Head shaking - an ear of an issue! | Vetwest Animal Hospitals

Pets shake their heads for several reasons. The most common reason for head shaking in dogs is the one we all know - the head and coat shake after a swim at the beach or a soap-up at bath time. Regular or continuous head shaking in cats or dogs without reason is not normal and could be an ear of an issue!

Why might a cat or dog shake their head?

There are quite a few reasons, and most of them relate in some way to the ears.

Grass seed or other foreign body lodged within the ear canal.
Ear infection.
Allergies.
Fly bites to the tips of the ears.
Immune mediated disease.
Polyps/masses within the ear canal

Should you be concerned?

The answer is yes. If left untreated permanent ear damage can occur including a ruptured eardrum or even hearing loss. Problems such as Aural Haematomas can develop as a result of persistent or aggressive head shaking (for more information on Aural Haematomas in DOGS click here | for more information on Aural Haematomas in CATS click here). Any chronic inflammatory process (such as a bad infection) not treated is painful. If you have ever had a bad ear ache, you will no doubt remember the associated pain you felt before treatment.

Hearing is important

In the case of dogs, after the sense of smell, a dog's ability to hear is the next most important of its special senses. So investigating why a pet is shaking their head and treating any problems is vital to your pet's future quality of life.

How do you tell what the problem is?

As a pet owner it is pretty difficult to tell what the problem is. A dog or cat's ear is L shaped and problems are often hidden deep in the canal out of eyes view. Discharge doesn't always make its way to the external ear as the narrow ear tube/canal is lined with an epithelium. Ear problems can cause the epithelium to swell and subsequently reduce the size of the ear canal making it harder for any discharge to exit.

Head shaking on its own is enough to warrant further investigation, i.e. a veterinary health check-up. However, the following signs could also indicate problems:-

Foul odour or discharge coming from the ear
Ear scratching
Holding the head in an unusual position
Tenderness, irritability when you touch the ear
Redness or swelling of the ear pinna/flap

Please do not use cotton buds or try to poke anything in your pet's ears unless you have been instructed to do so.

What to do next?

The first step is to consult your veterinarian. Your vet will examine the ear with an instrument called an otoscope. If they detect an infection they will take a swab from the area to conduct cytology (look at a sample under the microscope) to determine the likely cause of the problem, which will assist with accurate treatment choice.

Treating ear problems

Your veterinarian may prescribe any of the following treatments:- antibiotics or anti-inflammatory tablets; ear wash/flush; drops; ear mite treatment; dietary changes; injections; or in some cases, surgery. It is very important to follow their directions for treatment and visit for a re-check when advised.

A note for cat owners

Whilst head shaking related problems is more common in dogs, cats can have very similar problems and veterinary assessment is essential in finding out the cause of the head shaking and determining the appropriate treatment.