My Shih Tzu moves her head strangely after a haircut. Is it normal?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is probably behavioral, not medical. As the outside air hits him he shakes as we do, in stretching, in the morning. Dogs also shake their heads out of excitement. My dogs shakes his head and body EVERY TIME he gets up and A LOT when excited. It is normal for him and he's never had an ear infection. Stone is normal to be shaking his head when he goes outside. Have a great day!

Yeast skin and ear infections are common secondary infection with allergies or other skin issues. When dogs scratch or chew it can set them up for yeast to grow which then causes more irritation. Shaking his head may be a sign of pain or itchiness from ear infection. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/yeast-dermatitis-in-dogs https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-infections-in-dogs-otitis-externa In some cases antifungal shampoo may help resolve yeast problems but often systemic and topical medications are needed as well. Thank you for using PetCoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to know exactly what you mean but you may mean head bobbing which may be due to something wrong with her neurologic system. It may be something else of course. The scooting may be due to anal sac issues. I would recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check what may be wrong so that therapy is recommended accordingly. It would be a good idea to take a video of this to be able to show to your veterinarian. I wish you and her all the best!

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 her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. I think this is likely a hot spot which is basically an infection from scratching so much. You may use an e-collar in the meantime to prevent further self-trauma from scratching. 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!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Head shaking is usually a signs of itchy ears, which may be due to the E-collar rubbing or pressing on them. If your veterinarian checked him yesterday and did not see or smell any ear infections, it is most likely the cone collar causing his head shaking. Obviously the cone is necessary while his incision is healing, so I recommend monitoring him at home. If the shaking becomes incessant or aggressive, I recommend contacting your veterinarian directly to see if he needs to be examined again. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is normal and expected behavior after ear cleaning. You can massage the ear base to try to get the fluid absorbed quicker. This is likely going to go away on its own. If this does not resolve in the next few hours, have Toby evaluated by a veterinarian. Good luck!

Lilly Lynne may have a bit of rash or razor burn if she was trimmed close. First be sure she is on appropriate flea control as she may have picked up fleas from groomer. Benedryl is acceptable to use once or twice daily if it give her relief. She may also be having a reaction to the shampoo or fragrance the groom used. I would give her a bath in dawn to wash off any residue to see if that helps. (Original blue dish soap dawn). If no improvement then she may need a vet visit. I hope she’s back to normal quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach