What this means
A dog's ear canal is longer and bent, with a vertical and a horizontal section. That shape makes it harder for moisture and debris to clear than in a human ear, which is why inflammation lingers there. Shaking the head is the dog's attempt to throw out whatever is irritating, and scratching adds further damage to the skin of the ear flap.
It is worth noticing whether one ear is affected or both. A single irritated ear more often involves a foreign object, such as a grass seed after a walk through a meadow, or a local inflammation. Both ears together more often point at a broader cause, such as an allergic skin condition that shows elsewhere as well — in the paws, armpits or belly.
One sign deserves separate mention: a swollen, firm ear flap. Vigorous head shaking can cause fluid to collect in the flap, leaving it tense like a cushion. That does not resolve on its own and needs to be shown to a vet.
At home, do not clean the ear by pushing a cotton bud or anything similar down into it — that drives debris deeper and can damage the eardrum. What to use, and how, is worth asking your vet, because the choice depends on whether the eardrum is intact.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Inflammation of the ear canal
Bacteria or yeast cause redness, discharge and an unpleasant smell. The dog shakes its head, paws at the ear and may object to it being touched.
About the condition: Ear infections -
A foreign object in the ear
A grass seed picked up in a meadow causes sudden, very persistent shaking of one ear. The dog may hold its head tilted to that side.
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An allergic skin condition
Allergy frequently shows in the ears first. The pattern is both ears affected while the dog also licks its paws and scratches its belly.
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Ear mites
Mites cause intense itching and dark, dry discharge. They turn up more in young dogs and can pass between animals in a household.
About the condition: Ear mites -
Moisture after swimming or bathing
Water left in the canal sets up conditions for inflammation. The pattern is signs appearing within a few days of a swim in a lake or a bath.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether one ear is affected or both
- Whether there is discharge, and what colour it is
- Whether there is an unpleasant smell from the ear
- Whether the ear flap is swollen or feels firm
- Whether your dog holds its head tilted to one side
- Whether it is also licking paws or scratching elsewhere
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the head shaking lasts more than a day, if the ear is red, weeping or smelly, or if this keeps coming back several times a year. If the head is tilted to one side or your dog is wobbly, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Ear infections Ears and hearing An ear infection is inflammation of the ear canal kept going by bacteria or yeast, which can be started by an allergy, a foreign body such as a grass seed, ear mites or trapped moisture. An inflamed ear itches and hurts, and long-lasting or repeated inflammation can change the ear canal for good. That is why it matters not only to calm the inflammation but also to find out what set it off.
- Allergies (food, skin and environmental) Skin and coat An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to substances that are essentially harmless, such as pollen, house dust mites, moulds, flea saliva or an ingredient in food. In dogs it shows up mainly in the skin and ears, and constant itching wears a dog down and can open the way to skin infections. More than one trigger can be involved at once, so finding the cause takes patience.
- Atopic dermatitis Skin and coat Atopic dermatitis is a long-term allergic skin disease driven by an inherited tendency: the skin overreacts to environmental allergens such as pollen, house dust mites or moulds. These dogs have a weaker skin barrier, so allergens get in more easily, and scratching irritates the skin even further. Signs can begin in young dogs and, depending on the allergen, may flare up at certain times of year.
- Skin infections Skin and coat Skin infections are caused by bacteria or yeast that start to multiply when the skin's defences are weakened, for example by an allergy, parasites, moisture trapped in skin folds or constant scratching. An infection can stay on the surface or reach the deeper layers of the skin, causing pain and intense itching. What caused the infection and what keeps it going is for a vet to work out.
- Ear mites Parasites Ear mites are microscopic parasites that live in the ear canal and feed on ear wax and the surface of the skin. They cause intense itching and a dark, dry discharge. The mites pass easily between animals, especially from cats and among puppies; whether they are behind an itchy ear is for a vet to establish by examining the discharge.
Body systems: Ears and hearing Skin and coat Parasites