https://plus.google.com/113604136451184289972/posts/9v2m9KimiQu - normalish looking (right side)

https://plus.google.com/113604136451184289972/posts/UkZdjc67AkW - really abnormal looking (left side)

I had noted this odd red color coming up on the side of Chance's muzzle a few days ago and both he and Duke have been rubbing their faces off and on on the floor recently - Chance has also been 'grooming' ie. chewing his legs a bit in the afternoons during his chill-in-the-office time. Today he scratched his face to the point that he'd drawn a little blood along one side of his muzzle so I went in for a closer look and noted the bottom of his chin was looking inflamed and the left side of his muzzle had a spot that was weeping slightly.

The only thing I can connect this with is feeding him more of the freshpet food rolls this week? Everything else has stayed the same recently. No new treats or toys or bedding. Shouldn't be dust mites because he sleeps on the bare crate pan every night.

Stainless steel food bowls, fresh water daily, he gets Grizzly salmon oil every morning - and we're seeing the vet on Friday anyways for a checkup as there's a 5k race I'd like him to run in next month and she wants to check and ensure his heartworms are clear (6 months since treatment ended, yay) I will bring this up with her then.

OH, and I should mention - they are clearcutting all along our highway to widen the road, recently right in my back yard, and have been BURNING the darned pine waste wood that is left.. for 2 weeks straight now. If pine residue/smoke is an allergen that might cause this in dogs, that's a possiblity too (it's actually making my asthma flare a bit and that hasn't happened since I was a teenager)

What about a cleaner or detergent???

With both of them rubbing their faces I would think it is an environmental irritant.

Maybe the smoke is burning their eyes, so they are rubbing their faces on the ground, which would cause the irritation?

Not a cleaner or detergent, I have a toddler and mostly use very diluted cleaner or a steam cleaner on the floor - and nothing at all this last couple of weeks that was new. I don't generally have reason to do anything but sweep in and around the dog living areas. I thought Duke was doing it mostly because it's gnat season and for him he normally does the face paw, grass rub when we're on walks - but that's outside with smoke in the air. Him doing it on the carpet a couple of times was only notable because it's not like him to do so (unless he's joyfully rolling in a disgusting smell).

I'm already pretty upset about having this crud in the air and it's going to be like this for a minimum of another month. Weekend baths for everyone

Since nothing else has changed - and obviously the smoke is bad enough to affect your asthma, wouldn't hurt to try some moisturizing eye drops a couple times a day and see if it reduces the rubbing?

Not sure if they make anything "dog specific" in the visine aisle, but I would be comfortable using either a saline solution (for contacts) or the like.

If it does, but the redness persists then you could start looking at a contact allergen/sensitivity closer?

I have plenty of contact solution at home, will give that a shot tonight and see how it goes.

Doc says: double ear infection and the irritated skin had started to get infected, she's giving AB for infections and antihistamines to use until the logging/burning around our house has stopped and hopefully that will clear it up - if not seeing an improvement in the next week we'll get back with her.

On the positive side: HW 6 month retest is clear! YAY! And he's put on 15 lbs from his lowest weight.

Oh awesome!....well not awesome!...But an ear infection that can be cleared up with some meds is a way better diagnosis than lifelong allergies or eyes being burned for the next month from cray cray smoke!

Congrats on the HW test and the weight gain!

A bath never hurt anything. Washing the smoke particles off the skin and hair might make the dog feel better too.

I too am in favor of baths for dogs with any kind of pruritic allergic reaction; I'd say that "weekend baths for everyone" is a very good idea.