My Dogs Are Scratching With Bloody Hair and Head Shaking

Dogs are susceptible to a number of skin and coat problems including allergies, parasite infestations and infections. Dogs frequently shake their heads when they are experiencing problems in their ears or around their faces. When a dog is shaking its head and bleeding, this is a sign of a serious skin or coat problem that requires immediate veterinary care. Contact a veterinarian to get an accurate diagnosis.

  1. Ear Mites

    • Ear mites are one of the most common reasons dogs scratch their ears and shake their heads. These tiny parasites live inside the ears and inflict painful bites that can cause sores, inflammation, redness and crusty patches. Dogs with mites may scratch their ears so hard they bleed. Your vet will prescribe a topical or oral medication to treat the mites and may recommend dietary and lifestyle changes. A few drops of olive oil in the ears can help ease the pain of ear mites until you see your veterinarian, but you need a prescription to eliminate the mites.

    Allergies

    • The incidence of allergies in dogs has increased over the last several decades. Veterinarian Richard Pitcairn points out that this may be due to increased food additives and preservatives. If you recently changed your dog's diet, scratching, head shaking and bleeding all point to skin irritation as a result of allergies. Switch your dog back to the old food and contact your vet. Once an allergic reaction has begun it may continue even after the allergen has been removed. Your vet may give your dog a shot of cortisone, prescribe hypoallergenic food and test your dog for allergies.

    Fleas

    • Flea infestations frequently cause dogs to scratch themselves so much that they bleed, particularly if the fleas come in contact with your dog's face or ears. Even dogs who are on flea preventative treatment may develop fleas. Check your dog's fur for tiny black bugs and white flea eggs. If you see any fleas, consult your vet, who will prescribe a flea preventative treatment in conjunction with a treatment designed to kill the fleas living on your dog. Sometimes, dogs have allergic reactions as a result of flea bites and if this is the case with your dog, the veterinarian may give it a cortisone injection or recommend oatmeal baths.

    Fungal Infections

    • Fungi frequently infect dogs' ears. The most common symptoms are a foul odor from the ears, inflamed ears, head shaking and greasy fur. Fungal infections can be difficult to treat and your vet may prescribe several medications. Some vets recommend giving dogs yogurt or probiotics to prevent fungus from redeveloping after treatment. Give your pet an oatmeal bath to soothe the itching and follow your vet's recommendations for eliminating the fungus.