Dog Diseases Database
Every hereditary and common canine condition — with tests, affected body regions, and the breeds where each shows up most.
Filters
- MildEyesAutosomal recessive
Tapetal degeneration
Tapetum degeneration is a benign, structural change affecting the tapetum lucidum, which is the reflective layer at the back of a dog's eye that helps them see in low light. In affected dogs, this reflective layer degenerates, but it does not cause blindness or significant vision loss. It is considered an incidental finding, meaning it is a harmless physical variation rather than a progressive disease.
View details - MildGeneral / metabolicComplex
Telomere length
Telomeres are protective caps located at the ends of a dog's chromosomes that shield genetic material during cell division. As cells divide over time, these caps naturally shorten, making telomere length a key indicator of cellular health and biological aging across the entire body. This is not a disease itself, but rather a genetic measure of how a dog is aging at a cellular level.
View details - MildGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Tetragametic chimerism (including Freemartinism)
This is a rare developmental accident where a dog develops from two different fertilized eggs that fused together in the womb, resulting in a single animal with two distinct sets of DNA. In cases involving male and female twins, known as freemartinism, hormone sharing can cause abnormal development of the reproductive system. Because this is an embryological mishap rather than an inherited genetic disease, it cannot be detected using standard commercial canine DNA panels.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Thoracoabdominal syndrome(TAS)
Thorakoabdominales Syndrom, also known as Pentalogy of Cantrell, is a rare congenital condition where the midline of the body fails to fuse properly during embryonic development. This results in structural defects in the chest and abdominal walls, specifically affecting the breastbone, diaphragm, and surrounding tissues. In severe cases, internal organs may be displaced or lack proper protection.
View details - SevereSpineComplex
Thoracolumbar myelopathy
Thoracolumbar myelopathy is a severe disease affecting the spinal cord in the mid-to-lower back, known as the thoracic and lumbar regions. It occurs when the spinal cord is compressed or damaged by issues like slipped discs or spinal instability, which disrupts the nerve signals traveling between the brain and the back half of the body. This disruption impairs the dog's ability to coordinate its hind legs and control bodily functions.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Thromboxane responsiveness of platelets
This is an inherited blood clotting disorder affecting platelets, which are specialized blood cells responsible for stopping bleeding. In affected dogs, these platelets do not respond properly to thromboxane, a chemical signal that normally triggers them to clump together and form a clot. Because of this defect in the circulatory system, the dog's body cannot efficiently plug damaged blood vessels after an injury.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Thyroid follicular cell carcinoma, susceptibility to
This genetic predisposition increases a dog's risk of developing follicular thyroid carcinoma, which is a malignant cancer of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is an endocrine organ in the neck that produces hormones regulating metabolism. In affected dogs, genetic mutations cause the hormone-producing cells in this gland to grow uncontrollably and form aggressive tumors.
View details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal dominant
Ticking(T)
Ticking is a harmless genetic coat pattern where small, colored spots develop within the white areas of a dog's coat. This trait is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, meaning a dog only needs one copy of the gene to show the pattern. It affects only the pigment-producing cells in the skin and hair follicles, having no impact on the dog's physical health or internal organ systems.
Tested via: DNA testView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal dominant
TP53-related cancer(TP53)
This condition is an inherited predisposition to cancer caused by a mutation in the TP53 gene. This gene normally acts as a tumor suppressor, meaning it produces a protein that regulates cell division and prevents damaged cells from multiplying. Without this functioning protective system, dogs are highly susceptible to developing various aggressive tumors throughout the body.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Transitional cell carcinoma(TCC)
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is a severe, malignant cancer of the urinary tract, most commonly arising in the bladder or the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine out of the body. As the tumor grows, it invades the surrounding bladder wall and can block the normal flow of urine. This cancer is associated with complex genetic factors, including specific acquired mutations in the cells of the bladder.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome(TNS)
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS) is an inherited immune system disorder where the bone marrow produces white blood cells, called neutrophils, but is unable to release them into the bloodstream. Because these neutrophils are essential for fighting off bacteria and viruses, their absence leaves the dog's body highly vulnerable to infections. This genetic defect is inherited in an autosomal-recessive manner, meaning a puppy must receive the mutated gene from both parents to develop the condition.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Tremor syndrome with central axonopathy
This is a severe, inherited neurological disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system. It is characterized by damage to axons, the long nerve fibers that transmit electrical signals between nerve cells. Because these fibers are damaged, the brain cannot communicate properly with the rest of the body.
View details - MildHeartAutosomal dominant
TUBB1-related macrothrombocytopenia
This is an inherited blood condition where a genetic mutation affects how platelets, the cells responsible for blood clotting, develop. The body produces fewer platelets than normal, but the ones it does make are abnormally large. Despite these changes in cell size and number, the blood's ability to clot normally is typically not impaired.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Tuberculosis, susceptibility/resistance to
This genetic trait influences how a dog's immune system responds to tuberculosis bacteria, determining whether they are naturally resistant or highly susceptible to infection. If a susceptible dog is exposed, the bacteria primarily target the respiratory system and lymph nodes, though they can spread to other organs. Because this is a complex genetic trait, multiple genes work together to shape this immune response.
View details - MildGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Uterine aplasia
Uterine aplasia is a congenital condition affecting the female reproductive system where parts of the uterus, typically one of the uterine horns, fail to develop properly before birth. This means the dog is born with an incomplete reproductive tract. Because it is a developmental defect present from birth, it is not a progressive disease.
View details - HighSkin & coatComplex
Uveodermatological syndrome(UDS)
Uveodermatological syndrome is an autoimmune disorder where a dog's immune system mistakenly attacks its own pigment-producing cells, called melanocytes. This attack primarily targets the eyes and the skin, leading to severe internal eye inflammation and a loss of coloration. Because the body's defense system is targeting its own tissues, it causes ongoing damage to these specific organ systems.
View details - MildGeneral / metabolicComplex
Variation in vaccine-induced immune response
This condition involves genetic variations that affect how a dog's immune system reacts to vaccinations. Due to these genetic differences, some dogs do not produce a sufficient level of protective antibodies after receiving standard vaccines. This means their immune system, which defends the body against infections, remains partially unprotected against specific diseases.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Various disorders
This is a broad, catch-all classification used in genetic databases to group miscellaneous hereditary conditions and general health disorders that do not fit into a single specific category. Because it represents a wide variety of potential genetic anomalies, it can affect different organ systems depending on the underlying issue. It does not refer to one single, distinct clinical disease.
View details - ModerateHeartUnknown
Vena cava defect, generic
A vena cava defect is a congenital malformation of the large veins that carry oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart. This circulatory system issue can disrupt normal blood flow, causing pressure imbalances. It is typically diagnosed using an echocardiography, which is an ultrasound of the heart and its major vessels.
View details - SevereHeartAutosomal dominant
Ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death(IVA)
This is an inherited heart condition affecting the cardiovascular system, where abnormal electrical signals originate in the lower chambers of the heart, known as the ventricles. These irregular heartbeats, called ventricular arrhythmias, disrupt the heart's normal pumping rhythm and prevent it from circulating blood effectively to the rest of the body.
View details - ModerateSkin & coatX-linked
Verrucous epidermal keratinocytic nevi
This is an inherited skin disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the NSDHL gene, which is passed down on the X chromosome. The mutation affects the development of keratinocytes, which are the cells that make up the outer layer of the skin, leading to abnormal, wart-like growths. Because of how it is inherited, the condition is typically fatal for male puppies before birth, while affected female puppies develop skin issues and associated lameness.
View details - ModerateHead / nervous systemUnknown
Vestibular disease
Vestibular disease is a neurological disorder that affects the balance system, which is located in the inner ear and the brain. It disrupts the dog's sense of spatial orientation, causing a sudden and severe loss of balance similar to extreme vertigo in humans. While some specific genetic forms exist, this broad clinical syndrome most commonly occurs without a known cause.
View details - SevereMouth & teethAutosomal recessive
Vitamin D-dependent rickets(HVDRR)
This inherited metabolic disorder prevents the dog's body from properly processing vitamin D or responding to its receptors. Without functioning vitamin D pathways, the skeletal system cannot absorb calcium, which is essential for building strong bones. This failure leads to severely weakened, soft, and poorly mineralized bone tissue.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor deficiency(VKCFD)
This is an inherited blood clotting disorder affecting the cardiovascular system, where the body cannot properly activate essential proteins needed to stop bleeding. Because these proteins require vitamin K to function, their deficiency prevents the blood from coagulating normally. This leads to a high risk of spontaneous or prolonged bleeding.
View details - ModerateEyesComplex
Vitreous degeneration
Vitreous degeneration is a progressive change in the vitreous humor, which is the clear, gel-like substance that fills the eye. Over time, this gel can liquefy, shrink, or develop tiny suspended particles that look like sparkling crystals. These changes reduce the internal stability of the eye and can sometimes put physical strain on the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.
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