Dog shaking head and scratching

[Jil Sherwood]

HI all,
My lab mix Bailey has started this morning with shaking his head frequently and scratching at his right ear, but when I look in there, it is clear. Nothing comes out on the cotton swab at all and I don't see anything. He sort of whimpered when I was using the qtip, but he has had some infections in the past in his ears and therefore is scared to have them cleaned anyway. Can he have an infection in there when there is no gunk built up? That ear flap is a tad bit pinker than the other one, but there is no odor or anything. Unfortunately, my husband is out of town so I likely can't get him to the vet before tomorrow unless it turns into a real emergency because I have the baby at home. I tried to flush it with some Ear Solutions and will wait and see. I just thought it was so strange that he is acting this way and there is nothing visible unless something crawled down in there that I can't see? If anyone has any thoughts, I'd appreciate it....
Jill

[Jesse Cruz]

i definitely think its an ear infection. the smell doesn't always have to be there, but you have all the other signs. chloe sasha did the same thing, when she had an ear infection. shaking her head, walking with it tilted, it was pink and warm inside the ear but she did have a smell.
take him in when your husband is back, i'm sure its not a major issue where it has to be seen right this second. just make sure you get him there at least by tomorrow.

[Robert]

I was jus courious in order to save time an money, could we jus buy one of those tools the vets use to look inside there ears?

[Jil Sherwood]

I remembered that last night when we were playing ball, he sort of wobbled like he got off balance, so maybe he does have something going on in the inner ear and it just isn't showing up in the outer with a lot of build up or anything. I just thought that ear infections always presented with the waxy build up of yucky stuff. That's what I am used to with him anyway....thanks!
Jill



i definitely think its an ear infection. the smell doesn't always have to be there, but you have all the other signs. chloe sasha did the same thing, when she had an ear infection. shaking her head, walking with it tilted, it was pink and warm inside the ear but she did have a smell.
take him in when your husband is back, i'm sure its not a major issue where it has to be seen right this second. just make sure you get him there at least by tomorrow.

[Patti Ramsour]

Hi! I just also wanted you to know that one time Maggie was doing the shaking the head thing and scratching and my friend said she thought it was ear mites....well I told the vet that and he looked at me funny and said well they look fine. He then decided to do an ear swab and took me in the back to look under microscope...you should have seen all those ugly little things!

Just a thought, although I think this is more likely in puppies.

Patti & Maggie

[Jesse Cruz]

i think he must have something whether its an infection or ear mites he should get looked at it. its very uncomfortable for them, does he whine at night about it ro scratch uncontrollably?

[Jil Sherwood]

no whining and he's not shaking and scratching all day. It was the worst this morning. He doesn't seem as bothered now but I'm keeping an eye on it.


i think he must have something whether its an infection or ear mites he should get looked at it. its very uncomfortable for them, does he whine at night about it ro scratch uncontrollably?