| A common complaint of canine guardians is why does their dog shake their head all of the time. The most accurate explanation of such a problem usually resides in some sort of underlying allergy. The allergies can be due to inhalant/contact allergies and/or food allergies. If the problem is seasonal, then allergens to molds, grasses, trees, dander, house dust, mites, etc are all possible. If the problem is non-seasonal, then we are usually thinking more of a food allergy. |  |
Many times pets will develop secondary yeast or bacterial infections of the ear canals, which may appear as red, ulcerated ears with varying amounts of discharge or odor from the ears. Often pets will need prescription antibiotics such as Mometomax or Panalog. On other occasions, great products like Zymox-Otic HC can help as well. Since many of these pets have allergies, trials with various anthistamines such as Benadryl or Chlorphenirimine can be tried by an animal guardian to see if they may alleviate some of the head shaking that is so annoying to guardian and pet.
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5 Comments
How safe is an antibiotic otic solution normally for humans for use on an 8 month old lab mix. The solution is neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates w/hydrocortisone. Each mL contains neomycin sulfate equivalent to 3.5 mg neomycin base. Polymyxin B equivalent to 10,000 polymyxin B units and hydrocortisone 10 mg (1%). The vehicle contains potassium metabisulfate 0.1%. Glycerin, propylene glycol, hydrochloric acid and water.
Would this work until we can afford to get him to a vet?
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
This is fine to try until vet exam and assessment. Also consider zymox otic HC from 1800petmeds.
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You don’t mention another very significant cause of head shaking — getting fox tails caught in ears, which are very costly to remove by a Vet.
What measures to you recommend to dog owners to prevent fox tails from getting down into the ear canal or even the nose?
How can we get fox tails out before they get down too deep?
Tani
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
I dont see many foxtails in my area but you do bring up excellent point of these getting caught in ears in areas where they are prominent. Avoiding exposure is the best prevention. There are probably some excellent articles on this on the internet which you can google. In cases where heavy exposure occurs, vet exams are most likely needed for safe and thorough removal.
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can i clean my dogs ears out with peroxide?
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
December 19th, 2012 at 12:09 am
PEroxide is ok to use but I would prefer a commercial ear cleaner like epiotic from 1800petmeds.
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Thank you so much for the information!!!!
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
April 24th, 2013 at 1:55 am
You are very welcome.
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CAN I GIVE A DOG WHO HAS CONJUNCTIVITIS SEVERLY BAD HUMAN GENTAK? GENTAMICIN SULFATE OPHTHALMIC OINTMENT USP0.3%
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