What this means
A quick rub of the muzzle after eating or after play is ordinary. It is a different matter when the rubbing keeps coming back, is persistent and seems to matter more to your dog than anything around it. That is a sign that something in the face is irritating or hurting: the skin itches, the teeth or gums hurt, something is lodged in the nose, or an eye is uncomfortable.
Where and how your dog rubs tells you a lot. Rubbing the cheeks and around the eyes may point to itchy skin. Rubbing the corners of the mouth or the jaw makes you think of the teeth and gums. If there is sneezing, head shaking or a runny nose as well, the nose may be involved. If your dog presses at one eye or squints, the eye itself may be the problem. Write down which side and exactly where your dog rubs.
Look at the other signs too: whether the skin is red, bald or crusted, whether the breath smells unpleasant, and whether your dog has stopped chewing hard food or chews on one side. The picture you build from these observations will help the vet a great deal. Do not guess the cause yourself, because it may not lie where it seems to.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
-
Allergic itch
An allergy to food, pollen or other things in the surroundings often itches the muzzle, the area around the eyes and the ears. Your dog rubs, and the skin turns red.
About the condition: Allergies (food, skin and environmental) -
Atopic dermatitis
A long-term allergic skin disease can show up as itching on the face, paws and armpits. The itch may get worse at certain times of year.
About the condition: Atopic dermatitis -
Sensitive or irritated skin
Skin folds around the muzzle can become damp and inflamed, and some products or surfaces irritate the skin. The skin is red and may be crusted or smell unpleasant.
About the condition: Sensitive skin -
Tooth and gum pain
Sore teeth or inflamed gums make a dog rub its muzzle or jaw. There may also be bad breath, more drooling or chewing on one side.
About the condition: Dental and gum disease -
Problems in the nose
A foreign body lodged in the nose, such as a grass awn, or inflammation of the nose irritates it. Your dog may sneeze or snort, and there may be discharge from one nostril.
-
Discomfort in the eyes or ears
An irritated eye or a painful ear may lead a dog to rub its face to ease it. The eye may be red, watery or squinted, and your dog may shake its head as well.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Where on the face, and on which side, your dog rubs
- Whether the skin is red, bald or crusted
- Whether there is sneezing, head shaking or discharge from the nose
- Whether the breath smells bad or your dog chews on one side
- Whether an eye is red, watery or squinted
- Whether the itch gets worse at certain times of year or after certain foods
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the rubbing keeps up for several days, if the skin is red or bald, if there is sneezing or head shaking, or if your dog eats less well. If the face swells suddenly or an eye looks painful, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Allergies (food, skin and environmental) Skin and coat An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to substances that are essentially harmless, such as pollen, house dust mites, moulds, flea saliva or an ingredient in food. In dogs it shows up mainly in the skin and ears, and constant itching wears a dog down and can open the way to skin infections. More than one trigger can be involved at once, so finding the cause takes patience.
- Atopic dermatitis Skin and coat Atopic dermatitis is a long-term allergic skin disease driven by an inherited tendency: the skin overreacts to environmental allergens such as pollen, house dust mites or moulds. These dogs have a weaker skin barrier, so allergens get in more easily, and scratching irritates the skin even further. Signs can begin in young dogs and, depending on the allergen, may flare up at certain times of year.
- Sensitive skin Skin and coat Sensitive skin gets irritated easily: it turns red, itches or flakes, and skin folds that trap moisture can become inflamed. The irritation can come from a food or environmental allergy, parasites, unsuitable grooming products or other causes, and constant itching takes a real toll on a dog's comfort. What exactly is bothering a particular dog's skin is for a vet to work out.
- Dental and gum disease Digestion and liver Dental and gum disease starts with plaque that hardens over time into tartar, and the bacteria multiplying beneath it cause inflammation of the gums. Left alone, the inflammation can damage the tissues and bone that hold the tooth in place, so teeth loosen and fall out. A sore mouth troubles a dog every day, and infection in the mouth can affect other organs too.
- Nasal disease Breathing This is an umbrella term for various problems of the nasal passages and sinuses: infections, inflammation, foreign bodies such as grass awns lodged in the nose, tooth root disease or tumours. A dog's nose matters not only for breathing but also for smell, the sense through which it gets to know the world. Lingering nose trouble can have very different causes, so it is worth showing to a vet.
- Conjunctivitis Eyes Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin pink membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the white of the eye. It can be caused by dust and other irritants, allergy, infection, dry eye or faults of the eyelids or lashes, and sometimes it is part of a general illness; what caused the inflammation is for a vet to work out.
Body systems: Skin and coat Digestion and liver Breathing Eyes