A dog losing hair near the eyes may develop thinning fur around one or both eyes, a small bald patch beside the eyelid, or hair loss extending toward the muzzle or forehead.
The skin may look normal, or it may become red, flaky, crusted, darkened, or irritated. Some dogs also squint, tear excessively, rub their face, or develop discharge from the affected eye.
Hair loss in this location deserves particular attention because the skin around the eyes can be affected by both skin conditions and problems involving the eyelids or eyes.
The exact pattern, presence or absence of itching, appearance of the skin, and any changes in the eye itself can help determine what may be happening.
Hair loss is a sign rather than a diagnosis, and different conditions can produce similar changes.
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Dog Losing Hair Near Eyes: Why It Happens
Dog losing hair near eyes can happen when inflammation, infection, parasites, or irritation affects the skin and hair follicles around the eye. A dog may also lose hair because discomfort causes repeated scratching or rubbing of the face.
In some cases, the hair loss is related more directly to the eyelids or surrounding eye tissues.
Eyelid inflammation, abnormal eyelid anatomy, excessive tearing, or another source of ocular irritation can cause rubbing and secondary hair loss around the eye.
Dog Losing Hair Near Eyes: Common Causes
Demodectic Mange
Demodicosis is an important consideration when a dog develops a small bald area around the eye, particularly in a young dog.
Localized demodicosis commonly produces one or several small, well-defined areas of hair loss with redness and scaling, and the areas around the eyes can be affected. Itching is often mild or absent.
A veterinarian can use skin scrapings and other examination methods to determine whether Demodex mites are responsible. The appearance of a bald patch alone cannot confirm mange.
Related: Dog losing hair in patches and scabs (What it means)
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection that can cause bald, scaly areas with broken hairs. The face is one of the common locations affected in dogs, so a patch of hair loss near the eye can be consistent with this condition.
The skin may be scaly or crusty, although the appearance varies. Because ringworm can spread between animals and people, suspected cases should be properly diagnosed and managed with veterinary guidance.
Allergies
Allergies can cause itching around the face and eyes. A dog may scratch its face with a paw or rub its head against furniture, flooring, or other surfaces, gradually breaking or removing the hair.
Allergic skin disease can also affect the ears, paws, abdomen, and other areas.
If hair loss near the eyes occurs together with widespread itching or recurrent ear problems, an underlying allergic skin disorder may be considered.
Related: Dog losing hair with blacks on the skin (Causes and what to do)
Eyelid Inflammation
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. It can cause redness, swelling, itching, crusts, flakes, small bumps, and discharge. Dogs may scratch or rub their eyelids, producing secondary trauma and loss of hair around the affected area.
Blepharitis can have several causes, including allergies, infections, parasites, trauma, congenital eyelid abnormalities, and other inflammatory conditions. Some cases can also involve the conjunctiva or cornea.
Eye Irritation and Excessive Rubbing
A dog with an irritated or painful eye may repeatedly rub its face or paw at the eye. Over time, this mechanical trauma can break hairs and create a bald area around the eye.
Possible sources of eye irritation include foreign material, inflammation, corneal problems, eyelid abnormalities, or other ocular conditions.
Hair loss caused by rubbing therefore may be a secondary sign rather than the primary skin problem.
Excessive Tearing
Excessive tearing, or epiphora, can keep the fur and skin beneath the eye continually damp. Persistent moisture can contribute to skin irritation, staining, and sometimes secondary infection.
The underlying reason for excessive tearing can vary. Problems with tear drainage, irritation of the eye, or hair interfering with the normal drainage system are among the possibilities.
When hair loss occurs beneath the eye along with persistent wetness or staining, both the skin and tear-drainage system may need evaluation.
Related: Dog losing hair and itching (Here’s why)
Ear Disease Causing Facial Scratching
An itchy or painful ear can cause a dog to scratch the side of its face repeatedly. This can lead to broken or missing hair near the eye, particularly on the same side as the affected ear.
If the hair loss is accompanied by head shaking, ear scratching, odor, discharge, or sensitivity around the ear, the ears should be examined as part of the veterinary evaluation.
Bacterial or Yeast Skin Infection
Bacterial and yeast infections can develop in irritated skin and may cause redness, scaling, crusting, odor, or discomfort. Repeated scratching or rubbing can then contribute to hair loss.
These infections can occur as primary skin problems or develop secondarily to allergies, parasites, or another condition that has disrupted the skin barrier.
Identifying the underlying trigger can be important when infections keep returning.
Flea Allergy and Other Parasites
Flea allergy dermatitis can cause significant itching and self-trauma. Although the lower back and tail base are classic locations, a very itchy dog may scratch other areas, including the face.
Other parasites can also cause facial itching and hair loss. Mites are particularly important because some forms of mange can produce localized hair loss around the face and eyes.
Trauma or Local Irritation
A dog may develop a bald patch near the eye after scratching itself, rubbing against a rough surface, or experiencing another localized injury.
A small injury can initially look like simple hair loss, but swelling, tenderness, crusting, or a wound may become apparent later.
Any injury close to the eye deserves extra care because the eye itself can be affected even when the surrounding skin appears to be the main problem.
Eyelid Abnormalities
Eyelid abnormalities can cause chronic irritation and secondary hair loss around the eye. For example, entropion causes the eyelid to roll inward so that hairs from the eyelid can rub against the cornea.
Dogs may squint, tear excessively, or hold the eye partly closed.
Other eyelid or eyelash abnormalities can similarly irritate the eye. These conditions are especially important to recognize because the underlying eye problem may require treatment rather than simply addressing the missing hair.
Hereditary or Follicular Hair Disorders
Some dogs develop inherited or follicular disorders that cause patterned or localized hair loss without substantial itching or inflammation.
These causes are generally considered after more common problems such as parasites, infections, and inflammatory skin disease have been evaluated.
In some cases, a skin biopsy is needed to examine the hair follicles directly.
Other Inflammatory or Immune-Mediated Skin Conditions
Less commonly, inflammatory or immune-mediated skin disorders can affect the face and areas around the eyes.
These may cause crusting, redness, pigment changes, hair loss, or lesions in other parts of the body as well.
Because several of these disorders can resemble infections or parasites, additional testing may be needed when the problem is persistent, unusual, or not responding as expected.
Related: Dog Losing Near Ears (Causes and treatment)
Dog Losing Hair Near Eyes but Not Itching
A dog losing hair near the eyes without itching may have localized demodicosis, a follicular disorder, ringworm, or another skin condition that produces little obvious discomfort.
Localized demodicosis, for example, commonly causes small areas of hair loss around the face with mild or absent itching.
However, no itching does not automatically mean the problem is harmless. Hair loss can occur before other skin changes become obvious, and some eye or eyelid disorders may cause discomfort that is subtle.
Dog Losing Hair Around Eyes and Squinting
Hair loss around the eyes accompanied by squinting can indicate eye discomfort. This can be due to eyelid inflammation, corneal irritation, abnormal eyelashes, entropion, and other eye problems that can cause squinting and increased tearing.
Some eyelid abnormalities can also allow hairs to rub against the cornea and potentially cause painful damage.
If a dog is persistently squinting or keeping an eye partly closed, the eye itself should be examined rather than assuming the hair loss is simply a skin problem.
Dog Losing Hair Under Eyes
Hair loss directly beneath the eyes may occur with excessive tearing, skin irritation, infection, or repeated rubbing.
Constant moisture beneath the eyes can cause reddish-brown staining and irritation of the surrounding fur and skin. Problems with tear drainage or irritation of the eye can contribute to persistent tearing.
If the area is becoming red, sore, crusted, swollen, or malodorous, veterinary examination can help determine whether there is secondary skin infection or an underlying eye or tear-drainage problem.
When to Call or Visit the Vet
Veterinary evaluation is appropriate when hair loss near the eyes persists, spreads, or occurs with changes involving the skin or eye.
Contact a veterinarian if your dog has:
Persistent or rapidly spreading hair loss around the eye
Squinting or holding the eye partly or completely closed
Excessive tearing or new eye discharge
Redness, swelling, or obvious irritation around the eye
Frequent face rubbing or pawing at the eye
Crusts, scabs, sores, or bleeding
A cloudy or unusually colored eye
Significant sensitivity when the area is touched
Hair loss occurring around both eyes or in other parts of the body
Recurrent skin or ear problems
Low energy, appetite changes, or other signs of illness
Eye pain, persistent squinting, significant swelling, or a visibly damaged or cloudy eye warrants prompt veterinary attention because some eye conditions can worsen without treatment.
Dog Losing Hair Near Eyes: Treatment
Treatment depends on whether the problem originates in the skin, hair follicles, eyelids, or eye.
The veterinarian may examine the skin and coat, inspect the eyelids and eye surface, and perform tests such as skin scrapings for mites, cytology or cultures for infection, or fungal testing when ringworm is suspected.
Eye-specific testing may be appropriate when tearing, squinting, discharge, or suspected corneal irritation is present.
A biopsy may be recommended for persistent or unusual hair loss when a follicular or inflammatory disorder is suspected. Treatment is then directed at the underlying diagnosis rather than the hair loss itself.
Key Takeaway
A dog losing hair near the eyes may have a skin condition such as demodicosis, ringworm, allergies, infection, or irritation, but hair loss can also occur because an eye or eyelid problem is causing repeated rubbing.
Localized demodicosis is particularly relevant when a young dog develops a small, relatively non-itchy bald patch around the eye.
Because the eye is a sensitive structure, hair loss in this area should be considered alongside any squinting, tearing, discharge, redness, swelling, or face rubbing.
Persistent or unexplained hair loss should be evaluated so the underlying skin or eye problem can be identified and treated appropriately.