Dog Diseases Database
Every hereditary and common canine condition — with tests, affected body regions, and the breeds where each shows up most.
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- SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration (Hungarian Vizsla)(CCD)
This is an inherited neurological condition where nerve cells in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls coordination and balance, prematurely degenerate and die. As these cells break down, the brain can no longer properly coordinate voluntary muscle movements. This results in a progressive loss of physical control and stability.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Cerebellar degeneration-myositis complex, SLC25A12-related(CDMC)
Cerebellar degeneration-myositis complex (CDMC) is an inherited genetic disorder that simultaneously affects the nervous system and the muscles. It causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement, alongside painful muscle inflammation known as myositis. This combination severely impairs both balance and muscle function.
View details - HighHead / nervous systemComplex
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy(CAA)
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a condition affecting the brain's circulatory system where abnormal proteins, called amyloid, build up within the walls of the blood vessels. This accumulation weakens the vessels, which can lead to restricted blood flow, microbleeds, or strokes. In senior dogs, this condition mirrors the vascular and Alzheimer's-associated brain pathology seen in humans.
View details - ModerateMouth & teethAutosomal recessive
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, ITPR3-related(CMT)
This is an inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system, which comprises the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. A genetic mutation in the ITPR3 gene disrupts the signals sent from these nerves to the muscles, leading to progressive nerve degeneration and muscle wasting. This specific variant is known to affect the Lancashire Heeler breed.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Choanal atresia
Choanal atresia is a congenital birth defect affecting the respiratory system, where the back of the nasal passage, known as the choana, is blocked by bone or tissue. This blockage prevents air from flowing normally from the nose to the throat. Because dogs rely heavily on nasal breathing, this obstruction severely impacts their ability to breathe.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Cholesteryl ester storage disease(CESD)
This is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder where the dog's body lacks a specific enzyme needed to break down certain fats. Without this enzyme, fats and cholesteryl esters build up abnormally inside the cells of various organs, particularly the liver. This accumulation leads to progressive tissue damage and impairs normal organ function.
View details - ModerateMouth & teethAutosomal recessive
Chondrodysplasia, Labrador(CHO)
This is an inherited skeletal disorder in Labrador Retrievers that affects the development of cartilage, which is the protective tissue cushioning the joints and guiding bone growth. Because the cartilage does not develop normally, the long bones in the legs fail to grow to their full length, resulting in a form of dwarfism. This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning a puppy must inherit the mutated gene from both parents to be affected.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Choroid plexus tumour(CPT)
A choroid plexus tumor is a type of brain tumor that develops in the tissue responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid, which is the protective fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. As the tumor grows, it blocks the normal flow of this fluid, leading to a buildup of pressure inside the skull. This increased pressure can damage surrounding brain tissue and disrupt normal neurological function.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Chromosomal abnormality, generic
This condition involves structural or numerical errors in a dog's chromosomes, which are the microscopic packages carrying genetic instructions. Because these errors disrupt the basic blueprint of the body, they typically affect multiple organ systems simultaneously. Diagnosis is confirmed using a specialized laboratory test called karyotyping, which analyzes the physical structure and number of the dog's chromosomes.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Chromosomal structural anomaly, translocation, generic
A chromosomal translocation is a structural genetic change where pieces of chromosomes break off and reattach to different chromosomes. This rearrangement disrupts the normal organization of genetic material, which can affect multiple organ systems, particularly the reproductive system. Because the genetic instructions are scrambled, cells may not function or divide correctly.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Chronic monocytic leukemia(CMoL)
Chronic monocytic leukemia is a rare cancer of the blood and bone marrow where the body produces an uncontrolled excess of monocytes, which are a specific type of white blood cell. This overproduction is driven by acquired genetic mutations in the blood-forming cells, similar to some human leukemias. Over time, these abnormal cells crowd out healthy blood cells, which can impair normal oxygen delivery and immune function.
View details - SevereSpineUnknown
Chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)
Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a rare cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It occurs when an acquired genetic mutation causes the bone marrow to produce too many abnormal white blood cells, which are the cells responsible for fighting infections. These abnormal cells crowd out healthy blood cells, preventing the blood from carrying oxygen and clotting properly.
View details - SevereSpineUnknown
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia(CMML)
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a severe, rare blood cancer originating in the bone marrow, where the body produces an uncontrolled excess of abnormal white blood cells. This overproduction crowds out healthy blood cells, impairing normal blood functions like oxygen transport and immune defense. A definitive diagnosis requires a complete blood count and a bone marrow biopsy, which is the gold standard method for identifying this condition.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Chylothorax
Chylothorax occurs when lymphatic fluid, which is a milky fluid containing fats and immune cells, leaks and accumulates in the chest cavity. This buildup of fluid puts pressure on the lungs, preventing them from expanding fully and making it difficult for the dog to breathe. The condition directly affects both the respiratory and lymphatic systems.
View details - HighSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Classic-like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (clEDS), TNXB-related(clEDS)
Classic-like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (clEDS) is an inherited connective tissue disorder affecting the skin and joints. It is caused by a deficiency in Tenascin-X, a protein essential for organizing collagen, which is the body's main structural support network. Without this protein, the skin and supporting tissues lose their strength and elasticity.
View details - SevereMouth & teethAutosomal recessive
Cleft lip with or without cleft palate, ADAMTS20-related(CLP)
This is a congenital developmental defect of the skull and mouth, specifically associated with a genetic mutation in the ADAMTS20 gene in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers. During embryonic development, the tissues forming the upper lip and the roof of the mouth, known as the palate, fail to fuse completely, resulting in a physical gap. Affected puppies may also exhibit syndactyly, which is the abnormal fusion of the toes.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Cleft palate 1, DLX6-related(CP1)
This is a congenital birth defect affecting the skeletal and digestive systems where the roof of the mouth, known as the palate, fails to fuse properly during embryonic development. This failure leaves an abnormal opening, formally called palatoschisis, that connects the oral cavity directly to the nasal passages. Because of this opening, food and liquids can easily pass from the mouth into the respiratory tract.
View details - MildSkin & coatComplex
Coat colour, agouti(ASIP)
The Agouti gene, or A-locus, controls how dark and light pigments are distributed within individual hairs and across a dog's coat. This genetic mechanism interacts in a complex hierarchy with other color genes, specifically the K and E loci, to determine patterns like sable, wild agouti, or black and tan. It is a normal genetic variation affecting the integumentary system, which includes the skin and hair, rather than a disease.
View details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Coat colour, brown, TYRP1-related(B-Locus)
This genetic variant affects the TYRP1 gene, which controls the production of the dark pigment eumelanin in the skin and hair. Instead of producing black pigment, the dog's body produces a brown pigment, commonly known as chocolate or liver. This is a natural genetic variation of the integumentary (skin and coat) system rather than a disease.
View details - MildSkin & coatComplex
Coat colour, dark red
This genetic variant influences the integumentary system, which includes the skin and hair, by regulating the intensity of pheomelanin, the pigment responsible for red coloration. It causes the pigment to develop into a deep, dark red shade instead of a lighter yellow or gold. This is a completely natural, aesthetic variation that has no impact on the dog's physical health.
Tested via: DNA testView details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal dominant
Coat colour, dominant black(KB)
This is a non-pathological genetic trait rather than a disease, located at the K locus (specifically the CBD103 gene) which influences the dog's coat. It works by regulating the distribution of eumelanin, which is the dark pigment responsible for black or brown coloration in the hair follicles. Because it is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, a dog only needs one copy of this gene variant to express a dark coat.
View details - MildSkin & coatComplex
Coat colour, generic
This refers to the genetic mechanisms that determine a dog's coat color and pattern. It is a normal, non-disease trait involving the pigment system in the skin and hair follicles. Multiple genes interact in a complex way to produce the wide variety of coat appearances seen across different breeds.
View details - MildSkin & coatComplex
Coat colour, grizzle(Eg)
Grizzle, also known as domino, is a harmless coat color pattern affecting the hair and skin pigment system, most commonly seen in sighthounds. It is inherited through a complex genetic process called multi-locus epistasis, meaning it requires a specific interaction between multiple genes—specifically MC1R, ASIP, and DEFB103—to express the pattern. This interaction regulates how dark and light pigments are distributed throughout the dog's coat.
View details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Coat colour, HPS3-related(HPS3)
This genetic variant affects the HPS3 gene, which is involved in the pathway that produces pigment, or melanin, in a dog's coat. While mutations in this gene can cause systemic health issues in other species, in dogs it only alters the chemical structure of the pigment. This results in a distinct dark brown coat color, often referred to as 'cocoa', without affecting any other organ systems.
View details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal dominant
Coat colour, melanistic mask(Em)
This is a benign genetic trait rather than a medical condition, affecting the pigmentation of the dog's coat and skin. It is caused by a specific variant on the E-locus (the MC1R gene) which controls the distribution of dark pigment. This autosomal-dominant trait simply causes a localized concentration of dark melanin on the face.
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