Dog Diseases Database
Every hereditary and common canine condition — with tests, affected body regions, and the breeds where each shows up most.
Filters
- 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 - 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 testView 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 - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Fanconi syndrome(FS)
Fanconi syndrome is an inherited kidney disorder affecting the renal tubules, which are the tiny filtering tubes within the kidneys. Instead of reabsorbing vital nutrients like glucose, amino acids, and electrolytes back into the bloodstream, these damaged tubules allow them to be lost in the urine. This leads to a severe depletion of essential compounds that the dog's body needs to function properly.
Affects 3 breedsView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
GM1 Gangliosidosis(GM1)
GM1 gangliosidosis is an inherited lysosomal storage disease that primarily affects the nervous system. It occurs when a deficiency in a specific enzyme, beta-galactosidase, prevents the body from breaking down certain fatty sugar compounds. Over time, these compounds build up to toxic levels inside cells, causing progressive damage to the brain and spinal cord.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis(HUC)
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis is a severe, chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine, or colon. It occurs when specific bacteria invade the lining of the intestinal wall, triggering an abnormal and intense immune response. This leads to deep inflammation and painful ulcers in the colon.
Affects 3 breedsView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Histiocytosis(MH)
Histiocytosis is a severe disorder of the immune system where specific white blood cells, called histiocytes, multiply abnormally. These cells normally help protect the body, but their uncontrolled growth can lead to tumors or tissue damage in various organs, including the skin, lungs, spleen, and lymph nodes. Depending on the form, it can be localized to the skin or spread aggressively throughout the body's internal systems.
Affects 3 breedsView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia(IMT)
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia is an autoimmune disease where the dog's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys its own blood platelets, which are cells essential for normal blood clotting. This destruction occurs primarily in the spleen and liver, leaving the body with too few platelets to stop bleeding. Without enough of these cells, spontaneous and potentially severe bleeding can occur throughout the body.
Affects 3 breedsView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy(JDCM)
This is a severe, inherited heart disease where the heart muscle becomes abnormally enlarged and weakened, preventing it from pumping blood effectively. It is an autosomal-recessive condition that primarily affects young Portuguese Water Dogs and Toy Manchester Terriers. In Toy Manchester Terriers, the disease is linked to a mutation in a cardiac potassium channel, which is a protein essential for maintaining a normal heart rhythm.
Affects 3 breedsView details - SevereSkin & coatComplex
Lupus erythematosus (systemic, cutaneous/discoid)(SLE)
Lupus erythematosus is a severe autoimmune disease where the dog's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues. In the cutaneous or discoid form, this damage is limited to the skin, while the systemic form can affect multiple internal organs, including the kidneys, joints, and blood vessels. This abnormal immune response causes chronic inflammation and tissue damage throughout the affected areas.
Affects 3 breedsView details - SevereHead / nervous systemComplex
Meningitis(SRMA)
Meningitis is a severe inflammatory condition affecting the protective membranes, called meninges, and blood vessels surrounding the brain and spinal cord. In dogs, this most commonly occurs as an immune-mediated disorder known as Steroid-Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis (SRMA), or 'Steril-eitrige Meningitis-Arteriitis'. This means the dog's own immune system mistakenly triggers inflammation in these nervous system tissues without any actual infection being present.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: RadiographView details - ModerateSpineAutosomal recessive
Myelodysplasia (spinal dysraphism)(SD)
Myelodysplasia, also known as spinal dysraphism, is a congenital malformation of the spinal cord where the nervous tissue fails to develop and close properly during embryonic growth. This defect permanently disrupts the transmission of nerve signals from the brain to the hind legs. Because the spinal cord is part of the central nervous system, this malformation directly impacts the dog's coordination and movement.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - HighGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Myotonia(MC)
Myotonia is an inherited muscle disorder where a dog's muscles are unable to relax normally after contracting. This is caused by a genetic defect in the electrical channels of the muscle cells, leading to constant over-excitement of the muscle tissue. Because the muscles remain tense instead of releasing, it directly impacts the dog's ability to move smoothly.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: DNA testView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Neuroaxonal dystrophy(NAD)
Neuroaxonal dystrophy is a severe, inherited disorder of the central nervous system where the endings of nerve cells, called axons, swell and degenerate. Axons act like electrical wires that transmit signals between the brain and the body, and their breakdown disrupts normal communication. This progressive deterioration leads to widespread neurological dysfunction.
Affects 3 breedsTested via: DNA test, RadiographView details - ModerateHead / nervous systemComplex
Paralyzed, permanently visible tongue
This condition involves a paralyzed or structurally abnormal tongue that permanently hangs out of the dog's mouth. It is caused by damage to the nervous system, specifically the hypoglossal nerve which controls tongue movement, or by developmental issues in the jaw structure. Because it is a physical condition diagnosed through a clinical exam, there is no direct genetic test for it.
Affects 3 breedsView details - HighHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Peripheral neuropathy(PN)
This is a genetic disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system, which consists of the nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. In affected dogs, the protective outer coating of these nerves degrades, disrupting the electrical signals sent to muscles and organs. This leads to progressive muscle weakness and loss of coordination.
Affects 3 breedsView details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Polyneuropathy, NDRG1-related(AMPN)
This is an inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system where the protective outer coating of the nerves, known as the myelin sheath, gradually breaks down. Without this protective layer, the electrical signals traveling between the brain and the muscles are disrupted. This leads to a progressive loss of muscle control and coordination throughout the dog's body.
Affects 3 breedsView details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1 (Golden Retriever)(GR-PRA1)
This is an inherited eye disease where the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, gradually degenerates. Due to a genetic mutation, the photoreceptor cells that process light slowly die off, leading to a progressive loss of vision. This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning a dog must inherit the mutated gene from both parents to develop the disease.
Affects 3 breedsView details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Pyloric stenosis
Pyloric stenosis is a narrowing of the pylorus, which is the muscular valve that regulates the passage of food from the stomach into the small intestine. This narrowing obstructs the digestive system by preventing food from entering the intestines normally. It is typically a congenital condition, meaning dogs are born with it.
Affects 3 breedsView details - SevereGeneral / metabolicX-linked
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)(SCID)
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is an inherited genetic defect of the immune system, specifically linked to the X chromosome. It prevents the dog's body from producing functional white blood cells, known as T and B lymphocytes, which are essential for fighting off infections. Without these defense cells, affected puppies are completely vulnerable to even common environmental bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Affects 3 breedsView details - HighMouth & teethComplex
Spina bifida
Spina bifida is a congenital birth defect of the nervous system where the vertebrae, which are the bones of the spine, fail to close completely around the spinal cord during embryonic development. This incomplete closure leaves the delicate spinal cord unprotected, which can lead to nerve damage in the lower back.
Affects 3 breedsView details - ModerateMouth & teethComplex
Spondylosis(SP)
Spondylosis is a degenerative disease of the skeletal system, specifically affecting the spine. It occurs when the body creates bony spurs or bridges between the vertebrae, which are the individual bones of the spine, in an attempt to stabilize local joint instability. Over time, these bony growths can cause the spine to become stiff and less flexible.
Affects 3 breedsView details - MildGeneral / metabolicComplex
Tail anomalies
Tail anomalies are congenital (present from birth) malformations of the caudal vertebrae, which are the small bones that make up the tail. This skeletal condition occurs when these vertebral bodies do not develop or fuse properly during fetal growth, resulting in a kinked, curved, or shortened tail.
Affects 3 breedsView details - HighHeartComplex
Ventricular septal defect(VSD)
A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart defect where a hole exists in the wall, or septum, that separates the left and right lower chambers of the heart. This opening allows blood to flow abnormally between these chambers, forcing the heart and lungs to work much harder than normal. Over time, this abnormal circulation can lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs and heart failure.
Affects 3 breedsView details
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