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Question
Hello. My two year old English Bulldog has a bald area on each of his sides. Our Vet does not know what it is. He thought it was thyroid related but it isn’t. The two areas are directly across from each other. They do not itch or seem to bother him in any way.I would appreciate your help Answer
Hi Connie,
If your dog’s bald areas aren’t accompanied with signs of itching, broken crusty skin, inflammation, raised lesions, redness or small pimples of any kind, Â it’s possible it’s a hereditary hair loss condition known as Cyclic Alopecia, also known as Seasonal Flank Alopecia. It’s possible that this is just a seasonal problem, and the hair will grow back. Seasonal Flank Alopecia is one of the conditions adult Bulldogs are prone to, so it’s entirely possible this is what your dog has. This form of Alopecia is a benign condition that’s more cosmetic than anything else. You might have to adopt the attitude that “Bald is Beautiful”.
There’s also hormone responsive alopecia, also known as “Alopecia X”. Your dog would need hormonal blood testing to rule this out. With this kind of hair loss, the exposed skin can take on a black or dark color, but it doesn’t itch. If the loss of hair is caused by a sex hormone imbalance, then sterilizing the dog is the form of treatment. Hair growth will typically return after this. If not, medication can be given.
You shouldn’t take my word as gospel on any of this, I’m not a doctor.
When your regular vet encounters a problem he or she isn’t familiar with, it’s good to consult with a specialist who encounters difficult or rare cases more often. If your vet can’t give you a referral to a veterinary dermatologist, you can locate one here: https://www.acvd.org/
Best of luck,
Patti
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