Dog Losing Hair Around Eyes and Mouth (Here’s Why)

Dog Losing Hair Around Eyes and Mouth: Common Causes

Allergies (Environmental or Food)

Allergies are one of the most common causes of facial hair loss in dogs. Allergic reactions cause intense itching, redness, and swelling around the eyes and muzzle.
Dogs may rub their face against furniture, carpets, or their paws to relieve the itching.

Over time, repeated rubbing and scratching cause the hair to break and fall out. Watery eyes from allergies can irritate the skin, creating bald patches near the eyes.

Food allergies — especially to chicken, beef, dairy, or grains — can also create itchy facial skin. Signs include licking paws, ear infections, redness, and seasonal flare-ups.

Read more: Dog losing hair in patches and scabs (Why it happens)

Yeast or Bacterial Skin Infection

Moisture around the face creates the perfect environment for yeast or bacteria to grow.

Excessive licking, drooling, or tear staining keeps the skin damp around the eyes and mouth.
This leads to redness, odor, and hair loss.

Yeast infections often cause:
• Greasy patches
• Musty smell
• Brownish discoloration around the mouth or eyes
• Itchy, thickened skin

Bacterial infections may produce crusts, pustules, or swollen areas.

These infections rarely resolve on their own and can worsen quickly on the face.

Demodex Mites (Demodectic Mange)

Demodex mites live naturally on the skin, but in some dogs — especially puppies — they multiply excessively.

Facial areas are common sites for Demodex.
Hair typically falls out in circular patches around the eyes, mouth, and muzzle.

You may notice:
• Redness
• Scaly skin
• Patches that look like “glasses” around the eyes
• Mild itching or no itching

Puppies and immune-suppressed dogs are more vulnerable.

Demodex is not contagious but requires veterinary treatment.

Irritation From Tear Stains or Excessive Moisture

Constant moisture from tear overflow or drooling can irritate the skin and cause hair loss.

Breeds like Shih Tzus, Poodles, Bulldogs, and Maltese are especially prone to excessive tearing.
The fur around the eyes becomes stained, damp, and itchy, which leads to rubbing.

Moisture under the chin from drinking water or drooling can cause the hair to thin or fall out.
Left untreated, yeast infections often develop.

Dogs with deep facial folds experience this problem more frequently.

Contact Irritation 

Facial skin reacts quickly to irritants.

Common irritants include:
• Harsh grooming products
• Plastic food bowls
• Perfumed shampoos
• Cleaning chemicals
• Detergents on bedding

If a dog develops redness and hair loss shortly after exposure, contact dermatitis may be the cause.

Many dogs rub their face after grooming or bathing, which can worsen the irritation.

Switching to stainless steel bowls and mild, fragrance-free products often helps.

Excessive Licking or Rubbing From Pain or Itchiness

Dogs often lick or rub their face instinctively when something feels wrong — like dental pain, eye irritation, or itching.

Constant licking around the mouth can thin the fur quickly. Rubbing the eyes due to debris, eyelid issues, or dry eye can cause bald patches around the eyes.

You may notice squinting, pawing at the face, or frequent trips to the water bowl. Underlying pain is a frequent but overlooked cause of facial hair loss.

Read more: Dog Losing Hair in Spots (Causes explained)

What to Do If Your Dog Is Losing Hair Around the Eyes and Mouth

Start by observing when the hair loss happens. Does your dog rub their face after being outside? After eating? After grooming? Keep the facial area clean and dry.

Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe away moisture, tear stains, or drool.

Switch to stainless steel or ceramic bowls if your dog currently uses plastic. Plastic can trap bacteria and trigger chin acne or mouth irritation.

Use a mild, fragrance-free shampoo and avoid strong cleaning agents around your dog’s bedding. Irritants can inflame the thin facial skin.

Check the eyes for redness, discharge, or squinting. Eye issues often lead to rubbing and hair loss.

Offer hypoallergenic food or treats if you suspect allergies. Many dogs show improvement when switching to limited-ingredient diets.

Discourage rubbing by providing a calm environment and monitoring your dog’s behavior. If rubbing continues despite cleaning and comfort measures, deeper issues are likely involved.

Do not apply human creams, itch sprays, or oils to the face — many can irritate or damage a dog’s eyes. If hair loss worsens, spreads, or develops odor, your dog needs veterinary evaluation.

When to Call or Visit Your Vet

You should seek veterinary care if your dog is losing hair around the eyes and mouth and any of the following signs appear:

• If the skin looks red, swollen, crusty, or painful, infection is likely. Bacterial or yeast infections need medical treatment.
• If your dog’s eyes are tearing excessively, squinting, or producing discharge, an eye condition may be the cause. Eye issues worsen quickly without treatment.
• If your dog has circular patches of hair loss or thinning fur around the eyes, Demodex mites may be involved. This condition needs diagnosis and medication.
• If the hair loss spreads to other parts of the face or body, a systemic issue or allergy may be present.  Widespread symptoms should not be monitored at home.
• If your dog is itchy, rubbing their face constantly, or causing more damage, early treatment prevents worsening. Persistent itching signals a bigger issue.
• If your dog recently had a diet change, new treats, or grooming products introduced, your vet can help identify the trigger. Reaction-based hair loss can escalate with repeated exposure.
• If your dog is very young, elderly, or immunocompromised, facial infections can become serious quickly. Prompt care ensures safe, effective treatment.

Read more: Dog Losing Hair on Legs (What it means)

Key Takeaway

When a dog is losing hair around the eyes and mouth, it typically indicates allergies, infection, mites, moisture irritation, or rubbing caused by discomfort. Facial hair loss should never be ignored, as the skin in this area is sensitive and prone to worsening.

With early detection, gentle care, and veterinary guidance when needed, most dogs recover quickly and regain healthy facial fur.