Why is my dog so itchy, restless, and shaking his head often?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

It's probably an ear infection, often it cannot be seen from the outside. Ear infections are very common in dogs, it is usually caused by either yeast or bacterial disease. the treatment is usually simple and straightforward, you will have to take him to the vet and get the ears checked, then a prescription ear drops will be prescribed according to the infectious agent. She might also be suffering from either allergies or anal gland problems, you should ask the vet to take a look at that as well.

It sounds as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy or fleas. The allergy could be a due to a protein in Molly's food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Molly will need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well. I would also recommend she be on a good flea control too. It also sounds like Molly has an ear infection as well. She will need to go to the vet to have an ear cytology performed so they can determine what exact type of infection she has, i.e. is it bacteria, fungal or ear mites causing the issue. Your vet will probably recommend some ear medication and possibly an ear cleaner. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

It sounds like Renz may have an ear infection, and he does need to see a vet for it. Ear infections in dogs can be caused by ear mites, yeast, or bacteria, and the cause needs to be diagnosed so he can be treated. As for the scratching, that can be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, he will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. Renz should see a vet today and tomorrow for his ear problems, and possibly the scratching. If he is up to date on his flea treatments, the vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Oh dear, poor Deja! Head shaking in dogs occurs most commonly due to an ear infection (which is often the result of underlying allergies). Similarly, licking and itching can occur due to allergies, the onset of a skin infection, due to external parasites (fleas or mites), or endocrine issues (hypothyroidism is one example). Deja's increased water intake could be due to a number of other issues, including a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, diabetes, a pyometra (uterine infection), or Cushing's disease, among others. At this point, it would be best to take Deja to her vet for further evaluation. Her vet will be able to perform a physical exam, evaluate any ear discharge under a microscope, and perform blood testing to get to the bottom of these issues. In order to decide how to treat Deja, you first need to determine the cause of her itching and increased water consumption. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Head shaking can often be a sign of an ear infection, something stuck in the ear or a tooth problem. Lift up his ears and look in the canals for redness, discharge or odor. Ear and tooth problems need to be evaluated by a veterinarian and I recommend to have him seen today if possible. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Brigg is shaking his head so much. These are classic clinical signs of an external ear infection, or otitis externa. I recommend bringing Brigg to your veterinarian at their next available appointment for an exam. Your veterinarian can perform an ear smear of any debris in the ears, and look at this under a microscope. Most ear infections are either bacterial and/or yeast infections, treated with topical medications. I hope this is helpful!