Dog Diseases Database
Every hereditary and common canine condition — with tests, affected body regions, and the breeds where each shows up most.
Filters
- HighGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Renal Agenesis
Renal agenesis is a congenital condition where a puppy is born missing one or both kidneys due to a developmental failure in the womb. While the complete absence of both kidneys is fatal shortly after birth, a dog can survive with a single kidney because the remaining organ enlarges to compensate for the filtration workload. This urinary system defect is typically diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound imaging.
Tested via: UltrasoundView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Renal insufficiency(CKD)
Renal insufficiency is a progressive decline in kidney function where the kidneys can no longer properly filter waste products from the blood. This leads to a harmful buildup of toxins in the body and disrupts the dog's fluid and electrolyte balance. Veterinarians use specific blood tests, such as SDMA and renal profiles, to diagnose and monitor the stage of this kidney disease.
Tested via: Clinical examView details - MildGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Repeat breeding
A repeat breeding (German: 'Wurfwiederholung') is the practice of mating the same mother and father for multiple litters. It is not a disease or a genetic defect, but rather a breeding management decision. While it can produce predictable offspring, repeatedly using the same parental pair can limit the overall genetic diversity within a breed's gene pool.
View details - MildGeneral / metabolicComplex
Reproductive seasonality
Reproductive seasonality is a natural genetic trait in certain primitive dog breeds where the reproductive system restricts breeding cycles to a specific time of year, typically autumn. Rather than a disease, this is an evolutionary trait inherited from wild ancestors like wolves, regulating the hormonal cycle to ensure offspring are born during optimal seasons.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Respiratory distress syndrome(RDS)
This is a severe inherited respiratory disease affecting the lungs, often associated with a genetic defect in surfactant production. Surfactant is a natural protective fluid that allows the lungs' tiny air sacs, called alveoli, to expand and absorb oxygen. Without it, these air sacs collapse, making normal breathing impossible.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Respiratory distress syndrome, ANLN-related(ARDS)
This hereditary condition is caused by a genetic mutation in the ANLN gene, which severely damages the physical structure of the lungs. The lungs are the primary organs responsible for oxygen exchange, and this structural damage prevents them from functioning properly, leading to acute respiratory distress.
Tested via: DNA testView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Retinal and skeletal dysplasia(OSD)
This inherited condition affects both the skeletal system and the eyes due to abnormal tissue development. In the skeleton, it causes dwarfism with abnormally short limbs, while in the eyes, it leads to malformations of the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. These retinal changes can eventually cause the retina to detach, leading to vision loss.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereEyesAutosomal dominant
Retinal atrophy - Rod-cone dysplasia, CRX related(CRX-RCD)
This is an inherited eye disease in cats where the photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) in the retina degenerate prematurely. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, and this degeneration leads to a progressive and permanent loss of vision.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - SevereEyesAutosomal recessive
Retinal atrophy, cone-rod dystrophy, SPATA7-related(CRD)
This is an inherited eye disease in Standard Poodles caused by a genetic deletion in the SPATA7 gene, which leads to the progressive breakdown of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, and this condition specifically damages both the cone cells, which handle daylight and color vision, and the rod cells, which handle night vision. As these photoreceptor cells degenerate, the dog's ability to see is permanently lost.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Retinal degeneration II(RD II)
Retinal degeneration II is an inherited eye disorder where the light-sensitive cells in the retina, which is the layer at the back of the eye that processes images, gradually break down and die. This progressive deterioration prevents the eye from properly transmitting visual information to the brain, eventually resulting in irreversible blindness.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - HighEyesComplex
Retinal detachment(RD)
Retinal detachment is a severe eye condition where the retina, the light-sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye, separates from its underlying supportive tissue. This separation cuts off the retina's oxygen supply, which can quickly lead to permanent blindness in the affected eye. Specialized ECVO-DOK eye examinations can help identify predisposing lesions, such as retinal dysplasia, before detachment occurs.
Tested via: Eye examView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Retinal dysplasia and persistent primary vitreous(RD/PPV)
This is a congenital eye condition where the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, does not develop properly. At the same time, embryonic blood vessels in the vitreous, the clear gel filling the eye, fail to disappear before birth as they normally should. This combination of developmental errors leads to permanent structural malformations inside the eye.
Tested via: Eye examView details - HighEyesX-linked
Retinal dysplasia, NDP-related
This is an inherited eye disorder where the retina—the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye—fails to develop properly due to a genetic mutation in the NDP gene. This malformation can lead to early detachment of the retina from the underlying tissue, which severely disrupts how visual signals are sent to the brain. Because the condition is X-linked, it primarily affects male dogs.
Tested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - HighEyesX-linked
Retinoschisis(XLRS)
Retinoschisis is an inherited eye disease where the layers of the retina—the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye—split apart. This splitting disrupts how visual signals are sent to the brain, leading to vision loss. The condition is diagnosed by a veterinary ophthalmologist using specialized eye exams, such as fundoscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and electroretinography (ERG).
Tested via: Eye examView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe, chronic disease where a dog's immune system mistakenly attacks the tissues within its own joints, leading to progressive joint destruction. This immune-mediated process causes painful inflammation and damage to the cartilage and bone of multiple joints throughout the skeletal system.
View details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Rod dysplasia(rd)
Rod dysplasia is an inherited eye disorder where the light-sensitive cells in the retina, specifically the rods responsible for low-light vision, fail to develop properly. This maldevelopment leads to a progressive degeneration of the tissue, eventually causing complete blindness. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.
Tested via: Eye examView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Sacral agenesis
Sacral agenesis is a congenital skeletal defect where the sacrum, which is the bone connecting the spine to the pelvis, and nearby vertebrae fail to develop properly or are completely missing. This malformation destabilizes the pelvis and can compress or damage the nerves in the lower spinal cord. Consequently, the nervous and musculoskeletal systems in the lower body are severely impacted.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
SACS-related spastic ataxia(ARSACS)
This inherited neurological condition, also known as ARSACS, is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to progressive damage in the cerebellum and spinal cord. The cerebellum is the part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement, and its deterioration disrupts communication between the brain and the muscles. This results in a gradual loss of voluntary muscle control and coordination.
Tested via: DNA testView details - HighHead / nervous systemUnknown
Schwannomatosis
Schwannomatosis is a rare nervous system disorder where multiple non-cancerous tumors, called schwannomas, grow on the protective sheaths surrounding the nerves. These growths put pressure on the nerve pathways, which disrupts normal communication between the brain and the body.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
SCN8A-related spinocerebellar ataxia(SCA)
This is an inherited neurological disorder affecting the brain and nervous system, caused by a genetic mutation that disrupts electrical signaling. This disruption leads to progressive damage in the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary movements. Without proper cerebellar function, a dog cannot control its balance or limb placement.
Tested via: DNA testView details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, which is part of the dog's skeletal system. It is usually caused by congenital malformations, meaning the individual bones of the spine, called vertebrae, fail to develop normally before birth. This structural misalignment can put pressure on the spinal cord, leading to nerve issues.
Tested via: RadiographView details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Screw tail
Tail curvature (Rutenkrümmung), commonly known as screw tail, is a congenital malformation of the tail bones, or caudal vertebrae, which causes them to develop in a twisted or spiral shape. This skeletal abnormality primarily affects short-nosed dog breeds and results in deep, poorly ventilated skin folds at the base of the tail. These tight folds easily trap moisture and debris, leading to localized skin inflammation.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Scrotal hernia
A scrotal hernia occurs due to an anatomical weakness in the groin area of male dogs. This defect allows abdominal organs, such as loops of the intestine, to slip through the inguinal canal, which is the natural passage connecting the abdomen to the scrotum. It is a structural issue that affects both the digestive and reproductive systems.
View details - MildHeartUnknown
Segmental aplasia of the Wolffian duct
This is a congenital birth defect of the male reproductive system where parts of the epididymis or vas deferens—the tubes that store and transport sperm—fail to develop. These structures normally form from an embryonic tissue called the Wolffian duct, and their partial absence prevents sperm from traveling normally. This structural gap typically leads to fertility issues in affected male dogs.
Tested via: Clinical examView details - HighHead / nervous systemComplex
Sensory Ataxic Neuropathy(SAN)
This is an inherited nervous system disorder caused by a defect in the mitochondria, which are the energy-producing parts of cells. This defect leads to progressive damage of the sensory nerves, meaning the dog's brain cannot properly process where its limbs are positioned in space.
Tested via: 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.
Why HonestDog?
What makes HonestDog different from other platforms
Full transparency
We show what's on file: who the breeders are, how they work and which health records they've uploaded. That way you can form your own picture.
Verified breeders, open records
Every breeder on HonestDog has their identity and documents checked before their profile goes live. Health records they upload are shown on the profile, so you can see exactly what has been tested.
Clear vetting criteria
Before a breeder profile goes live, we check identity, club membership or breeding permit, and photos of the breeding environment. HonestDog puts you in touch with the breeder and doesn't sell dogs itself — we can't guarantee any individual dog.
Less hassle, more time
We've already checked the breeders' documents and gathered the details, so you can skip the endless research and focus on finding the right puppy for your family.
Our Mission
We connect dog lovers with responsible breeders and shelters to ensure every dog finds the perfect home.
Founded by dog enthusiasts, our platform focuses on ethical dog breeding and adoption.
About HonestDog
We connect you with vetted breeders and shelters so you can find your new companion with confidence.
Vetted Partners
Only verified breeders and shelters — for a safe start.
Highest Standards
Every animal's health and wellbeing is our top priority.
Guides & Resources
Guides, checklists, and breed profiles — so you can make a well-informed decision.