head shaking

[rottgirl]

Hi all

The last 2 nights Paradise has been shaking her head an awful lot. We clean her ears on a regular basic and they seem to be pretty clean. I looked in them and don't see anything, before I take her to the vet just wondering what she might have. She does go to daycare 2/3 days a week I'm thinking she might have picked something up there.

Any advise on what it might be would be helpful

thanks
Michele

[rottielover2004]

sounds like an ear infection to me, but I am not a vet

[2rotties2luv]

I would have the vet check it out. It may be an ear infection down deep in the ear canal which hasn't produced enough gunk for you to see it yet in the upper portion of the ear canal.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Julius did the shaking head thing right before his really nasty ear infection. I think a visit to the vet is in order...

[Judi W]

Well, I have seen dogs who had a nicely hidden tick down in the ear. You should do a careful exam of all the crooks and cranies first. (dont' forget the little flap on the leather)

[StephanieandToby]

I hope she doesn't have a piece of Spear Grass in her Ear Canal....that could require surgery.

Is she walked in grassy areas?

Does the ear have a strong odour? (infection or yeast)

Is she showing pain when her ear is handled?

Whatever the answer, if she hasn't stopped shaking her head a Vet trip is in order.

[Karinka200]

Agreed...vet trip. We regularly clean our dogs' ears. But just this week, Rose started shaking her head constantly. (Started at 1:00 in the morning!!!) Couldn't see anything as I had just cleaned her ears. Took her to the vet and she had a NASTY ear infection deep down in the ear (couldn't see it without scope). It turned out to be a bacterial infection...don't know what type yet. Still waiting to here from the vet on that. She is on antibiotics already...and the shaking has stopped.

Good luck....

[rottgirl]

Thanks guys

I made an appointment for tonight with the vet I don't want the girl to go all weekend being miserable. She doesn't seem to be in any pain but I'm sure it's bothering her. Keep you all posted - hope it's nothing. Her ears don't smell or anything.

Michele

[rottgirl]

Back from the vets office - Paradise has a mild ear infection in her left ear. He was able to see it right away her ear was red and swollen. He thinks its a yeast infection. He was glad we got her in before it turned into a full blown infection. She is on an antibotic for the next 7 days and the shaking has stopped.

While we were there we mentioned she seems to be licking herself after she comes in from peeps he checked and she had a thick greenish discharge he is going to send it to the lab to see what it is. I can't remember the name but I think it starts with an "S". He mentioned since she was fixed before she had her first heat it could be the problem. We won't have the results back until next week, but for now she won't be shaking her head. I guess one thing at a time!

thanks everyone,
Michele

[Bastianboy]

So glad you took her in. She must be very happy now. How old is she? I'm just curious about the spaying thing. Our future new pup has to go through one cycle before we can fix her, but just trying to get some info.

[rottgirl]

She is about 15 months old, we adopted her from Recycled Rotts. She was spayed when we got her and did not go thru a cycle. According to our vet he does not feel it's necessary to have a cycle before spaying. Our first girl (at the bridge 6/04) never had a cycle and she never experienced any problmes.

[Karinka200]

So glad Paradise is feeling better. Our Rose has a history of "explosive" ear infections. They just seem to "explode" into nasty ear infections so quickly. We are aware of this and "religiously" clean her ears...but the infections always seem to manifest themselves deep in the ear canal. We are now going to consider other "holistic" treatments in an attempt to avoid the ear infections. (After the positive experience we have had with our senior cat and holistic treatments (see posts in Vet Section re: rodent ulcers), we are going to try the same route with Rose.) Isn't is amazing how quickly the shaking stops once they get the meds they need? It was almost immediate with Rose once she had her first dose of antibiotics.

Get well soon Paradise!!!

[Judy Chrusch]

If it comes back and she has frequent ear infections then it may be a food allergy, just something to think about . I hope she feels better soon.

Judy