What's causing a red bald spot on my English bulldog's side?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I would have this checked by a vet. It sounds very much like ringworm. Although the name suggests otherwise, ringworm is not caused by a worm at all-but a fungus. This highly contagious infection can lead to patchy areas of hair loss on a pet, and can spread to other animals-and to humans, too. Classic symptoms of ringworm include lesions that typically appear on a pet’s head, ears, paws and forelimbs. These lesions can cause patchy, crusted circular “bald spots” that sometimes look red in the center. In mild cases of ringworm, there may be just a few broken hairs, while bad cases of ringworm can spread over most of a pet’s body. It’s also possible for a pet to carry the fungus and not show any symptoms whatsoever. Treatment of ringworm depends on the severity of the infection. A veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo or ointment that contains miconazole or a dip such as lime sulfur to kill the fungus. In some cases, oral medications are necessary to cure ringworm. In severe cases, it may be necessary to use a topical and oral treatment, in addition to clipping away the fur. Once treatment begins, lesions should begin to heal in about one to three weeks. Please note, it is important to treat your pet for as long as recommended by your veterinarian. Even though the skin lesions may have cleared up, this doesn’t mean your pet is cured or can’t infect another animal or person. Certain diagnostic tests may need to be repeated in order to ensure cure. And unfortunately, there is no guarantee that reinfection won’t occur!

That spot on Harvey could be several things including allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection or ringworm (which humans can get). Hopefully this is a good sign that his body is fighting the cause since it appears to be healing. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You can wash the lesion once a day (not his whole body, just the lesions). You can apply a dab of organic coconut oil once a day and rub in well (do not allow him to lick the area afterwards). Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesion do not start improving within a week or if it is getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Henry! I don't think the symmetrical hair loss on Henry's side is related to the neuter. English bull dogs are notorious for allergies to the environment or food. It could be hair loss from allergies or demodex but it is more like seasonal flank alopecia which is common in boxers, boxer mixes and bull dogs. It isn't itchy or bother the dog, the skin doesn't have any bumps and the skin is very dark. You can always post a picture to help us. My own dog gets this as well. My dogs does grow back but then falls out again. I have seen many dogs where is never grows back. http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/seasonal-affective-disorder-can-be-culprit-canine-hair-loss

It's tough to say exactly what's causing Pablo's patch of hair loss from a picture alone. I agree that I don't see any redness, scaling or signs of inflammation in the picture. Some possible causes can include scar tissue from an injury or burn, infectious conditions like mange or ringworm, a sebaceous (oil gland) cyst or histiocytoma. Pablo should be examined by his vet so that diagnostic testing can be performed. It's likely that your vet will need to take samples from this area to be evaluated under the microscope. Once the cause of this issue is diagnosed, then your vet will be able to determine the best course of treatment. This is certainly not an emergency, so if many of your local vets are currently closed or have less availability, it's not a big deal if you need to wait a few extra weeks. I hope this helps and that all goes well for Pablo!

That doesn't appear to be ringworm. It could be a bacterial skin infection. Given that he has allergies, this makes bacterial infection more likely. You would need to have this confirmed by your veterinarian. Treatment may be systemic antibiotics, topical treatment or a combination of both. Getting the allergies under control would probably help as well. Discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials and antihistamine use with your vet.

The hair loss on Bobby's flanks is certainly quite prominent. This could be caused by endocrine/metabolic disorders like hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease, underlying allergies to food, the environment or fleas, mange, ringworm, among other conditions. Regardless, it would be best for Bobby to go to the vet for evaluation. The vet will be able to start with a physical exam, and based upon those findings and his clinical history at home (i.e. itching, lethargy, weight fluctuations, changes in drinking or urination, diet changes, lifestyle, etc.), will be able to determine the next diagnostic steps. Bobby may need to have blood testing, skin scrapes, fungal cultures, and/or skin cytology to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that all goes well!