We have all seen our pooches tilt their heads to the side when they see something amusing or intriguing to them, but have you ever wondered why do our four-legged friends do that in the first place? While most of the time this cute canine behavior is normal and harmless, sometimes a dog’s head tilt can indicate a health problem. So, let’s see how to make a difference between the two.
Normal Head Tilt Or – What the hack is that?
Though this behavior is most common in puppies and younger canines, dogs of all ages can be prone to head tilting, but why exactly do they do this the way they do it?
Well, we don’t really know for sure, but there are several theories. Some experts claim that by tilting their heads, dogs are trying to get their head at a better angle in order to better see or hear something.
When your pooch tilts his head, he might be trying to hear where exactly that intriguing sound is coming from or look at something from a slightly different angle. Other theory indicates that dogs may tilt their heads in an effort to better see our facial expressions past the visual obstructions of their muzzles.
These are all plausible theories on why canines normally tilt their heads which we find extremely adorable, but let’s take a closer look at the situations when a head tilt indicates a health problem.
Head Tilt Indicating Possible Health Issues
Even though head tilt is 90% of the time harmless, this behavior can sometimes be a sign of a serious health problem. Namely, when the head tilt indicates a health problem, the dog’s head will be involuntarily tilted and it will be a constant occurrence.
If your pooch is experiencing a constant head tilt, this means he is having some kind of disturbance in vestibular system responsible for balance and coordination. Ear inflammation, infection or even some problems in the brain, can be causing this behavior as they affect the nerves and structures in the vestibular system.
If head tilt is accompanied by nystagmus, ataxia, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, you should probably pay a visit to your vet immediately. If your pooch is, however, tilting his head out of his cute moment of bewilderment, just sit back and enjoy the show.