Why Does My Dog Keep Shaking His Head? Ear Problems Explained

If your dog has started shaking his head more than usual, you are not imagining it. Something is going on. And nine times out of ten, it is their ears.

I know that feeling. You hear the flapping start from another room and think, "again?" Jeff's Frenchie, Louie, was the dog who first taught me how quickly ear discomfort can escalate. One week he was fine. The next, he was shaking his head so hard his ears were slapping against his face, and the smell coming from his ear canal was something else entirely.

Head shaking is your dog's way of telling you something feels wrong. They cannot point at their ear and say, "this bit, right here." So they shake. And shake. And shake.

Let me walk you through what might be causing it, when you need to worry, and what you can actually do to help.

Why Dogs Shake Their Heads: The Basics

A quick shake after a bath or a roll in the grass is completely normal. Dogs shake their heads to clear water, dust, or anything that has landed in or around their ears.

But when the shaking becomes constant, repetitive, or frantic, that is a different story.

The ear canal in dogs is shaped like an L. It goes down vertically, then takes a sharp turn inward. That shape is brilliant for protecting the eardrum, but it also means moisture, wax, and debris can get trapped at that bend. Once something gets stuck down there, your dog cannot get it out on their own. So they shake.

The Most Common Reasons for Persistent Head Shaking

1. Moisture Buildup

This is one I see constantly, especially in summer. Dogs who love puddles, rivers, the sea, or even just a good garden hose session can end up with water sitting in their ear canals for hours.

BamBam, Hazels rescue British Bulldog, is the perfect example. She is never happier than when she is charging through puddles or wading into the sea. But all that water goes straight into those ears. Without proper drying and cleaning afterwards, that warm, damp environment becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast.

If your dog swims or gets their head wet regularly, moisture is one of the first things to rule out.

2. Wax and Debris Buildup

Some dogs just produce more ear wax than others. Breeds with floppy ears, narrow ear canals, or lots of hair around the ear opening tend to accumulate wax faster. That wax traps dirt, grass seeds, and other debris, which can cause irritation and (you guessed it) more head shaking.

Honey is one of Hazel's with big, beautiful ears. Lovely to look at, but they create a warm, closed environment that wax absolutely loves. She gets a weekly ear clean as part of her routine, and it makes a huge difference.

3. Yeast Overgrowth

Yeast thrives in warm, moist, dark places. A dog's ear canal ticks every single box. When the ear environment gets out of balance (often after moisture exposure, or in dogs prone to skin sensitivity), yeast can overgrow and cause real discomfort.

The signs of a yeasty ear are quite distinctive: a brown, waxy discharge, a musty or "bready" smell, and redness inside the ear flap. Your dog may shake their head, scratch at their ears, or rub their head along the floor or furniture.

Louie struggled with this on and off for months before Jeff found a routine that worked. It was not one product or one fix. It was consistent, gentle cleaning that helped keep things in balance.

4. Ear Mites

More common in puppies and dogs who spend time around cats, ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal. They cause intense itching, and you will often see a dark, crumbly discharge that looks a bit like coffee grounds.

If you suspect ear mites, please see your vet. They will need to confirm with a swab and may recommend a specific treatment.

5. Allergies and Skin Sensitivity

Dogs with environmental or food sensitivities often show it in their ears first. The ear canal is lined with skin, so anything that triggers a reaction elsewhere on the body can also cause inflammation, redness, and itching inside the ears.

This is something I have seen with so many of our dogs over the years. GiGi, our rescue Frenchie, still flares up when something triggers her skin, and her ears are always one of the first places to show it.

6. Foreign Bodies

Grass seeds (especially those nasty barley grass awns in summer) can work their way into the ear canal and cause sudden, violent head shaking. This tends to come on very quickly after a walk, and your dog may tilt their head to one side.

This is a vet visit. Do not try to remove a foreign body from your dog's ear yourself. You could push it further in or damage the ear canal.

7. Ear Infections (Otitis)

When any of the above issues go unchecked, they can develop into a full ear infection. Bacterial infections, yeast infections, or a combination of both can cause significant pain, swelling, and discharge.

Signs of an ear infection include:

• Persistent, frantic head shaking
• Yelping or pulling away when you touch the ear
• Swelling or redness inside the ear flap
• Yellow, green, or dark brown discharge
• A strong, unpleasant smell
• Head tilting to one side

If you are seeing these signs, please get to your vet. Ear infections need proper diagnosis and often require prescription treatment, especially if the eardrum is involved.

When to See Your Vet (The Red Flags)

Not every head shake needs a vet visit. But some absolutely do. Please see your vet if you notice:

• Head shaking that has lasted more than 24 to 48 hours
• Any discharge that is yellow, green, or bloody
• Swelling around or inside the ear
• Your dog crying, yelping, or flinching when you touch the ear
• Head tilting or loss of balance
• Broken skin or a haematoma (a puffy, swollen ear flap)
• Your dog is a puppy, a senior, or is unwell in other ways

If your dog has broken skin in or around the ear, or is showing signs of pain, please speak to your vet before applying any product.

What You Can Do at Home

For dogs who are prone to ear discomfort (and honestly, that is a lot of dogs), a gentle, consistent ear care routine can make a real difference.

Here is what I have learned from years of living with ear prone dogs:

Keep ears dry. After swimming, baths, or walks in the rain, gently dry the outer ear with a soft cloth. Do not push anything into the ear canal.

Clean regularly, but gently. A weekly ear clean with a gentle, natural ear cleaner can help remove wax and debris from the upper ear before it builds up. For dogs like Honey, this is just part of the routine now.

Know the difference between an ear cleaner and ear drops. An ear cleaner is for the upper ear and general maintenance. Ear drops are for the inner ear, and you use them when there is an issue (extra gunk, more dirt than usual, early signs of discomfort) or as a preventative for dogs who are prone to ear problems. They are two different products that do two different jobs, and using the right one at the right time makes a real difference.

Watch for early signs. A bit of extra head shaking, a subtle change in smell, or a slight colour change inside the ear flap. Catching things early means you can act before it becomes a bigger problem. For dogs prone to ear trouble, this is when you would reach for the ear drops.

Use the right products. This is where I will mention what we make here at Herbal Dog Co. Our Ear Comfort range includes both an ear cleaner for routine maintenance and ear drops for when your dog needs deeper support. Both were formulated by qualified herbalists and nutritionists specifically to help support healthy ears. We use botanical ingredients chosen to help soothe and maintain the ear's natural balance.

I developed them because I could not find anything gentle enough for dogs like Louie, who needed regular cleaning but reacted to the harsh chemical formulas available at the time.

Trusted by 400,000+ dogs and rated 4.9 by 22,000 customers, it is become one of the products I am most proud of.

Breeds More Prone to Ear Problems

Some breeds are simply more susceptible to ear issues because of their anatomy:

• Floppy eared breeds (Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Beagles): Less airflow, more moisture retention
• Narrow ear canal breeds (Bulldogs, Frenchies, Pugs): Wax and debris get trapped more easily
• Hairy eared breeds (Poodles, Schnauzers, some Terriers): Hair can block ventilation
• Water loving breeds (Labs, Retrievers, Spaniels): Constant moisture exposure

If your dog falls into any of these categories, a regular ear care routine is not optional. It is essential.

The Bottom Line

Head shaking is communication. Your dog is telling you something is not right in their ears. The sooner you listen, the sooner you can help.

For most dogs, the answer is not dramatic. It is a consistent, gentle ear care routine that keeps moisture, wax, and yeast from building up. It is knowing what your dog's ears look and smell like when they are healthy, so you can spot changes early. And it is knowing when to call your vet rather than trying to manage things at home.

If you are not sure where to start, have a look at our Ear Comfort range. And if your dog's ears are already causing them real discomfort, please see your vet first. We will be here when you are ready for maintenance.