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English Setter

My English Setter, male, one-year-old this month, shakes his head repeatedly during the course of the day. Sometimes it is a very brusque flapping of the ears, other times just a quick light snap. He has been visited by two vets. Reportedly, his ears could not be any cleaner. I have removed his collar(s). Initially, I thought this to be a nervous reaction, a tick, a 'reset' of sorts, psychological. Now I am of mind that it is physiological problem and intend to further investigate it with yet another veterinarian.

Has any reader experienced this problem or have knowledge thereof? I would be most appreciative for your comments. Thank you.

I have not had that problem with a dog but I personally had something irritating my ear for months. The docs could see nothing. Because I kept insisting something was there a nurse flushed my ear. I felt something shift so she had a look and was able to see a tiny thread of something that was extremely difficult to see. A few more flushes and it was finally gone. You could try gently flushing the dog's ears with warm water.

Have you noticed it at any particular time or in connection with a specific activity like barking or cold air? We had one dog that shook her ears to go out. She had a slight yeast infection and when she barked to go out it irritated her ear so she shook her head. It ended up she learned to connect that with going out and taught it to the younger dogs. It made for an interesting morning when they all had to go out flapping their ears.

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Gloria

Gloria,

Thank you for your kind attention and please excuse my late response.

I will be visiting a vet the in a week's time, one that I know and trust implicitly since he operated on my previous Setter. He has suggested a procedure for locating the problem and has cited several possibilities as to the cause—that which no other vets have offered. Unlike some months ago, I am now convinced the problem is indeed physiological, perhaps a liquid in the inner ear.

I would be more than glad to let you know what we discover. Thank you again.

Steven

I'm glad you have a vet willing to look at all the possibilities. I'd like to know what the problem is if you or your vet can figure it out.

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Gloria