infections to neurologic problems. Regardless, these will warrant the prompt intervention of your veterinarian.
Therefore, whatever the cause may be for what you may have noticed as a precursor to your dog shaking his head when barking, resist the urge to handle these health concerns by yourself. Whether it is serious or not, try to visit your nearest animal clinic or hospital to consult a veterinarian and get the best medical intervention and advice as soon as possible.
Why Do Dogs Shake Their Heads 7 Warning Signs
Has your dog been shaking her head lately, leaving you at a loss as to why? In this post, our Everett vets share what you should do if you notice your dog is shaking their head, when to go to your vet and more.