Dog Diseases Database
Every hereditary and common canine condition — with tests, affected body regions, and the breeds where each shows up most.
Filters
- ModerateSkin & coatAutosomal dominant
Hairlessness
This is a genetic condition known as ectodermal dysplasia, which affects the development of the outer layer of tissue in a developing embryo. This impairment specifically impacts the skin, hair follicles, and teeth, preventing them from forming normally. As a result, affected dogs are born with little to no coat and often have missing or malformed teeth.
Affects 5 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's syndrome)(HAC)
Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disorder affecting the endocrine system, where the adrenal glands chronically produce too much of the stress hormone cortisol. This overproduction disrupts the dog's normal metabolism, fluid balance, and immune system function. It is typically caused by a benign tumor in either the pituitary gland or the adrenal glands themselves.
Affects 5 breedsTested via: Clinical examView details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome(IGS)
Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome is an inherited metabolic disorder where a dog's digestive system cannot absorb vitamin B12 from food. This inability to absorb the vitamin leads to a chronic deficiency, which impairs normal red blood cell production in the bone marrow and disrupts the nervous system.
Affects 5 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Immunoglobulin A deficiency(IgAD)
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency is an immune system disorder where the body does not produce enough IgA, which is a key antibody that protects mucosal surfaces. This weakens the local defense system of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, making the dog more vulnerable to infections and chronic inflammation in these areas.
Affects 5 breedsTested via: Clinical examView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Pituitary dwarfism(PD)
This is a congenital metabolic disorder where the pituitary gland, a small hormone-producing gland at the base of the brain, fails to develop properly. As a result, the body cannot produce enough growth hormone and other essential hormones. This lack of hormones severely impacts the dog's overall development and organ function.
Affects 5 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - SevereEyesAutosomal recessive
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG), ADAMTS17-related(POAG)
Primary open angle glaucoma is an inherited eye disorder where fluid inside the eye cannot drain properly, causing pressure to build up. This increased pressure damages the optic nerve and retina, which are the structures responsible for sending visual information to the brain. Over time, this pressure buildup leads to progressive and irreversible vision loss.
Affects 5 breedsTested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Spongy Degeneration with Cerebellar Ataxia 2 (SDCA2)(SDCA2)
Spongiform Degeneration with Cerebellar Ataxia Type 2 (SDCA2) is an inherited neurological disease affecting the brain, specifically the cerebellum, which controls movement and balance. In affected dogs, the brain tissue develops microscopic, sponge-like holes, disrupting the normal transmission of nerve signals. This leads to a severe loss of motor coordination and control.
Affects 5 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - ModerateSkin & coatComplex
Acral lick dermatitis (lick granuloma)(ALD)
Acral lick dermatitis is a chronic skin disorder where a dog compulsively licks a specific area, usually on its lower limbs, leading to self-inflicted wounds. This behavior is often triggered by a mix of psychological factors like boredom or anxiety, and physical issues like joint pain or allergies. Over time, the constant licking damages the skin barrier and prevents the area from healing.
Affects 4 breedsView details - HighHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Cerebellar hypoplasia(CH)
Cerebellar hypoplasia is an inherited neurological condition where the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary movement, fails to develop fully. This underdevelopment is autosomal-recessive, meaning a puppy must inherit the gene from both parents to be affected. Because it only impacts physical coordination, the dog's cognitive abilities, intelligence, and awareness remain completely normal.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Cone-Rod Dystrophy (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)(crd-PRA)
Cone-Rod Dystrophy (crd-PRA) is an inherited eye disease that causes the progressive degeneration of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It specifically damages the photoreceptor cells, starting with the cones, which detect bright light and detail, and eventually spreading to the rods, which are responsible for night vision.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - ModerateMouth & teethAutosomal dominant
Craniomandibular osteopathy ("lion jaw")(CMO)
Craniomandibular osteopathy, often called "lion jaw," is a temporary bone disease affecting the skull and jaw of growing dogs. It causes abnormal, non-cancerous bone growth on the lower jawbone and surrounding joints. This swelling is painful and can restrict normal movement of the jaw during the puppy's development.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: DNA test, RadiographView details - SevereEyesAutosomal recessive
Curly Coat Dry Eye Syndrome(CC)
This is an inherited genetic disorder that simultaneously affects a dog's eyes, skin, and coat. It is caused by a genetic mutation that disrupts the normal development of the tear glands and the outer layer of the skin. This leads to a severe lack of tear production, known as dry eye, alongside abnormal hardening of the skin cells.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Ectopic ureter(EU)
An ectopic ureter is a birth defect affecting the urinary system where the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, known as ureters, bypass the bladder and connect to the wrong location. This abnormal connection, which often ends in the urethra or vagina, prevents the bladder from properly holding urine.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: UltrasoundView details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease)(HA)
Addison's disease is a hormonal disorder where the outer layer of the adrenal glands, known as the adrenal cortex, fails to produce enough essential hormones like cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol helps the dog's body manage stress and metabolism, while aldosterone regulates the balance of water and vital minerals. Without these hormones, the body cannot properly control its internal fluid levels or respond to daily physical stress.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: Clinical examView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Lafora disease(Lafora)
Lafora disease is an inherited brain disorder caused by an abnormal buildup of starch-like compounds inside the nerve cells. This accumulation gradually damages the central nervous system, preventing the brain from functioning normally. Over time, this leads to progressive neurological decline and recurrent seizures.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Lysosomal storage diseases(LSD)
Lysosomal storage diseases are inherited metabolic disorders where a dog's cells lack the specific enzymes needed to break down cellular waste. Without these enzymes, waste products build up inside the cells and cause severe, progressive damage to organs, particularly the brain and nervous system.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - HighHeartComplex
Myxomatous mitral valve disease(MMVD)
Myxomatous valve degeneration is a chronic heart disease where the heart valves, most commonly the mitral valve, gradually thicken and lose their normal shape. This structural change prevents the valves from closing tightly, causing blood to leak backward through the heart chambers. Over time, this backflow forces the heart to work much harder, eventually leading to congestive heart failure.
Affects 4 breedsTested via: Cardiac examView details - ModerateMouth & teethComplex
Panosteitis(Pano)
Panosteitis is a temporary, painful inflammation affecting the outer surface and inner marrow cavity of the long bones in a dog's legs. This skeletal condition involves an abnormal buildup of bone tissue inside the marrow cavity during periods of rapid growth. It is a benign, or non-cancerous, condition that does not cause permanent damage once it resolves.
Affects 4 breedsView details - ModerateSkin & coatComplex
Acanthosis Nigricans(AN)
Acanthosis Nigricans is a chronic skin disorder where the body produces excess pigment and skin cells, leading to dark, thickened patches of skin, especially in the armpits and folds. In dogs, particularly Dachshunds, this is often a genetically predisposed condition where the skin's normal shedding and pigment processes are disrupted. This thickening and darkening can eventually cause hair loss in the affected areas.
Affects 3 breedsView details - ModerateEyesAutosomal recessive
Achromatopsia-3, CNGB3-related(ACHM)
Achromatopsia-3 is an inherited eye disorder affecting the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It is caused by a genetic mutation that prevents the cone photoreceptors—the cells responsible for detecting bright light—from functioning properly. Consequently, affected dogs experience severely impaired vision in bright daylight, while their vision remains normal in dim light.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - ModerateEarsAutosomal recessive
Adult-onset deafness(AOD)
This condition is a progressive form of hearing loss that affects the auditory system, specifically the sensory cells within the inner ear. Over time, these specialized cells degenerate and lose their ability to transmit sound signals to the brain. Because it is an inherited disorder, this deterioration occurs naturally as the dog matures, even though the outer ear looks completely healthy.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Black hair follicular dysplasia(BHFD)
Black hair follicular dysplasia is an inherited, autosomal-recessive skin condition in which pigment clumps abnormally inside hair follicles. This structural flaw causes only black hairs to become brittle and break off, while lighter-colored coat sections continue to grow normally. Because there is no commercial DNA test, a veterinarian confirms the diagnosis through microscopic hair examination and a skin biopsy.
Affects 3 breedsView details - HighGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome(CMS)
Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (CMS) is an inherited genetic disorder that disrupts the communication between nerves and muscles. This breakdown in the neuromuscular system prevents signals from reaching the muscles properly, leading to rapid muscle fatigue and weakness. Unlike some other muscle-weakness disorders, this is a congenital condition present from birth and is not caused by an autoimmune system malfunction.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: DNA test, Clinical examView details - ModerateEyesAutosomal recessive
Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (Briard)(CSNB)
This inherited eye condition affects the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It specifically impairs the rod cells, the photoreceptors responsible for vision in low-light environments. Because the condition is stationary, the visual impairment does not worsen over the dog's life, and daytime vision remains mostly normal.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: Eye exam, DNA testView details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
D-Locus (d1)(D-Lokus)
The D-Locus (d1 variant) affects the MLPH gene, which controls how pigment is distributed within a dog's hair shafts. When a dog inherits two copies of this variant, their coat color is diluted, turning black to blue-grey or brown to lilac. In some dogs, this altered pigment distribution weakens the hair shafts, which can lead to a skin and coat condition called Color Dilution Alopecia.
Affects 3 breedsTested 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.
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