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Hi Su,

It is difficult to say from your description why your dog scratches his face as lots of things could cause this problem.

Firstly, the most common cause of any itching problem in pets is parasites, so you must ensure you have ruled these out. You say he doesn´t have fleas but you don´t always necessarily see them even when they are there. So, you should firstly treat him against fleas with a product from your vet (shop bought medications are not strong enough to definitely rule them out). Other parasites which can cause facial irritation would include Scabies (also known as Fox Mange) and ear mites. Scabies will cause the skin to quickly become very sore and red, so check his face carefully for any problems. Ear mites will cause a nasty, smelly black wax to accumulate in the ears and they can be very sore. Both will require veterinary attention to treat them.

Other problems may include dental disease, which can make a dog´s mouth very sore, or a skin infection on his face. With both these issues his scratching is likely to make the problem much worse and so you should take him to see your vet.

Cat