My black dog's bald spots are growing. Is it genetic hair loss?

Smokey could definitely be experiencing some changes to his coat due to growth. I would certainly suspect this particularly if he is not having any sort of itchiness. Thyroid disease is common in dogs, but very uncommon in younger pups. I don't believe I have ever seen a hypothyroid dog under the age of 6 or 7 years. Sunbleaching can happen but it wouldn't cause actual loss of hair. Hair loss in absence of itching is typically due to something like you have described, an endocrine condition, or some sort of immune mediated condition. As long as the hair loss hasn't been spreading considerably and there are no other clinical signs of illness, I would continue to monitor the situation carefully for a few more days before going to the vet. If there is itchiness associated with the problem, Smokey will likely require some therapy in the form of both topical and systemic drugs. Hope this helps. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.

Hmmm, it sure does make him look cute, though! This is a very interesting pattern of hair growth. It is quite possible it is just how his hair grows! Possible causes for this (although not very common in puppies) include hypothyroidism, endocrine or hormonal disorders, or color dilution alopecia since it appears to be no hair growth in the blue areas. I recommend that your vet test his different hormone and endocrine levels to see if there is a treatable cause. If it is alopecia, you can try supplements (discuss an appropriate dose of melatonin with your vet) but there is no cure. For the sores and bumps, common causes include fleas, mange, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. You can try a medicated shampoo like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo as well as a good flea preventative like Seresto Collars or a prescription oral feal preventative. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/color-dilution-alopecia-in-dogs

The main reasons for hair loss include allergies, other primary dermatologic conditions, certain endocrine diseases, or self-inflicted trauma. Based on the look of the skin, it doesn't appear to be irritated or itchy.. Usually hair loss without itchiness is attributed to a systemic problem or something immune mediated in nature. Lastly, there are also some instances where dogs and/or cats can lose hair for no apparent reason without their being any sort of problem. To figure out the reason with certainty, some testing of the affected area would be required. If Bryant isn't showing any other problems right now and the area of effect is not growing in size, it isn't really an urgent thing to get checked out. Continue to monitor for changes and seek attention should the time come when it becomes necessary. Hope this makes sense.

There is a possibility that your dog is suffering from hypothyroidism, so your vet should also do a thyroid test. Hypothyroidism can also cause hair loss as you describe. Another possibility could be seasonal alopecia, also called cyclic follicular dysplasia which causes hair loss on the flanks and back, just as you describe. The treatment is melatonin. It will not be a remedy showing success within a few days, so the melatonin will have to be given over several months, if not life-long. In some dogs the hair will never grow back. Your vet may want to take a skin biopsy and send it in to a pathology lab. This can also give valuable information about the cause of the alopecia.

Poor Kieren! Without seeing her it is difficult to say for sure what it is. This could be secondary to allergies, yeast infection, bacterial infection, mange, and more. I would have your vet take a look at her and see if she needs any antibiotics or anti-fungal medicine. Catching certain infections early and treating them will help have a better outcome. This could be a genetic defect but less likely than the causes listed above. I hope this helps!

It might just be normal shedding but it could also be caused by a medical condition. You could bathe him with a moisturizing dog shampoo, brush him and add an omega-3 supplement (Free Form Snip Tips) and see if that helps. The black spots could just be normal pigmentation of his skin. If the excessive shedding and spots continues then he should be examined by a vet to determine if there is a problem. Your vet can do some testing to help diagnose. He could have a skin infection, mites, flea allergy, hypothyroidism, etc.

Bulldogs can be prone to a genetic disorder that cause thinning of hair and baldness is certain spots. This can also be a sign of a low thyroid level. The dark pigmentation can occur as a result of these disorders and can be a sign of a long term problem. Your vet can check the skin and run test to see if it is genetic or something else going on, until then you can put neosporin in the sores