what should I do about bald patches on a dog.

[beansmum]

My staffie bitch has two balding patches, one on each side of her body. They aren't completely bald but the hair is definitely a lot thinner there and you can see the skin. Any idea what could be causing it? Should I take her to the vet?

I think you should get the Vet to have a look incase it's some sort of fungal infection???

I hope it's not something people can catch, she sleeps on my bed a lot!

Does the skin in the areas look different? Any scales?

The skin looks completely normal, just not covered in hair. They are quite big patches though, about 15cm diameter. I would think she had just been rubbing up against something, but it's on both sides.

Hmm. I don't know. I'd take her to the vet just incase it's an infection. It doesn't sound like one but you never know.

I need to take her for her yearly check up/injections anyway, I can ask while I'm there. I don't think it is anything serious, doesn't seem to be bothering her.

Is she spayed? Could be hormonal due to position & being on both sides.
Otherwise, could be : mites, fungal, bacterial, thyroid, cushings disease, fleas. Is she itchy? How long has she had the patches?
I'd take her to the vet, really impossible to diagnose without an exam, could be so many things xx

She is spayed. And not itchy at all. She's had the patches for about a week and hasn't been scratching or seemed uncomfortable at all, the skin looks perfectly normal as well. I'm going to get my dad (a GP) to look at her and then take her to the vet next week.