Dog Health Issues Directory

Comprehensive guide to common health conditions in dogs, with breed-specific data and prevalence information.

348 conditions tracked

135 breed profiles

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Most Common Issues

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Hip Dysplasia

Affects Boerboel, Saint Bernard, Clumber Spaniel and 83 more

Orthopedic & Joint

Elbow Dysplasia

Affects Rottweiler, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, Black Russian Terrier and 27 more

Orthopedic & Joint

Patellar Luxation

Affects Flat-Coated Retriever, Chow Chow, Pomeranian and 26 more

Orthopedic & Joint

Hypothyroidism

Affects Boxer, English Setter, Beagle and 21 more

Endocrine & Hormonal

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus

Affects Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita and 17 more

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Affects Gordon Setter, Akita, Appenzeller Sennenhund and 15 more

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A (23)

Addison's Disease

Allergies / atopyAlso known as: Allergies (Atopy)

Allergic Dermatitis

Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Anesthesia Sensitivity

Atopic Dermatitis

Alaskan Malamute Polyneuropathy

Autoimmune Disorders (general)

Atopic Dermatitis & Cutaneous Allergies

Aortic Stenosis (AS)

Allergic Skin Disease & Atopic Dermatitis

Autoimmune Skin Conditions (Pemphigus Foliaceus, Alopecia X, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome)

Autoimmune Lymphocytic Thyroiditis

Addison’s Disease: 2-3% Prevalence

Allergies & Skin Issues

Addison’s Disease (Hypoadrenocorticism): High in Standards (~8.6%)

Atopic Dermatitis: chronic skin allergies

Allergic Dermatitis (Atopy)

Anal Sac Impaction

Autoimmune Issues

B (8)

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome

Bloat (GDV) (moderate risk)

Border Collie Collapse (BCC / Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia)

Boxer Cardiomyopathy

Boxer Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS): Affects a vast majority to some degree; 19.2x higher risk

Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy

C (55)

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)

Cerebellar Ataxia

Copper Toxicosis

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA / Choroidal Hypoplasia)

Congenital Deafness

Cancer (Hemangiosarcoma & Lymphoma)

Chondrodysplasia

Cardiac Disease

Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) Tears

Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter

Cardiac Abnormalities

Congenital Hereditary Sensorineural Deafness (CHSD)

Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA)

Cerebellar Ataxia (SDCA1/SDCA2)

Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome

Cushing's Syndrome

Cardiomyopathy (DCM & Arrhythmias) (Prevalence: Moderate to High, 58.9% healthy Borzoi had heart murmurs)

Cataracts & Corneal Ulcers

Cancer (Lymphoma & Hemangiosarcoma)

Chronic Otitis Externa

Congenital Stationary Night Blindness

Cleft Palate: Higher incidence

Cherry Eye (Prolapsed Nictitating Membrane): 26.8x higher risk

Congenital Portosystemic Shunt (cPSS) & Microvascular Dysplasia (MVD)

Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO / 'Lion Jaw')

Cherry Eye (Prolapse of the Gland of the Third Eyelid)

Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) Rupture

Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) Disease / Rupture

Cataracts & Glaucoma

Cancer (Hemangiosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Mast Cell): High prevalence

Congenital Sensorineural Deafness (CSD)

Cone Degeneration (Day-Blindness)

Cancer (Hemangiosarcoma, Lymphoma)

Cataracts & Eye Issues

Canine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (CLAD): fatal immunodeficiency disorder

Cancer (Lymphoma, Osteosarcoma) - 32% prevalence

Cerebellar Abiotrophy

Cystinuria (Type III)

Collapsed Trachea

Collie Eye Anomaly / Choroidal Hypoplasia (CEA/CH)

Collapsing Trachea

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture (CCLR)

Cancer Mortality

Cardiac Abnormal Registry

Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO): painful bone growth affecting jaw in puppies

Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO)

D (21)

Diabetes mellitus

Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Dental disorders

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): Genetic carriers are common

Dystocia (Difficult Birth): 86% of litters are born via C-section

Dental Skeletal Retinal Anomaly (DSRA)

Dental Disease: 12.5% annual prevalence in small breeds

Dalmatian Bronzing Syndrome (DBS) / Follicular Dermatitis

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM): up to 35.6% affected

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) - 24-26% prevalence

Degenerative Encephalopathy with Sleep Disorders and Caudate Necrosis (DE/DEN)

Dental Disease (Periodontal)

Dermatomyositis (DMS)

Dermatomyositis (DMS) / Sheltie Skin Syndrome

E (29)

Elbow DysplasiaAlso known as: Elbow Dysplasia:

Entropion/Ectropion

Eye Conditions (Corneal ulcers, cataracts)

Eye Conditions (PRA, Cataracts)

Endocrine disorders

Epilepsy / neurological disorders

Entropion and Distichiasis

Eye Conditions (PRA, Pannus)

Elbow Dysplasia: Often cited around 28%

Ectropion/Entropion: Often requires surgical correction.

Ectropion/Entropion

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)

Epilepsy: Common

Elbow Dysplasia (ED)

Entropion and Ectropion

Exercise-Induced Collapse

Elbow Dysplasia (Fragmented Coronoid Process, Ununited Anconeal Process, OCD)

Entropion (Inward rolling of eyelids)

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC): Common mutation

Exfoliative Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (ECLE)

Ear Infections: High Frequency

F (5)

Fanconi Syndrome

Familial Nephropathy

Follicular Dysplasia

Follicular Dermatitis

G (26)

Gastric Dilatation-VolvulusAlso known as: Bloat, Bloat (GDV)

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV / Bloat)

Glaucoma (Primary Closed Angle)

Gastric Carcinoma (Stomach Cancer)

Gastric Carcinoma (Stomach Cancer) (4.7%)

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat): High risk due to deep chest depth

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat): High risk; a leading cause of death.

Goniodysgenesis and Pectinate Ligament Dysplasia (Glaucoma)

Gallbladder Mucocele

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat/GDV) (Prevalence: Extremely High, 25.6%)

Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy (GLD / Krabbe Disease)

Glycogen Storage Disease IIIa (GSD IIIa): breed-specific

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat): High risk

Goniodysplasia / Pectinate Ligament Abnormality

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV/Bloat): 42.4% lifetime risk

Greyhound Neuropathy

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat): 24% lifetime risk

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat) - Very High risk

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat/GDV)

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat): High risk for Standard Poodles (4.4% incidence, ~26.8% lifetime risk)

GM-1 Gangliosidosis

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat) (Risk: High)

GM1 Gangliosidosis

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV/Bloat) - 7.1% prevalence

H (30)

Hip DysplasiaAlso known as: Hip Dysplasia:

Hereditary Cataracts

Histiocytic Sarcoma

Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's Disease)

Hemangiosarcoma

Histiocytic Sarcoma (Malignant Histiocytosis): Affects up to 25% of the breed; accounts for ~50% of all cancer deaths

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Disease)

Hyperuricosuria (HU/HUU) (approx. 27% carriers/affected)

Hip & Elbow Dysplasia: BVA/KC mean hip score is around 20, which is relatively high.

Hemivertebrae (Spinal Deformity)

Hip & Elbow Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia: Approximately 14.6%

Hypothyroidism: Frequent

Hip Dysplasia: 72.1% prevalence

Hyperuricosuria (HUA) / Urolithiasis

Hip Dysplasia: 12.1%

Hip Dysplasia: Approximately 12% dysplastic

Hip Dysplasia: prevalence of approximately 11.7%

Hypothyroidism: prevalence of 12.6%

Hip Dysplasia - 15-20% prevalence

Hyperuricosuria

Hereditary Cataracts (HSF4)

Hypothyroidism (Autoimmune Thyroiditis)

Hereditary Cataracts (HC-HSF4)

Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy

Hip Dysplasia - 8.4% dysplastic

Hypomyelination ("Shaking Puppy" Syndrome) - 4.29% carrier frequency

Hypoglycemia (Puppies)

I (10)

Idiopathic Epilepsy

Intervertebral Disc Disease

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

Infectious Disease Susceptibility

Immunoproliferative Small Intestinal Disease

Inherited Juvenile/Early-Onset Cataracts

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) (19-24% prevalence)

Inflammatory Myopathy (IM / Myositis; SLC25A12 mutation)

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (Westie Lung)

J (4)

Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy

Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (JDCM)

Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy (JLPP)

Juvenile Cataracts

K (3)

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye)

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

L (9)

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Luxating Patella

Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease

Laryngeal Paralysis

Lagotto Storage Disease (LSD): ~11% carriers, ~1% affected

Leukoencephalomyelopathy

L-2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria (L-2-HGA)

Legg-Calve-Perthes

M (13)

MDR1 Drug Sensitivity

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD)

Musladin-Lueke Syndrome

MDR1 (ABCB1) Multi-Drug Sensitivity

Mast Cell Tumors

Mitral Valve Disease / Congenital Cardiac Murmurs

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) (~50% by age 5, nearly 100% by age 10)

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD): Extremely high prevalence

Mitral Valve Disease

Multidrug Resistance 1 (MDR1)

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI (MPS VI)

Myotonia Congenita

Mast Cell Tumors (MCT)

N (3)

Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (NAD)

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL / CL)

Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis (NME)

O (19)

Otitis Externa (Ear Infections)

Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)

Orthopedic disorders

Osteochondritis Dissecans

Otitis Externa (Ear Infections): Weekly (or daily) cleaning is mandatory for life.

Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) (Prevalence: High)

Ocular Melanosis (OM) / Secondary Pigmentary Glaucoma

Otitis Externa (Chronic Ear Infections)

Otitis Externa (Ear Infections): 33.9%

Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) (~6% Prevalence)

Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) - ~20% of deaths

Otitis Externa (Ear Infections) (10.4% overall, 23.4% in Chocolate Labradors)

Open Fontanelle

Orthopedic Disease Combined

Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) (Risk: High)

Ocular Surface Diseases

P (39)

Patellar Luxation

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Periodontal Disease

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Primary Lens Luxation (PLL)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA)

Portosystemic Shunt

Patellar Luxation (Slipping Kneecaps)

Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM)

Pelger-Huet Anomaly

Primary Lens Luxation

Pattern Baldness

Portosystemic Shunts (PSS) / Microvascular Dysplasia (MVD)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (Prevalence: Genetic concern)

Pulmonic Stenosis / Congenital Cardiac Disease

Primary Secretory Otitis Media

Patellar Luxation: Common in both parent breeds

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): Genetic carrier status common in Poodles

Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma and Cataracts

PDP1 Deficiency

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): Moderate prevalence

Phosphofructokinase (PFK) Deficiency

Pigmentary Uveitis

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): carrier rate for rcd4 estimated at 30-40%

Protein-Losing Nephropathy (PLN)

Protein-Losing Enteropathy (PLE)

Pneumonia - Highest incidence of aspiration pneumonia

Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): ~10% Carrier Rate

Portosystemic Shunt (Liver Shunt)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-prcd)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (Prevalence: Genetic carrier rate exists)

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE/NME)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (X-Linked PRA)

Primary Glaucoma (Goniodysgenesis/Pectinate Ligament Dysplasia - PLD) (61.2%)

Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)

R (6)

Retinal Dysplasia

Renal Amyloidosis

Retained Deciduous Teeth

Renal Dysplasia (RD)

Renal Dysplasia

Renal Dysplasia (JRD) (estimated as high as 85% carriers)

S (28)

Sebaceous Adenitis

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS)

Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) (~3.4%)

Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy (SLO)

Severe Periodontal Disease

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis

Skin Fold Dermatitis: Daily wiping and drying of folds.

Spongiform Leukoencephalomyelopathy

Skin Fold Dermatitis: 38.1x higher risk

Subaortic Stenosis

Syringomyelia (SM) / Chiari-like Malformation (CM) (CM affects 95-100%, SM affects ~25% of 1-year-olds and up to 70% of dogs over 6 years)

Syringomyelia (SM) / Chiari-like Malformation: >50% prevalence in Cavaliers

Seborrhea (Skin Disorders)

Spongy Degeneration with Cerebellar Ataxia (SDCA1 & SDCA2)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Toe Cancer)

Sulfonamide Sensitivity

Skin/Coat Issues

Schnauzer Comedone Syndrome

Sebaceous Cysts

Steroid-Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis (SRMA / 'Toller Meningitis')

Sebaceous Adenitis (SA): Estimated 8.6% in Standards

Skin Fold Dermatitis

Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy

Scottie Cramp: hereditary disorder affecting serotonin metabolism

Spinal Dysraphism (SD) - 1.4% carrier frequency

Skin Tears/Lacerations

T (6)

Tracheal Collapse

Tick-Borne Diseases

Thrombocytopathy

Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS)

Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC): 18-20x higher risk

Thyroid Disease

U (2)

Urolithiasis (Calcium Oxalate and Struvite Bladder Stones)

Urolithiasis (Bladder Stones)

V (4)

Von Willebrand's Disease (vWD)

Von Willebrand’s DiseaseAlso known as: Von Willebrand's Disease

Vaginal Hyperplasia

Von Willebrand's Disease (vWD): bleeding disorder

W (4)

Wobbler Syndrome

Wobbler Syndrome (CVI)

White Shaker Syndrome

White Shaker Dog Syndrome

Z (1)

Zinc Responsive Dermatosis

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