Patchy hair loss in both family dogs

Question
I have a pointer and a boxer and within the last several weeks I've noticed that they both have patchy spots of hair loss.  The spots initially started on the boxer and now my pointer has the spots.   The dogs don't seem bothered by them and don't itch at them.  Most of their spots are on the trunks of their bodies and are about an inch in diameter.   The pointer also has patchy hair loss on his head.  Both dogs receive montly heartwormer and we also treat for hook, tape and other bugs every 3-4 months.  They are active dogs and get a fish based food that I buy from a well know german shepherd kennel.   My last pointer (who died over a year ago from eating a sago palm seed - BEWARE of these horrible plants!!!!) developed mange because of his compromised immune system and the spots that he had look very similar to the spots on my dogs now.   I'm just puzzled because both dogs seem to be in good health.   Can you help?    I'm a bit bitter with vets and I spent an absolute FORTUNE treating the pointer that eventually died...so I would like to try and treat this myself with some sort of safe, non-toxic way..Any ideas of what this could be and if you think it is mange....what works besides IVERMECTIN!

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Ashley,

It's foolhardy to treat your dogs yourself, unless of course you're a veterinarian. Asking around, or reading articles is a very haphazard method of medical care, and your dogs deserve much more than guesswork.
I'm sorry your pointer died, and that you feel it was a waste of money to treat him, but anything less would have been neglect.

Whatever your dogs have seem to be contagious. You need to have them examined by your vet, and have a skin scraping test done.

Best of luck,
Patti