why is my beagle getting bald spots

[moebabe]

All of a sudden my beagle is getting bald spots it seems ever since we noticed he had dandruff and started to brush him he now is showing signs of bald spots.  What can I do about this

[ddeiman]

Having worked for years for a vet derm you definitely need to start with skin scrapes to identify if there are mites that being said I'd also have them culture for ringworm. If it was Scabies your dog would show a positive reflex test on ear margins and elbows which your vet should know how to do. Scabies doesn't always show on a scraping but your dog would also be extremely itchy. Actually scabies is an easy treat with Revolution applied immediately as long as the dog tests heartworm negative and then treated again in 2 weeks and then 2 weeks after that. Demodex is treated with Ivermectin although some breeds cannot take ivermectin. Strangely hypothyroidism can produce these symptoms too. Either way it warrants a trip to the vet asap as some of these conditions are transmittable to humans so you need to get things diagnosed and treated. Good Luck

[Ghilly]

Have a vet do a skin scraping of the bald spots to make sure it's not mange.  If it's mange, the mite that causes it will show up on the microscope slide and the appropriate treatment can be instituted.  

You want to have this done as soon as possible, since some types of mange can be transmitted to humans.  

Demodectic mange is caused by a mite found in the skin of all dogs.  Sometimes the mites begin localized infestations and that's when hair loss results.  Treatment, while you must be diligent about it, amounts to baths with medicated shampoos and miticides.

Sarcoptic mange is also caused by a mite, but is a lot more serious than demodectic.  Sarcoptic mange can be transmitted to other animals and also to humans.  The condition is also known as scabies.  These mites cause intense itching, causing the dog to scratch themselves raw, the sores get infected, and the skin becomes severely damaged, resulting in a dry, wrinkled, thickened appearance.  It eventually affects the animal's immune system and can kill them if the mange is not treated.  Ivermectin is the drug of choice for treating sarcoptic mange.

The third form of mange is cheyletiella.  It is caused by large, red mites and is also known as "walking dandruff".  It usually affects puppies and it only lasts a short time as the mites die almost as soon as they are off the dog.  It is highly contagious.

Other forms of stress can cause baldness.  Have there been any sudden changes in your home or in the dog's living arrangements?  New pets?  Anything at all?  

Again, the only sure way to tell is to go to a vet and have skin scrapings done.  If there are no mites present, then allergies need to be considered.  I hate to say this, but it would almost be easier to deal with mange than with allergies, since mange can be identified, treated and over with while allergies can take months or years to isolate a cause and then work to avoid them.

Ghilly