Why does my dog rub his head on the couch? Is it a health concern?

Hello, this is likely Sirius releasing his pheromones on you in a way to show affection. This is a natural instinct and typically does not mean anything other than him showing you affection. Hope this helps and best of luck.

It's difficult to say 100% from the picture, but I don't see signs of infection or hair loss from this photo. If he's only rubbing on you it may just be his way of trying to get attention. If Bruno is rubbing his muzzle on furniture, carpet, scratching with his paws then he may have an allergy or irritation that needs to be addressed. But if it is only rubbing or nozzling against you I strongly suspect it's a behavior trying to get your attention. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Hi there. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, you did not provide a lot of information so I am not sure how much I can help you. There are many reasons why a dog would be rubbing the top of his head. The top two reasons would be an allergy or parasites (like fleas, mites, etc). You really cannot go by feeling the top of the head to say it feels hot like implying he may have a fever. The only way to really get a good sense of a dog's temperature is to take it rectally. I can tell you that most dogs that have a fever will act sick - lethargic, not eating, hiding, not drinking, etc - so if the is not acting sick then I would not really be worried about his head being hot to the touch at this stage. If the head rubbing continues I suggest you get him to your vet for an exam so you can find the underlying cause and get him the proper treatment. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concerns. What you are describing sounds behavioral but could potentially be caused by allergies as well. If Marbles has an allergy and is itchy around the face this may be his way of itching his face by rubbing it on the carpet. You can try Benadryl to see if this helps and also using a shampoo such as Duoxo PS Calm shampoo to see if this stops or decreases the behavior. If not, this may just be behavioral and will not hurt him if he continues this. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. Please see the below article for more information on giving dogs Benadryl. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

She might be feeling a bit anxious if she hasn't stayed at your house or location before. Spending a little more time cuddling or exploring the neighborhood together may help her feel more comfortable on walks and when at home. If she seems itchy at all on her face or ears, it is the time for seasonal allergies which could be at play. Checking for any redness, irritation or discharge from the ears can help alert you to any problems, and if anything new arises or is very bothersome, having your vet take a look is best.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Bleu maybe rubbing his face on his treats due to excitement, to mark his scent on the food, in the wild dogs do this to tell others in their pack where the food is, it could be a form of resource guarding or simply because he just is so happy and loves treats! I wouldn’t try to read in to it too much! Hope this helps!

I'm very sorry to hear this! Unfortunately dogs can develop dementia as they age which can make them act in odd ways including pacing and looking into space. This is not a condition that is easily diagnosed in dogs as there are no medical signs aside from.the symptoms. Another thing that could cause behaviour change in a dog would be any condition that effects the brain. Especially diseases such as tumours which will press on and effect different areas. I would be slightly concerned that the behaviour change in your dog may be due to a physical brain condition such as a tumour, the fact that Buddy paws his head makes me wonder if there is a physical source of discomfort. My advice would be to return to your vet for an examination of neurological function and an eye exam. Sometimes these tests will show nothing, but often there are clues to be found regarding tumours. For a definitive diagnosis an MRI scan is often required. In terms of treatment it is very limited for both conditions. Treatment usually involves managing pain and trying to increase blood flow to the brain to help cognitive function. Although if quality of life deteriorates then euthanasia is sometimes the only option. Best of luck.