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
Polyneuropathy, hypomyelinating, SH3TC2-related(HMP)
This is an inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system where the protective outer coating, known as the myelin sheath, of the nerve fibers does not develop properly. Without this insulation, the nerves cannot transmit signals effectively from the brain to the muscles. This leads to progressive muscle weakness and coordination issues.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Polyneuropathy, SBF2-related(MSP)
SBF2-associated polyneuropathy is an inherited disease of the peripheral nervous system, which consists of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the protective outer coating of nerve fibers that is essential for transmitting signals. Without this healthy coating, communication between the brain and the muscles progressively breaks down.
Tested via: DNA testView details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1)(PSSM1)
This is a genetic metabolic disorder affecting the muscles, where the dog's body abnormally stores excess sugar, called glycogen, inside muscle cells. Because the muscles cannot process this stored sugar properly, they suffer from an energy deficit and damage during physical activity. This damage to the muscle fibers is known as exertional rhabdomyolysis.
Tested via: Clinical examView details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Polyuria(PU)
Polyuria is not a specific disease, but rather a clinical sign where the body produces and excretes an abnormally large volume of urine. This typically occurs due to a disruption in the kidneys' ability to conserve water or because of hormonal imbalances affecting fluid regulation. Because it is a symptom of various underlying health issues, it can involve multiple organ systems, particularly the urinary and endocrine systems.
View details - HighHead / nervous systemComplex
Posterior paresis
Posterior paresis is a progressive weakness or partial paralysis of a dog's hind legs, caused by damage to the spinal cord or motor nerves. It is classified as a clinical sign or physical trait rather than a distinct genetic disease, meaning it can have multiple complex causes and cannot be linked to a single genetic test.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Potassium Magnesium Phosphate Urolithiasis(KMgP)
This is an extremely rare condition where unusual mineral stones made of potassium magnesium phosphate form within the dog's urinary tract. These stones can irritate the lining of the bladder and kidneys, potentially obstructing the normal flow of urine. It is a complex condition with no currently available genetic tests.
View details - MildGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Prekallikrein deficiency
Prekallikrein deficiency is an inherited blood disorder where the body lacks a specific protein needed for the normal clotting process. This protein, called prekallikrein, helps activate the chemical reactions that stop bleeding. Despite its role in the circulatory system, this deficiency almost never causes actual bleeding problems in dogs.
Tested via: DNA testView details - HighGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Priapism
Priapism is a reproductive system disorder characterized by a persistent, painful erection of the penis that occurs without sexual stimulation. It happens when blood becomes trapped in the erectile tissue due to impaired drainage or neurological dysfunction. If left untreated, the lack of proper blood flow can cause permanent tissue damage.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia(RIPD)
This is an inherited respiratory disease passed down in an autosomal-recessive manner, meaning a puppy must inherit the gene variant from both parents to be affected. It is caused by a genetic variant in the AKNA gene, which leads to recurrent and severe inflammation of the lung tissue. The condition affects the respiratory system, impairing the lungs' ability to function properly and leading to frequent infections.
Tested via: DNA testView details - HighSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD)(PCD)
Primary ciliary dyskinesia is an inherited genetic disorder affecting the respiratory system. It causes the microscopic, hair-like structures called cilia that line the airways to be malformed or unable to move properly. Because these cilia cannot sweep away mucus and debris, the dog's lungs and nasal passages become chronically congested and prone to infection.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), STK36-related(PCD)
Primary ciliary dyskinesia is an inherited disorder affecting the respiratory system. It causes dysfunction in the cilia, which are tiny, hair-like structures lining the airways that normally sweep away mucus, dust, and bacteria. Without functioning cilia, the lungs cannot clear themselves, leading to chronic airway inflammation and recurrent infections.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Primary Hyperoxaluria Type I (Oxalosis I)(PH1)
Primary Hyperoxaluria Type I is a severe, inherited metabolic disorder affecting the liver and kidneys. Due to a missing liver enzyme, the body overproduces oxalic acid, which combines with calcium to form hard crystals in the kidneys. These crystals cause rapid, progressive damage to the urinary system and kidney tissues.
Tested via: DNA testView details - MildGeneral / metabolicPolygenic
Prognathism
Prognathism, commonly known as an undershot jaw, is a skeletal malformation of the skull where the lower jaw grows longer than the upper jaw. This structural imbalance affects the dental and skeletal systems, preventing the upper and lower teeth from aligning into a normal bite. The condition is polygenic, meaning it is influenced by multiple genes, and is diagnosed through a thorough examination of the oral cavity.
Tested via: Clinical examView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Progressive ataxia with head tremor and seizures
This is a severe, progressive disorder of the nervous system characterized by the premature death of nerve cells in the brain, particularly within the cerebellum, which controls balance and movement. The disease is associated with unusual microscopic structures, called inclusions, that build up inside these nerve cells. This cellular damage leads to a gradual loss of physical coordination and body control.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Progressive Axonopathy(PA)
Progressive axonopathy is an inherited neurological disorder where the nerve fibers, known as axons, in the spinal cord gradually deteriorate. These axons act as the communication lines that transmit signals between the brain and the muscles. When they degenerate, the brain can no longer properly control the dog's movements.
View details - SevereSpineAutosomal recessive
Progressive degenerative myeloencephalopathy, PNPLA8-related
This is a severe inherited disease of the central nervous system, specifically affecting the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by a genetic mutation in the PNPLA8 gene, which leads to the progressive breakdown and loss of nerve tissue. As this nerve tissue degenerates, the brain's ability to communicate with the rest of the body is gradually lost.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Progressive early-onset cerebellar ataxia, SEL1L-related
This is a severe, inherited neurological disease, often abbreviated as FHA, that affects the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement. A genetic mutation in the SEL1L gene disrupts normal protein metabolism within cells, leading to the progressive degeneration and loss of vital nerve cells.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Progressive Neuronopathy(PN)
Progressive neuronopathy is an inherited neurological disorder affecting the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. In this condition, the nerve cells that transmit signals throughout the body gradually break down and lose their ability to function. Because these vital communication pathways degenerate, the brain can no longer properly control the dog's muscles and movements. No DNA test is currently available for this genetic disease.
View details - SevereEyesAutosomal dominant
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), autosomal dominant, RHO-related(adPRA)
This is an inherited eye disease where a genetic defect in the rhodopsin (RHO) gene causes the light-sensitive cells in the retina to slowly break down and die. The retina is the layer at the back of the eye responsible for capturing light and sending visual signals to the brain. Because this degeneration is progressive, it leads to a gradual and permanent loss of vision.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), CCDC66-related(PRA-CCDC66)
This condition is an inherited eye disease caused by a genetic mutation in the CCDC66 gene, which leads to the gradual degeneration of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The genetic change particularly affects breeds such as the Schapendoes and the Portuguese Water Dog. As these light-sensing cells break down, the eye permanently loses its ability to send visual signals to the brain.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), FAM161A-related(PRA-FAM161A)
This is an inherited eye disease affecting the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It is caused by mutations in the FAM161A gene that lead to the gradual breakdown and death of the cells responsible for vision. This genetic condition encompasses both the PRA3 variant found in Tibetan Spaniels and Tibetan Terriers, and the PRA6 variant found in English Shepherds.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - SevereEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), GTPBP2-related(PRA-GTPBP2)
This is an inherited eye disease in Labrador Retrievers caused by a genetic mutation in the GTPBP2 gene. It leads to progressive retinal atrophy, which is the gradual breakdown of the light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye, known as the retina. As these cells degenerate, the dog's ability to process light and send visual signals to the brain is permanently lost.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), IFT122-related(PRA-IFT122)
This is an inherited eye disease where the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, gradually degenerates. Specifically, the photoreceptor cells that detect light and color slowly die off. This progressive loss of cells eventually prevents the eye from sending visual signals to the brain.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), IMPG2-related(PRA4)
This is an inherited eye disease that causes the gradual breakdown of the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A genetic defect in the IMPG2 gene impairs the photoreceptor cells, which are the specialized cells responsible for detecting light and enabling vision. In the Lhasa Apso breed, this specific condition is commonly referred to as PRA4.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), JPH2-related(PRA-JPH2)
This is an inherited eye disease that causes the progressive degeneration of the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. Specifically linked to a mutation in the JPH2 gene, it causes the photoreceptor cells to gradually break down and die. This condition is seen especially in the Shih Tzu.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView 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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