5 Reasons Why Dachshunds Shake Their Ears
The constant head shaking and ear scratching can be so frustrating for our little long dogs. Ear problems are common, but with the right care, they don’t have to be. Identifying the root cause of your doxie’s discomfort is the first step toward finding relief.
Discover 5 Reasons Why Dachshunds Shake Their Ears and what you can do about it!
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Table of Contents
Dachshund’s Ear Shape
The Dachshund’s ear shape is called the drop ear, because it hangs down low. Dogs with the drop ear shape tend to have poor air flow to the inner ear compared to other ear types.
This makes Dachshund ears more prone to holding moisture, causing infections.
Low hanging dog ears also make a cozy home for nasty fleas, mites, and ticks who will breed and defecate inside a dog’s ear, causing more issues.
Post You May Like: 8 Easy Ways To Keep TICKS Off of Your Dachshund
Why Do Dachshunds Shake Their Ears?
Your Dachshund may be shaking their head because they have dirty ears that need cleaning or they may have an ear infection, ear mites, allergies, or it could be a serious health issue.
1. Dirty Ears:
Doxies will shake their head and scratch at their ears if they need to be cleaned.
How Often Should You Clean Your Dog’s Ears?
Inspect your Dachshund’s ears once a week and clean them only when you see visible wax, debris, or notice a faint odor.
Over-cleaning can strip the ear’s natural defenses and actually increase the risk of infection.
My Dachshund’s ears usually need cleaning every 3-4 weeks.
Pro-Tip for Swimmers: If your Dachshund is a swimmer, make sure to dry their ears completely after they splish-splash around so moisture doesn’t get trapped.
How To Clean Your Dachshund’s Ears:
This is a super easy 5-step ear cleaning process that my vet recommended to me. I use this method to clean all of my dog’s ears with ease.
- Saturate a medium sized cotton ball with high-quality dog ear cleaner. I like to use VetWELL Dog Ear Cleaner (from Amazon). It is all-natural, smells nice, and my dogs don’t mind it.
- Take the saturated cotton ball and put it inside your dog’s ear.
- Gently massage the outside of the ear to move that wet cotton ball around the inside of the ear for about 10-15 seconds.
- Use the wet cotton ball to wipe the outer ear canal.
- Use dry cotton balls to soak up any excess moisture.
Repeat this process for the other ear. It is normal for your pup to shake their ears during and after this process.
Watch our Step-By-Step Video: How To Clean Your Dachshund’s Ears
2. Ear Infection:
If your Dachshund continues to act like their ears are bothering them and cleaning them doesn’t do the job – it’s time to get them checked out at the vet.
When to skip the DIY: If your doxie’s ear is bright red, painful to the touch, smelly, or producing a dark discharge, stop and schedule a visit with your vet. Those are signs of an active infection, not a cleanup job you can do at home.
Don’t wait to visit the vet, your pup’s ear infection can get worse or even cause hearing loss!
Symptoms Of An Ear Infection:
3. Ear Mites:
If you notice your Dachshund scratching their ears, they may have some nasty ear mites!
What is an Ear Mite?
An ear mite is a small parasite that lives inside an animal’s ears. They eat the skin cells, earwax, and the blood of their host. They leave their waste and lay their eggs in the host’s ear canal, causing infestations and ear infections.
How Can You Tell If Your Dog Has Ear Mites?
Here are some of the common symptoms of dog ear mites:
- Shaking their head
- Constantly scratching their ears
- Reddish-Brown crust forming on outer ear
- Brown chunks in the ears (looks like dirt or coffee grounds)
- Hearing loss
Can Humans Get Ear Mites From Dogs?
Yes, ear mites can be spread to humans, but it is rare. Ear mites are very contagious to other animals in the household though. If you have other pets in your home, they will ALL need treatment to get rid of the whole ear mite tribe.
Can Ear Mites Live on Furniture?
Yup! Make sure to clean all carpet, blankets, and bedding to eradicate the mites.
4. Allergies:
Your Dachshund may shake their ears because they are allergic to their dog food. If you notice symptoms like paw licking and chewing, ear shaking, itching, and rubbing their nose – it’s probably a food allergy.
An allergic response can occur when the allergen is eaten, absorbed in the skin, or inhaled. Your doxie’s ears will then produce a heavy amount of ear wax, which can lead to an ear infection.
If your pup is constantly getting ear infections, you may want to consider changing up their dog food or have your vet perform an allergy test.
Change Their Food: Here’s a delicious homemade fresh dog food recipe my doxies absolutely love: “Best Dog Food Recipe for Dachshunds.“
Post You May Like: Dachshund Allergies: 3 Proven Treatments That Help
5. Serious Health Conditions:
There are some health issues that can cause your Dachshund to excessively shake their ears. This includes ear vasculitis, neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases, or hypothyroidism.
Ear vasculitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the vessels in the ear flap. This disease mostly affects small breeds like Dachshunds and Jack Russell Terriers. Ear vasculitis can be caused by fly bites or immune disorders.
If your dog is constantly digging at their ears or shaking their head, they could actually rupture blood vessels or cause a hematoma.
It is important to get your Dachshund checked out by their vet to diagnose any of these more serious health conditions.
Next Steps:
If your doxie continues to shake their head or scratch their ears, consult your vet to rule out infections, mites, or other health conditions.
Next up, let’s talk about another essential part of your Dachshund’s care – Bath Time! Learn how to safely give your little long dog a bath and keep their coat shiny and healthy in our post “How to Safely Give a Dachshund a Bath.“
Read Next: How To Safely Give A Dachshund A Bath
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MY DOG INCESIVELY SHAKES HIS HEAD
Thank you so much for lots to think about and investigate for our beautiful and fun CAMI. You wrote in such a way I could understand what you were saying and you made it an easy read. Thank you again!
Hello Melody, What a nice compliment. Thank you, you made my day. I am so glad that you enjoyed this post. Hugs for CAMI and take care.