Black lab with bald patches

[pnap]

Lucas - my 3 year old castrated black lab - had developed a small (about 10p size) bald patch on his left haunch. I assumed he had had a bite or itchy bit and had licked/nipped the hair out although there was no raised area, it wasn't itchy and there is nothing at all to see. It's now grown to about 8cm diameter and his hair has started thinning in exactly the same place on the other side. I have taken him to the vet and they have run blood tests for his liver, kidney and thyroid functions as she thought it may be hormonal. Everything came back normal although she did say his heart rate was a bit slower than she would have thought normal. He isn't at all bothered by these and otherwise is in perfectly good health and shows no signs of anything untoward. He's been wormed etc. The bald spots are completely smooth and there's no raised skin or flaking or anything. The vet has suggested leaving it for a month or so to see if it clears up. Anyone else have anything similar with theirs? I'm at a loss.

 

[woolly]

This sounds very very like recurrent cyclical flank alopecia. Our Wolfhound, castrated, developed this at this exact time of year and we took him to the bets of of the best (David Shearer) Dermatologist. They even used him as a case study for vets in England! Flank alopecia is often bi lateral and there is no distress, itching etc. The thyroid/blood tests on our dog were also normal. Nobody knows why it happens but the hair grows back only to be lost again. Our dog first experienced it when he was 4 years old.
Have a look at how it progressed in our dog:

If it is the same it really is nothing to worry about and mainly cosmetic. If you think it is the same do feel free to ask any questions. I don't come on an awful lot as am mad busy at the mo. but will get back to you!

 

[Sprout]

My Doberman developed some similar bald patches, but the blood results showed a problem with her Thyroid, so she is now on medication.
Hope yours shows signs of improvement soon.

 

[pnap]

That's exactly what it looks like - completely smooth and causing him no distress whatsoever. I'll give it the month the vet has recommended and then if it doesn't get any better and I take him back I'll mention this condition and see what they reckon. Thanks a lot.

 

[woolly]

Anytime and try not to worry. The worst our dog had was an increase in black hairs when they did grow back which was cosmetically lovely! If you have a black lab. that won't matter. The colour change does have a name but can't for the life of me remember what! The next year the hair loss was tiny about the size of a 50p but he died of an unrelated disease shortly after. It honestly is nothing to worry about and melatonin is sometimes used abroad though not available in this country.