An occasional head shake is normal: dogs shake their heads to clear water, debris or an itch from their ears.1,2 Frequent or vigorous head shaking usually means something is bothering the ears, most often an ear infection, which is commonly triggered by allergies.3,4,5 Other causes include ear mites, a grass seed in the ear canal, and water left in the ear after swimming or bathing.6,7,1 Constant shaking can also burst a blood vessel in the ear flap, causing an ear hematoma.8 This guide covers the causes, what it means if the ears look clean, how head shaking differs from head tremors, and when to see a vet.
See your vet promptly if your dog:
- Keeps shaking their head for more than a day or so, or scratches the ears a lot1,5
- Has red, swollen, smelly or painful ears, or discharge5,3
- Has a puffy, swollen ear flap (possible hematoma)8
- Starts shaking their head suddenly after a walk in long grass (possible grass seed)9,10
Go the same day if your dog has a head tilt, loss of balance, trouble walking, a drooping face or eyes flicking from side to side. These can mean the infection has spread deeper into the ear.11,4
What the Research Shows
- Ear infections are very common. In a UK study of 22,333 dogs, 7.3% had an outer ear infection diagnosed in a single year. Basset Hounds had almost 6 times the odds of crossbreeds.12
- Allergy is the most common trigger. In 100 dogs with ear infections, allergic skin disease was the underlying cause in 43%, grass seeds in 12% and ear mites in 7%.7
- Grass seeds favor the ear. In an older study of 182 grass-seed cases in dogs and cats, the ear canal was the most common place they were found (51%).10
- Head tremors are different. In 291 dogs with head-bobbing episodes, 93% stayed alert during episodes and 87% could be distracted out of them.13
Common Causes of Head Shaking
Ear infections
Ear infections cause head shaking, scratching, odor, redness and discharge.5,14 In many dogs, allergies, either to food or to things in the environment, inflame the ear first, and yeast or bacteria then take hold.4,3 Dogs with floppy ears, such as Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers, are more prone.12,2 See treating dog ear infections.
Ear mites
Ear mites cause intense itching and dark, crumbly or waxy debris. They are most common in puppies and spread easily between dogs and cats.6,3 In adult dogs, mites are less common than yeast or bacterial infections.1
Grass seeds and other foreign bodies
Grass seeds (awns or foxtails) can work their way down the ear canal, causing sudden, violent head shaking. A vet may need to remove them under sedation.10,4,9
Water in the ears
Water left in the ears after a bath or swim often causes brief head shaking that settles on its own. Drying the ears afterward helps prevent infections.1,4
Ear hematoma
Repeated, vigorous head shaking can burst a blood vessel in the ear flap, making it swollen and puffy. It usually needs treatment, and the underlying itch must be treated too.8,15 See ear hematomas in dogs.
Shaking Head but Ears Look Clean?
Clean-looking ears don't rule out a problem. Possible causes include:
- Allergies, which inflame and itch the ear before any discharge appears4
- A grass seed or other object deep in the canal16,3
- Middle ear disease, which can be present behind a normal-looking eardrum16
- Growths in the ear canal3,5
- Head tremors, which can look like head shaking (see below)1
Your vet can look deep into the ear canal with an otoscope, which a home check can't do.3
Head Shaking or Head Tremors?
Head shaking is something a dog does on purpose. Idiopathic head tremors are involuntary up-and-down or side-to-side bobbing episodes, most often seen in Bulldogs, Boxers, Labradors and Doberman Pinschers.1,13 During episodes, dogs usually stay alert, and many can be distracted out of them. Most episodes are short, and many dogs improve without treatment.13,17 However, head tremors can sometimes have a brain-related cause, especially in older dogs with other neurological signs, so they should be checked by a vet.18 Filming an episode helps your vet tell the difference.1
What Your Vet Will Do
- Look into both ear canals with an otoscope and check the eardrum, sometimes under sedation if the ears are painful.3,5
- Examine a sample of ear debris under the microscope (cytology) to choose the right treatment, and check for mites.3,5
- Remove any foreign body.4
- Look for the underlying cause in recurrent cases, for example with a food trial or allergy testing.1
- Recheck the ears over the next few weeks to make sure the infection has cleared.5
What Not to Do
- Don't use cotton swabs in the ear canal; they can push debris deeper and damage the eardrum.5,19
- Don't put vinegar mixtures, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or other home remedies in sore ears.5,19,20
- Don't use over-the-counter ear drops without a vet check. If the eardrum is damaged, some products can cause hearing loss.3,14
- Don't clean an ear that is red, swollen or painful until your vet has seen it.19,20
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my dog keep shaking his head?
Most often an ear infection, often linked to allergies. Ear mites, grass seeds and water in the ear are other common causes.
Why is my dog shaking his head but his ears are clean?
Allergies, a deep foreign body or middle ear disease can all cause head shaking without visible dirt. A vet can check deeper in the ear.
Is head shaking an emergency?
Usually not, but see a vet the same day if there is a head tilt, loss of balance or severe pain, and promptly if an ear flap is swollen.
Can I treat my dog's ear infection at home?
It's best not to. The right treatment depends on the cause, and some drops are unsafe if the eardrum is damaged.
What does it mean if my dog shakes his head and scratches his ear?
The ear is itchy or sore, most often from an infection, allergies or mites.
Why does my dog's head bob?
Involuntary head bobbing may be an idiopathic head tremor. Film it and show your vet.
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Sources and further reading
This article was written and fact-checked on October 18, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:
- Coates J. Dog Shaking Head? Here's When To Worry. PetMD (reviewed by Kearley M), updated January 2026.
- Meyers H. Why Is My Dog Shaking? American Kennel Club, April 2022.
- Weir M, Panning A, Ward E. Ear Infections in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated April 2026.
- Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. Itchy ear problems. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (DogWatch), accessed October 2026.
- Roman N. Ear Infections and Otitis Externa in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), reviewed April 2026.
- Barnes C, Weir M, Ward E. Ear Mites in Cats and Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated March 2025.
- Saridomichelakis MN, Farmaki R, Leontides LS, Koutinas AF. Aetiology of canine otitis externa: a retrospective study of 100 cases. Vet Dermatol. 2007;18(5):341-347.
- Weir M, Williams K, Llera R, Ward E. Aural Hematoma in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated April 2026.
- Bailey P. Foxtails pose autumn threat to dogs. UC Davis News, September 1998.
- Brennan KE, Ihrke PJ. Grass awn migration in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 182 cases. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1983;182(11):1201-1204.
- Roman N. Otitis Media and Interna in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), reviewed April 2026.
- O'Neill DG, Volk AV, Soares T, et al. Frequency and predisposing factors for canine otitis externa in the UK - a primary veterinary care epidemiological view. Canine Med Genet. 2021;8:7.
- Shell LG, Berezowski J, Rishniw M, Nibblett BM, Kelly P. Clinical and breed characteristics of idiopathic head tremor syndrome in 291 dogs: a retrospective study. Vet Med Int. 2015;2015:165463.
- Hoff S. Otitis Externa in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (professional version), reviewed September 2025, updated April 2026.
- Roman N. Disorders of the Outer Ear in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), reviewed April 2026.
- Hoff S. Otitis Media and Interna in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (professional version), reviewed December 2025, updated April 2026.
- MSPCA-Angell. Idiopathic Head Tremor Syndrome. MSPCA-Angell (reviewed by Michaels J), updated November 2025.
- Liatis T, Bhatti SFM, Dyrka M, et al. Idiopathic and structural episodic nonintentional head tremor in dogs: 100 cases (2004-2022). J Vet Intern Med. 2023;37(6):2301-2309.
- Weir M, Panning A. Instructions for Ear Cleaning in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated August 2025.
- Burke A. How to Clean Your Dog's Ears. American Kennel Club, updated June 2026.
About this article
Last updated : new page, written using Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA, Cornell and PetMD guidance and published research on ear disease and head tremors in dogs.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.
