If you notice that your dog is periodically shaking his ears, do not mistake this for a game. Surely he feels itching or pain inside his hearing organs - in any case, he needs your help.
Dog owners know that from time to time their pets shake their ears - in some breeds, this process can be accompanied by quite loud claps. However, if you notice that your dog is shaking his ears more often than usual, this should make you wary. The fact is that periodic shaking of the ears can be one of the symptoms of the onset of hearing disease in a dog.
The dog shakes his head and scratches his ears: possible causes
If you notice that your dog is clearly disturbed by some unusual sensations in one or both ears, the reason for this may be the beginning of inflammation in them. Its development can be triggered by water or a foreign object trapped in the ear, and hypothermia of the animal, and infection. If the inflammatory process is accompanied by obvious pain in the animal, a visible ear swelling, discharge from the ear canal and an unpleasant odor, rush to the veterinary clinic. Untreated otitis media can cause rapid hearing impairment in an animal.
An ear mite can become a catalyst for ear inflammation in a dog - these disgusting small insects greatly irritate the tissues of the ear, and the animal constantly itches. If its owner does not pay attention to the strange behavior of the pet at an early stage of the disease, the microtrauma of the ears that have not healed due to scratching can lead to the development of otitis media.
If you notice a reddish-brown discharge from one or both of your dog's ears, accompanied by a disgusting, pungent odor, it is most likely a yeast or fungal infection.
What if the dog is constantly shaking its ears?
Look into your pet's ears - if they are blackened from the inside, this may indicate an ear mite infection. At an early stage of the disease, you can cure your pet yourself by buying special drops against these harmful insects at the pet store. Treatment of an ear mite in a dog is a rather lengthy process, but in most cases it is not unsuccessful.
In all other cases, take the animal to the doctor. The veterinarian will examine the dog, diagnose it, and prescribe treatment. He may ask you about the presence of other animals in the house - this is due to the fact that some infections that affect the inner ear of dogs can be transmitted from one pet to another; in such cases, all animals should be treated simultaneously. Follow your veterinarian's advice exactly, and your dog will soon stop shaking its ears and feeling anxious.
