Why is my dog shaking their head?
Head shaking in dogs is most often down to something irritating the ear — an infection, mites, wax buildup, or in summer a grass seed working its way into the ear canal. A single shake now and then is nothing to worry about, but repeated or vigorous shaking, especially with scratching or a smell, is worth a vet visit rather than home treatment.
Usually not urgent
This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.
The usual causes
Ear infections are the most common reason a dog shakes their head repeatedly, and they're especially common in breeds with floppy ears, which trap moisture and warmth in a way that favours infection. Along with the shaking, you might notice scratching at the ear, a smell, or redness inside the ear flap.
Ear mites are another possibility, particularly in younger dogs or those who've had contact with other animals carrying them, and they tend to produce a darker, coffee-ground-like discharge alongside the shaking. Wax buildup on its own can also cause enough irritation to trigger head shaking without any infection present.
Grass seeds are a genuine seasonal problem, especially in summer for dogs who spend time in long grass. A seed working into the ear canal is uncomfortable and can cause sudden, vigorous, repeated shaking, often alongside your dog tilting their head to one side.
Allergies, whether to food or something in the environment, can also cause ongoing ear irritation that leads to recurring head shaking, particularly in a dog who seems to have repeated ear problems rather than a single isolated episode. That pattern is worth raising with your vet as its own question, separate from treating any single flare-up.
Red flags worth acting on
A strong or unpleasant smell from the ear, visible discharge, redness or swelling, or your dog flinching when the ear is touched all point to something that needs a proper look rather than home cleaning. Sudden, vigorous shaking that started abruptly, particularly after a walk through long grass, raises the possibility of a grass seed and is worth same-day attention.
A head tilt that persists, loss of balance, or your dog seeming generally unwell alongside the shaking are all reasons to see a vet promptly rather than waiting to see if it settles on its own.
A dog who suddenly stops eating, seems generally unwell, or develops a head tilt alongside unsteadiness on their feet needs prompt veterinary attention, since these signs can occasionally point to a problem affecting the inner ear or balance, beyond simple irritation of the outer ear canal.
What not to do at home
Avoid poking anything into your dog's ear canal, including cotton buds, since it's easy to push a problem — wax, a foreign object, or infected material — further in rather than out. If you can see visible dirt on the outer ear, a gentle wipe with a proper ear cleaner from our eye and ear care range is reasonable, but anything beyond that is a job for your vet.
Don't wait out a suspected grass seed hoping it will work its own way free. It's uncomfortable for your dog, and the longer it stays lodged, the more irritation and potential damage it can cause.
What helps once your vet has had a look
Once your vet has identified what's actually going on, a proper cleaning routine using something like the Wahl Easy Ear Cleaner or Bugalugs Ear Cleaner from our eye and ear care range can help maintain a healthy ear between checks, particularly for breeds prone to recurring issues.
Routine cleaning is a maintenance habit for ears your vet has already assessed as healthy, not a substitute for treatment of an infection or removal of a foreign object, both of which need proper attention rather than cleaning alone.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
From£16.49
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
From£4.49
MPS Medical PetS Boot – Waterproof Paw Protector
A vet-recommended waterproof boot that keeps bandages, dressings, and casts dry during walks and wet weather.
£30.49
Common questions
- Why does my dog keep shaking their head?
- Repeated head shaking usually points to something irritating the ear — most often an infection, mites, wax buildup, or a grass seed in summer. It's worth a vet check rather than guessing, since the cause changes what actually needs to happen next.
- Is head shaking in dogs an emergency?
- Not usually, but sudden, vigorous shaking, especially after time in long grass, or shaking alongside a head tilt, loss of balance, or visible discomfort, is worth same-day attention rather than waiting, since a lodged grass seed or a painful infection both need prompt treatment.
- Can I clean my dog's ears myself?
- A gentle wipe of the visible outer ear with a proper ear cleaner is reasonable for routine maintenance, but avoid poking anything into the ear canal itself. If there's discharge, smell, redness or discomfort, that's a job for your vet rather than home cleaning.
- What breeds are more prone to ear problems?
- Breeds with floppy or heavily furred ears tend to trap moisture and warmth more easily, which favours infection, so they're more likely to need regular ear checks and cleaning as part of a normal grooming routine.
- How do I know if it's a grass seed?
- Sudden, vigorous, repeated shaking that starts abruptly, often after a walk through long grass, and sometimes with a head tilt, is a classic pattern for a grass seed. It's worth same-day vet attention rather than waiting to see if it works free on its own.
- Can allergies cause a dog to shake their head?
- Yes, both food allergies and environmental allergies can cause ongoing ear irritation, which shows up as recurring head shaking and scratching. If this keeps happening rather than being a one-off, it's worth discussing with your vet as a pattern rather than treating each episode separately.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.