Dog Diseases Database
Every hereditary and common canine condition — with tests, affected body regions, and the breeds where each shows up most.
Filters
- SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Hypereosinophilic syndrome(HES)
Hypereosinophilic syndrome is a rare disorder where the bone marrow produces an excessive number of eosinophils, which are a specialized type of white blood cell. These extra cells build up in various organs, most commonly the digestive tract, liver, and spleen. This accumulation leads to severe inflammation and progressive damage to the affected organ systems.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Hypergammaglobulinemia
Hypergammaglobulinaemia is an abnormal buildup of immunoglobulins, which are infection-fighting proteins (antibodies) in the blood's immune system. This condition is typically triggered by underlying chronic inflammation, infections, or bone marrow cancers. Veterinarians use a specialized blood test called serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) to confirm the diagnosis and determine if the protein increase is uniform or diverse.
View details - ModerateHeartComplex
Hyperhomocysteinemia(HHcy)
This is a metabolic disorder where the body is unable to properly break down an amino acid called homocysteine, leading to its accumulation in the bloodstream. This buildup can damage the lining of the blood vessels and significantly increase the risk of blood clots. It primarily affects the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia
This is a metabolic disorder of the pancreas, where the organ uncontrollably secretes excessive amounts of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar; too much of it causes blood glucose levels to drop dangerously low, depriving the brain and muscles of energy.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Hyperkinesis
Hyperkinesis is a neurological disorder affecting the brain and nervous system, where a dog exhibits pathological, extreme overactivity and an inability to calm down. It is caused by a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers that transmit signals in the brain. This imbalance prevents the brain from properly regulating activity levels and impulse control.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Hyperlipidaemia/atherosclerosis, APOE-related
This condition is a genetic disorder of the metabolic and cardiovascular systems where a defect in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) protein prevents the normal clearance of fats from the blood. This results in severely elevated cholesterol levels, which can lead to fatty deposits in the blood vessels, a process known as atherosclerosis. Currently, this genetic defect is only known as an engineered research model, with no naturally occurring cases reported in domestic dogs.
View details - MildGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Hyperphosphatasaemia(BFH)
This condition is a harmless elevation of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase in the dog's blood. This enzyme is normally associated with the liver and bones, but in this case, the high levels occur without any underlying disease in these organs. It is considered a benign metabolic variation rather than an active illness.
View details - HighHeartComplex
Hypertension(SHT)
Hypertension is a condition where a dog experiences chronically high blood pressure in their arteries, which are the blood vessels carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This constant pressure puts excessive strain on the cardiovascular system and can gradually damage vital organs, particularly the kidneys, eyes, and brain.
View details - MildSkin & coatUnknown
Hypertrichosis
Hypertrichosis is an uncommon skin and coat condition characterized by excessive and abnormal hair growth. This abnormal growth can affect the dog's entire body or be localized to specific areas. The exact underlying genetic cause and inheritance pattern for this condition are currently unknown.
View details - SevereHeartComplex
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a severe heart disease where the muscle walls of the heart's main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, become abnormally thick. This thickening makes the chamber stiff and reduces its volume, meaning the heart cannot fill with or pump blood efficiently. Over time, this strain on the cardiovascular system can lead to congestive heart failure.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Hypertrophic neuropathy(HN)
Hypertrophic neuropathy, also known as Canine Inherited Demyelinative Neuropathy (CIDN), is an inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system. In affected dogs, the protective myelin sheath surrounding the nerves abnormally thickens, which disrupts the electrical signals traveling between the brain and the muscles. This disruption leads to progressive weakness and muscle wasting.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicComplex
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy(HOD)
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy is an inflammatory bone disease that affects the growth plates in the long bones of fast-growing, large-breed dogs. It disrupts the normal blood flow to these growth plates, leading to painful swelling and abnormal bone development in the limbs. This skeletal condition is distinct from skull-affecting bone disorders and specifically targets the legs.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Hypogonadism
Hypogonadism is a hormonal disorder where the gonads—the ovaries in females or testes in males—fail to produce adequate levels of sex hormones. This underactivity directly impacts the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating growth and reproduction. As a result, the dog's normal sexual development and reproductive capabilities are significantly impaired.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Hypolipoproteinemia(HLP)
This inherited metabolic disorder affects the digestive system, preventing the body from properly absorbing and transporting dietary fats. It occurs because the dog lacks specific transport proteins needed to carry fats through the bloodstream. Without these proteins, the body cannot utilize essential fats and fat-soluble nutrients.
View details - HighGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism is an endocrine disorder where the parathyroid glands in the neck fail to produce enough parathyroid hormone. This hormone is responsible for regulating calcium levels in the bloodstream. Without sufficient hormone production, calcium levels drop dangerously low, which disrupts normal muscle and nerve function throughout the body.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicAutosomal recessive
Hypophosphatasia(HPP)
Hypophosphatasia is a severe, inherited metabolic bone disease caused by a deficiency in the alkaline phosphatase enzyme, which is crucial for hardening skeletal tissues. Without enough of this enzyme, the dog's body cannot properly deposit minerals like calcium and phosphorus into its bones and teeth. This leads to abnormally soft, weak bones and skeletal structure.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Hypospadias
Hypospadias is a birth defect affecting the male urinary and reproductive systems where the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, does not develop fully. Instead of opening at the tip of the penis, the urinary opening is located further back along the underside of the shaft, the scrotum, or the groin. This abnormal placement can cause urine to spray or pool against the surrounding skin.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemUnknown
Hypothalamic dysplasia
Hypothalamic dysplasia is a congenital brain malformation affecting the hypothalamus, which serves as the central control center for the body's hormone system. This region of the brain is responsible for regulating essential functions such as body temperature, appetite, and water balance. Because the hypothalamus does not develop correctly, the dog's body cannot maintain normal internal stability.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemUnknown
Hypothalamic hamartoma
A hypothalamic hamartoma is a non-cancerous, abnormal growth of tissue in the hypothalamus, which is a vital control center in the brain. This malformation disrupts the normal signaling of the nervous and hormonal systems. Because of its critical location, it interferes with essential bodily functions and brain activity.
View details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Hypotrichosis, generic
Generic hypotrichosis is an inherited skin condition where the hair follicles, which are the tiny structures in the skin that produce hair, fail to develop properly. This genetic underdevelopment leads to abnormal hairlessness or a very sparse coat. A skin biopsy, which is a laboratory evaluation of a small skin sample, is the gold standard method used to confirm the absence or underdevelopment of these follicles.
View details - ModerateSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Ichthyosis, ABHD5-related(ICT-ABHD5)
This is an inherited skin disorder caused by a genetic mutation that disrupts how the skin metabolizes fats. Because the skin cannot properly build its outer protective barrier, it leads to abnormal scaling and dryness. This condition primarily affects the skin's outer layer, preventing it from retaining moisture and protecting against irritants.
View details - ModerateSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Ichthyosis, ALOXE3-related(ARCI)
This is an inherited skin disorder caused by a genetic mutation that disrupts the skin's natural protective barrier. Without this barrier, the skin cannot retain moisture properly, leading to a severe buildup of dry, scaly skin cells, a process called hyperkeratosis. This condition specifically affects the outer layer of the skin and is inherited in an autosomal-recessive manner.
View details - ModerateSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Ichthyosis, ASPRV1-related(ARCI)
This form of ichthyosis is an inherited skin disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the ASPRV1 gene, which is passed down in an autosomal-dominant pattern. This mutation disrupts the normal renewal and protective barrier function of the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. Because the inheritance is dominant, a dog only needs to inherit one copy of the mutated gene from a single parent to develop the condition.
Tested via: DNA testView details - HighSkin & coatAutosomal dominant
Ichthyosis, DSP-related
This is an inherited skin disease caused by a genetic mutation in the desmoplakin (DSP) gene, which normally helps skin cells stick together securely. Without functioning desmoplakin, the outer layer of the skin cannot maintain its protective barrier, leading to severe scaling and structural weakness. This condition is inherited in an autosomal-dominant manner, meaning a dog only needs to inherit one copy of the mutated gene to be affected.
View details - ModerateSkin & coatAutosomal dominant
Ichthyosis, KRT1-related
This is an inherited skin condition caused by a genetic mutation in the KRT1 gene, which affects how the outer layer of the skin forms. In healthy dogs, keratin proteins provide structure to the skin, but this defect disrupts the normal shedding process, leading to a compromised skin barrier. Unlike the human version of this disease, the canine form does not cause the skin cells to break apart or blister.
View details
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