Dogs are often seen rubbing their faces against walls, furniture, floors, and other objects. We don’t worry too much because dogs often like to do this, but we better need to understand why dogs rub their faces. Why do dogs rub their faces? If a dog is constantly rubbing its face on something, there may be something wrong with it. But if the friction is intermittent, it’s probably nothing to worry about. Things like wet or dirty fur, pain from bad teeth or eye injuries, irritation from fleas or allergies, or simply because it feels good are all potential reasons why a dog might rub his face on something.
- Allergies Some dogs develop allergies that cause them to itch and rub their faces. Inflammation of the skin can cause itchy skin or eyes, and the dog may rub his face in an attempt to scratch it. Allergies may be to foods or treats the dog eats or to household and environmental allergens such as dust mites, various grasses or pollen. They can be constant or just seasonal. Allergic dogs may have other symptoms including itchy and/or smelly ears, itchy paws and back end, and other skin changes including redness, hives and/or skin thickening.
- Fleas, Mites, and Ticks External parasites include fleas, mites (such as Demodex and scabies), and ticks. All of these parasites can bite or burrow into a dog’s skin, but not all cause itching. Fleas and scabies are usually the most itchy, and these infestations can cause itching all over the body, not just the face. Routine preventive medications should be used to prevent common skin parasites, and any dog that experiences extreme itching should be examined by a veterinarian.
- Collar irritation New or too tight collars may cause the dog to rub the face and neck on the ground, furniture or walls to relieve discomfort. If a dog has a new collar, it should be checked to make sure it is not too tight or irritating the dog’s neck. Also, if the dog has not had the collar removed and washed in a while and/or has grown or gained weight, it may now be too tight or need to be adjusted or removed. You should be able to comfortably slide two fingers under the dog’s collar.
- Things on the face Dogs with food, dirt or even water on their faces may use them to wipe things off. This could be after a meal, playing in the yard, bathing or swimming. If a dog is rubbing its face, for this reason, there is no reason to worry, but the dog may need a little help wiping its face off.
- Pain A bad tooth, other mouth pain, nose pain, or ear pain may cause the dog to rub his face on something to relieve the pain. A dog with a toothache may eat less, want only soft foods, or chew with only one side of the mouth. Bad breath, bloody saliva, and food falling out of your mouth are other signs of a dental problem. Loose, broken, or diseased teeth can cause pain and infection and need to be removed by a veterinarian. Ear pain can also cause dogs to rub their faces in an attempt to relieve their discomfort. Ear pain from infection is often accompanied by a bad smell and redness in the ear. If you suspect pain is the reason your dog is rubbing his face, you should have your dog examined by your veterinarian immediately.
- Brain Tumors Brain tumors are a rare cause of dogs rubbing their faces on something. A brain tumor can put pressure on the brain and can be painful or uncomfortable. A dog with a brain tumor may rub its head because of this discomfort, however, a brain tumor may accompany many other symptoms without signs of pain or discomfort. Seizures, changes in behavior, and changes in vision or hearing can also be signs of a brain tumor. If any of these symptoms are observed in your dog, it should be checked by a veterinarian.
- Eye irritation If a foreign object gets stuck in the dog’s eye, if there are scratches or ulcers on the cornea, or if the dog’s eyes are dry or allergic to the environment, itchy or sore eyes may occur. Both of these things can cause discomfort, causing the dog to rub his face and eyes. A dog with irritated eyes will also frequently paw their eye or close it. If an eye problem is suspected, your dog should receive immediate veterinary attention to reduce irritation and prevent the problem from getting worse.
- Smell good Dogs have a very keen sense of smell, so if they like the smell of something, they may rub their entire face and body on it because they like it so much. The item might not have a pleasant smell to us, but to a dog, it might be great. A common example of such an item is a dead animal found outside the yard. Therefore, if you notice your dog rolling around in a specific spot in your yard, you should investigate and remove anything that could be a health hazard, such as wildlife droppings or carcasses.
- Low calcium levels Low calcium or hypocalcemia can also cause facial itching and facial friction. Low calcium can occur for a variety of medical reasons and may include other signs such as convulsions, seizures, restlessness, aggression, and/or excessive drinking or urination. This condition must be diagnosed and monitored by a veterinarian, so any dog with these clinical signs should be checked immediately.
