posted 03-12-2004 12:32 PM         

From your description I would not be looking for hormonal causes as the the bald patches as they are in the wrong place to be any of the main hormonal conditions that occur. If they have been checked to make certain they are not caused by Demodex Mites then I would not worry about any other treatment as with the history of trauma etc. one of the likely causes could be transitional alopecia which is thought to be stress related and you get baldness often in only small areas that will respond automatically at the next moult.

Where you need worry is if the problem continues to get worse and is causing the dog distress. The other main cause that would cross my mind is the use of spot on flea control agents which can also lead to this problem in certain individuals due to a topical reaction to the flea control. This is not a common problem but would explain the location of the bald patches and would lead to spontaneous hair regrowth within three - six months of no further application of spot on treatments. It is usually the spirit in the flea control that causes the problem so it does not matter which product is used to cause problems. Spot on flea control especially frontline and advantage are by far the best way of controlling fleas for any pet that does not have allergies to the spirit that is in them.

I hope this has shed a different light on the possible causes of your problem and has been of some use.

Susan