Dog Diseases Database
Every hereditary and common canine condition — with tests, affected body regions, and the breeds where each shows up most.
Filters
- SevereEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Miniature Schnauzer, type 1(PRA)
This is an inherited eye disease, also known as PRA B1, that affects Miniature Schnauzers. It causes the gradual breakdown of the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that sends visual signals to the brain. Over time, this progressive degeneration leads to complete vision loss.
View details - HighEyesX-linked
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Miniature Schnauzer, type 2(PRA-Type 2)
This is an inherited eye disease in Miniature Schnauzers where the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, gradually degenerates. Because the cells that detect light slowly die off, the dog's vision progressively worsens. There is currently no DNA test available for this specific Type 2 mutation, so diagnosis relies on clinical eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
View details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, rod-cone dysplasia 3 (Cardigan Welsh Corgi)(PRA-rcd3)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (rcd3) is an inherited eye disease affecting Cardigan Welsh Corgis, where the light-sensitive cells of the retina (the back part of the eye that processes images) fail to develop properly and gradually die off. This progressive degeneration disrupts the eye's ability to send visual signals to the brain, ultimately resulting in complete blindness.
View details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, type 3, FAM161A-related(PRA3)
This is an inherited eye disease where the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, gradually breaks down. A genetic mutation in the FAM161A gene causes the progressive loss of photoreceptors, which are the specialized cells responsible for detecting light. Over time, this degeneration leads to irreversible vision loss.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Progressive subacute myopathy
This is an extremely rare muscle disorder where the muscle fibers progressively break down and lose their strength over a relatively short period. It affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the skeletal muscles that control voluntary movement. Because it is so rare, having only been documented in a single 1994 case report, the exact biological cause remains unknown.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Prostate cancer(PCA)
Prostate cancer is a severe, malignant tumor originating in the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system. Unlike in humans, this cancer develops regardless of whether a dog has been neutered. The tumor is highly aggressive, meaning it grows rapidly and frequently spreads, or metastasizes, to other parts of the body like the lymph nodes, lungs, and bones.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Pulmonary adenomatosis
Pulmonary adenomatosis is a rare, cancerous lung condition in dogs similar to bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, where cells in the deep lung tissues multiply uncontrollably. This abnormal cell growth gradually replaces healthy, functional lung tissue, severely reducing the dog's ability to absorb oxygen.
View details - SevereHeartComplex
Pulmonary hypertension(PH)
Pulmonary hypertension is abnormally high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs. This increased pressure forces the right side of the heart to work much harder to pump blood, which can eventually lead to heart failure and poor oxygen delivery throughout the body. It usually develops as a secondary complication of an underlying heart or lung disease.
View details - ModerateSkin & coatComplex
Pyoderma
Pyoderma is a bacterial infection of the skin, which is the body's primary protective organ system. It typically develops as a secondary condition when the skin's natural defenses are weakened by underlying issues such as allergies, parasites, or hormonal imbalances. This allows normal surface bacteria to multiply rapidly and cause localized inflammation.
View details - SevereGeneral / metabolicComplex
Pyometra, resistance/susceptibility to
This genetic predisposition influences a female dog's risk of developing pyometra, which is a severe, pus-filled infection of the uterus. The condition occurs when hormonal changes after a heat cycle make the uterine lining more vulnerable to bacterial invasion, affecting the reproductive system.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
Quadriplegia and amblyopia(QA)
This is a severe, inherited neurological disorder affecting the brain and nervous system. It leads to developmental abnormalities that cause paralysis in all four limbs, known as quadriplegia, alongside severe visual impairment, known as amblyopia. The condition is inherited in an autosomal-recessive manner, meaning a puppy must inherit the mutated gene from both parents.
View details - SevereHead / nervous systemAutosomal recessive
RALGAPA1-related cerebellar ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia (CA1) is an inherited neurological disease that affects the brain, specifically the cerebellum, which is the area responsible for coordinating movement and balance. A genetic mutation in the RALGAPA1 gene causes the cells in this part of the brain to progressively degenerate. This degeneration leads to a gradual loss of voluntary muscle control.
Tested via: DNA testView details - MildGeneral / metabolicComplex
Recombination rate
Recombination rate is a normal biological measure of how genetic material naturally shuffles and rearranges when eggs or sperm are formed. It is not a disease or a medical disorder, but rather a standard feature of how DNA is passed down to the next generation. This process occurs at the cellular level and does not negatively impact any organ system.
View details - MildEyesUnknown
Reduced cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) concentration
This is a benign genetic variation, or polymorphism, that affects how a dog processes certain medications like sildenafil rather than causing a physical disease. It involves a change in the PDE5A gene, which is related to cellular signaling pathways. This variation does not cause any organ damage or clinical illness.
View details - ModerateGeneral / metabolicComplex
Reduced exercise tolerance
Reduced exercise tolerance, or fitness problems, is a condition where a dog has a significantly decreased capacity for physical activity. This issue typically stems from underlying cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal weaknesses that prevent the body from efficiently delivering oxygen to tissues during exertion. It is often influenced by a complex combination of genetic factors and anatomical structures.
View details - ModerateHipsAutosomal recessive
Reduced glutathione deficiency, unclassified(GSHD)
This condition is an inherited deficiency of reduced glutathione, which is a vital antioxidant that protects red blood cells from damage. Without enough of this protective molecule, the red blood cells are easily destroyed by oxidative stress, which is chemical damage caused by unstable molecules in the body.
View details - MildSkin & coatAutosomal recessive
Reduced hair shedding, MC5R-related
This is not a disease, but a genetic variation in the MC5R gene that affects the hair follicles, which are the specialized skin structures responsible for hair growth. This variation influences the hair cycle and sebum production, resulting in a coat that sheds significantly less. It is a completely benign physical trait that does not impact the dog's internal health or organ systems.
View details - 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.
View 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.
View details - MildGeneral / metabolicUnknown
Repeat breeding
A repeat breeding, known as '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.
View 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.
View 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.
View details - HighEyesAutosomal recessive
Retinal atrophy - Rod-cone dysplasia 1(rcd1)
This is an inherited eye disease affecting the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. In affected dogs, the specialized photoreceptor cells—specifically the rods, which detect dim light, and the cones, which detect color and bright light—do not develop properly and prematurely break down. This progressive degeneration ultimately leads to a complete loss of vision.
View details
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