Why does my dog keep shaking his head after I cleaned his ears?

I am sorry to hear about Kiba! Even if his ears appear normal when you are looking into them, without an otoscope you cannot tell if there is an infection or something like a foreign object inside the ear, as a dog's ear canal is curved and you can only visualise the vertical part of the canal if you do not have an otoscope. If he seems otherwise comfortable and is not traumatizing his ear, I would just monitor him closely until his appointment.

Head tilting and head shaking are common occurrence when inner ear problems such as an ear infection, allergies or even mites occur. It is possible that there may be something bothering the inside of your dog's ear and it may be that either barking helps relieve it, is a symptom of it (IE he is barking because it hurts) or the barking is the cause of the irritation. It is a good idea to take a peek into your dog's ears if he'll let you to see if you can see any signs of infection or irritation such as redness, dirt/debris, bad smell (usually a "corn chip" like smell) or other signs of problems. If the ear is irritated to the point where it can't be touched, this is also a good indication of a possible ear problem. Ear infections are usually treated with a medicated ear ointment and cleaner from your vet over a period of 7-10 days to relieve the problem, while allergies can be treated with a daily oral allergy medication (your vet can give you dosing information if this is the case). In some cases of severe infections, your vet may also want to sedate your dog to get a thorough ear cleaning in and to relieve the problem quickly. In some cases, head tilt and shaking can also indicate an illness called Vestibular Disease. This is commonly seen with other symptoms such as walking in a circle (usually in the direction of the head tilt), scratching at the ear, constant head tilt or signs of dizziness such as nausea and vomiting. This situation is more serious, and can be caused by a number of issues ranging from severe infections, to neurologic problems and should be looked at by a vet as soon as possible if suspected. If this behavior is new, then making a checkup with your local vet is the best option to look for ear problems causing the odd behavior. In the mean time, prevent him from scratching at or shaking his head when possible- an Elizabethan collar (cone) can help to stop this and prevent any spread of infection/irritation.

This presentation could be due to an ear infections. Three sections of the ear can be infected, the external portion (otitis externa), the middle portion (otitis media) and the inner portion (otitis interna). Otitis externa is the most common ear infection in dogs. In this case it seems an external ear infection but an otoscopic examination will determine the exactly the extension of it. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed.

Certainly head shaking can be the sign of an ear infection, however dogs typically get infections in the external ear, which are very easy to detect and diagnose with an ear exam and a cytology (examination of the debris from the ear under the microscope). Foreign objects lodged in the ear canal (small sticks and pieces of landscaping bark can do this) can cause head shaking as well. If Bodhi needs to be sedated for your vet to get a good look in the ear, the fact that he has an enlarged heart doesn't necessarily make this impossible. Many dogs with heart problems can be anesthetized safely, if the veterinarian is competent in using anesthetic drugs, and the vital signs are carefully monitored during the procedure. Other considerations in Bodhi's case could be that perhaps he has an infection in the middle ear. These can cause hearing loss, and are usually pretty obvious on examination of the ear, as the ear drum is typically ruptured. Sometimes x-rays can help to make this diagnosis too. It sounds like Bodhi does need a thorough exam of the ear canal, and this make take a bit of sedation or even general anesthesia. While he's under his mouth can also be thoroughly examined to look for problems in the mouth as well.

It’s possible his anal glands are full/uncomfortable. If they are bulging on either side of his anus when you palapate from the outside, then that definitely could be the case. I recommend bringing him to your vet for a rectal exam/anal gland expression and to check his ears. He likely will need and ear cleaner and a steroid/antibiotic/antifungal/antiyeast ointment such as otomax/kometamax/posatex if he has an ear infection. A few days of an allergy medication called Apoquel may help as well. Good luck!

It could be the stitches are irritating and itchy which is causing Grizzly to shake his head more, however keeping an eye both on the wound and his ears are a good idea. If his symptoms worsen, the wound or ears seem to look worse, or other signs of illness appear, having your vet take a look and rechecking both areas is best. Keeping an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Grizzly may also help prevent him from pawing at or shaking his head as much to allow the area to heal.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Head tremors can be observed with neurologic conditions or even electrolyte imbalances. I recommend that you have Buddy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They are likely going to perform and examination to be followed by bloodwork which should help start sorting this out. A referral to a veterinary neurologist may be recommended. Good luck!