Dog Diseases Database
Every hereditary and common canine condition — with tests, affected body regions, and the breeds where each shows up most.
Filters
- ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Environmental adaptability
This refers to a dog's genetic and neurological predisposition to handle changes in their surroundings and sensory stimuli. It affects the nervous system, specifically how the brain processes and responds to unfamiliar sights, sounds, or situations. While classified as a normal behavioral variation rather than a disease, some dogs have a much lower threshold for environmental stress.
View details - SevereSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex, PLEC-related(EBS)
This is an inherited skin disorder caused by a deficiency in plectin, a structural protein that helps bind the layers of the skin together. Without enough functional plectin, the skin lacks its normal structural integrity and becomes extremely fragile. Even minor friction, pressure, or rubbing causes the outer layers of the skin to separate and form painful blisters.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Epilepsy, mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration, PITRM1-related(JBD)
This is a severe, inherited brain disorder, also known as Juvenile Brain Disease or Juvenile Encephalopathy, caused by a genetic defect in the PITRM1 gene. This defect impairs the mitochondria, which are the energy-producing structures within cells, leading to a critical energy shortage. Without sufficient energy, nerve cells in the brain progressively degenerate and die, causing widespread neurological decline.
Tested via: DNA testView details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Epistaxis
Epistaxis is the medical term for a nosebleed, which occurs when blood vessels within the nasal cavity rupture or when an underlying clotting issue prevents normal blood vessel sealing. Rather than a standalone disease, it is a symptom that can point to various respiratory, cardiovascular, or systemic health issues.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Exercise-induced metabolic myopathy(EIMM)
This is an inherited metabolic disorder affecting the muscles, specifically linked to a genetic enzyme defect known as VLCAD deficiency or ACADVLD. In affected dogs, the muscle cells cannot properly break down certain fats to generate energy during physical exertion. This condition is highly breed-specific to the German Hunting Terrier.
Tested via: DNA testView details - ModerateEyesComplex
Exophthalmos with strabismus
This condition is a structural malformation of the eyes and surrounding socket. It is characterized by exophthalmos, where the eyeballs protrude abnormally far forward, combined with strabismus, which is a misalignment of the eyes where they do not point in the same direction. This combination prevents the eyes from working together properly and can interfere with normal protective eye movements.
Tested via: Eye examView details - ModerateEarsUnknown
External auditory canal atresia
External auditory canal atresia (EACA) is a birth defect of the ear canal where the outer ear opening is partially or completely closed. This structural blockage prevents sound waves from reaching the eardrum and stops the natural drainage of earwax and fluids. Because the canal is sealed, it creates a trapped space prone to severe buildup and pressure.
Tested via: Clinical examView details - MildEyesComplex
Eye colour
Eye color refers to the genetically determined pigmentation of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. This is a benign genetic trait rather than a clinical eye disease, meaning it does not harm the dog's ocular health or vision. The variation in color, ranging from deep brown to light blue, is determined by complex inheritance patterns that control melanin production in the eye.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicX-linked
Facial dysmorphia
This is a severe genetic condition affecting the skeletal and structural development of the skull and face. Inherited in an X-linked pattern, it causes profound malformations of the bones and tissues in the head. Due to the extreme nature of these physical abnormalities, the condition is typically lethal.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Factor X deficiency(FXD)
Factor X deficiency is an inherited blood clotting disorder affecting the circulatory system. It is caused by a lack of coagulation factor X, a crucial protein needed to form stable blood clots. Without enough of this protein, the body's secondary hemostasis—the chemical process that solidifies a temporary platelet plug into a stable clot—fails, leading to prolonged bleeding.
Tested via: DNA testView details - MildGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Factor XII deficiency(FXIID)
Factor XII deficiency is an inherited blood clotting disorder where the body lacks a specific protein called Factor XII, which normally helps initiate the coagulation process. This deficiency affects the circulatory system, specifically how blood behaves during laboratory testing. Despite its role in the clotting cascade, the lack of this protein does not impair normal blood clotting inside the living animal.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal dominant
Familial adenomatous polyposis(FAP)
Familial adenomatous polyposis is an inherited genetic condition that causes numerous polyps, which are abnormal tissue growths, to form in a dog's colon and rectum. Over time, these initially non-cancerous growths almost always progress into malignant colorectal cancer. This disease primarily affects the lower digestive tract.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereHeartComplex
Familial thoracic aortic aneurysm(FTAA)
This is a genetic condition affecting the cardiovascular system, specifically the aorta, which is the main artery carrying blood from the heart to the body. Over time, the walls of this major blood vessel weaken and stretch, creating a bulge known as an aneurysm. If left unmanaged, this weakening can lead to a critical tear or rupture of the artery wall.
Tested via: Cardiac examView details - HighGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Fanconi syndrome, FAN1-related(FS)
Fanconi syndrome (FAN1-related) is an inherited kidney disorder that affects the renal tubules, which are the tiny filtering tubes in the kidneys. Instead of reabsorbing essential nutrients like glucose, amino acids, and electrolytes back into the bloodstream, the kidneys malfunction and flush these vital substances out through the urine. This constant loss of nutrients leads to severe metabolic imbalances throughout the body.
Tested via: DNA testView details - MildGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Fecundity, GDF9-related(GDF9)
This is a genetic variation in the GDF9 gene that affects the ovaries and the development of egg cells, which are also called oocytes. In affected female dogs, this disruption in egg maturation can lead to reduced fertility or a complete inability to reproduce. The condition is strictly limited to the reproductive system and does not impact the dog's overall health or lifespan.
Tested via: DNA testView details - HighSpineUnknown
Fibrocartilaginous Embolism (FCE)(FCE)
Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCE) is a sudden blockage of blood flow to the spinal cord. It occurs when a tiny piece of cartilage from an intervertebral disc enters the bloodstream and clogs a spinal blood vessel. This deprives the surrounding nerve tissue of oxygen, leading to rapid tissue damage.
Tested via: Clinical examView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Fibrodysplasia ossificans(FOP)
Fibrodysplasia ossificans is an extremely rare condition affecting the musculoskeletal system, where soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments gradually turn into solid bone. This abnormal bone formation, known as ossification, occurs outside the normal skeleton and slowly locks the joints in place. Over time, this process severely restricts the dog's ability to move.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Focal metatarsal fistula(FMF)
Focal metatarsal fistula is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that affects the hind paws of dogs. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the deep layers of the skin, leading to the formation of deep, weeping tunnels or tracts called fistulae. This disease primarily affects the skin and underlying tissues on the back of the rear feet.
View details - ModerateSkin & coatComplex
Follicular dysplasia and interface dermatitis
This is a hereditary skin condition involving the malformation of hair follicles, known as follicular dysplasia, alongside inflammation at the junction between the outer and deeper skin layers, called interface dermatitis. It directly affects the dog's skin and coat, preventing normal hair growth and causing localized immune-system reactions. A skin biopsy, which involves analyzing a small tissue sample under a microscope, is required to confirm the diagnosis.
Tested via: Clinical examView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Galactosialidosis(GSL)
Galactosialidosis is a severe lysosomal storage disease where a deficiency in a protective protein called cathepsin A causes essential cellular enzymes to fail. This failure prevents cells from breaking down waste, leading to a toxic buildup that progressively damages the nervous system and internal organs. Because the specific genetic mutation in dogs has not yet been characterized, no commercial DNA test is currently available.
Tested via: DNA testView details - MildGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Gallbladder agenesis
Gallbladder agenesis is a rare congenital condition where a dog is born completely lacking a gallbladder, which is the organ normally responsible for storing bile. Because the liver still produces bile and sends it directly to the small intestine, the digestive system is typically able to function normally without this storage organ.
Tested via: UltrasoundView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Gallbladder mucoceles(GBM)
A gallbladder mucocele is a condition of the digestive system where the gallbladder becomes stretched and filled with thick, jelly-like mucus. This buildup blocks the normal flow of bile, which is a digestive fluid produced by the liver. If left untreated, the pressure can cause the gallbladder to rupture, leading to severe abdominal infection.
Tested via: UltrasoundView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Gangliosidosis, GM2, (AB variant), GM2A-related(GM2)
This is an inherited metabolic disorder where a deficiency in a specific activator protein prevents the body from breaking down certain lipid-sugar compounds. Because these compounds cannot be recycled, they build up to toxic levels inside the cells of the brain and nervous system. This accumulation causes progressive and severe damage to these vital tissues.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Gastric carcinoma susceptibility
This condition is an inherited genetic predisposition to developing gastric carcinoma, which is a malignant or cancerous tumor of the stomach lining. Over time, these genetic factors increase the likelihood that cells in the stomach wall will grow uncontrollably and form harmful masses. This primarily affects the digestive system, eventually compromising the stomach's ability to function properly.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour(GIST)
A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a serious type of cancer that develops in the digestive tract, most commonly in the stomach or intestines. It originates from specialized pacemaker cells in the gut wall that normally control the contractions of the digestive system. Because these tumors cannot be identified through DNA testing, diagnosis requires a tissue biopsy analyzed under a microscope with specialized staining techniques.
View details
Frequently asked questions
What is the HonestDog dog diseases database?
Our database brings together hereditary and common canine conditions with symptoms, inheritance patterns, testing methods, and the breeds where each matters most.
How do I find the right test for a condition?
Search by disease name, abbreviation or symptom, then filter by test type, body region or severity. Each detail page lists recommended tests and affected breeds.
Why do health tests matter for breeders?
Health tests help catch hereditary conditions early and support responsible breeding. Many breed clubs require or recommend specific tests as part of their screening.
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