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Janice, I'd have a scraping done and check for mites. However, having said that if it is the sarcoptic mite it doesn't always show up( it's very evasive little micro-beastie) but a 'simple' test you can even do at home called the pinna/pedal reflex test is usually a good indicator. While dog is standing, scratch the outter edge of the ear... if the hind leg goes into a reflex of 'tapping/pedaling' most likely the sarcoptic mite is there. At the following link if you scrool down there is a video that show what this test is: ( BTW this is what Missy had) and another "BTW.. these are contagious even to humans though It was a long long time before hubby or I got it in spite of constant contact with Missy BUT we eventually DID contact mild case.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/mites.html

Then there is the dermodex mite.. more common and more readily seen.
"The diagnosis is made by doing a skin scraping of the affected area and placing the scrapings on a microscope slide. Click here to see how a skin scraping is done. Usually the material scraped from the skin is mixed with mineral oil and then examined under the microscope. (NOTE: Sarcoptic mites are rarely visible via skin scrapings and are therefore very commonly misdiagnosed as an allergic skin disorder because the veterinarian "couldn't see any mites". See this article for important information about Sarcoptic Mites.) Demodex mites are plentiful and seem to be easily detected via skin scrapings even though they spend most of their time deep in the hair follicles."

The above quote taken from this link: scroll to read of it in adult and apparent healthy pooches:
http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/dem.html