This page gives you a list of dog diseases and symptoms for quick reference.
Dogs cannot tell us when they are not feeling well, but their body language speaks louder than words. By learning to recognize some canine illness symptoms and signals, you will come to notice quite quickly what is wrong with your dog and what action you need to take.
Knowing the symptoms of certain common diseases gives you an idea as to whether your dog’s condition is serious enough to warrant a visit to the vet, or whether home care is sufficient.
Educating yourself and learning some common dog diseases and symptoms can make you a better dog parent!
As you will see, different dog diseases and health problems can result in similar canine illness symptoms. The key is to observe your dog and identify as many symptoms as you possibly can. Usually, that will give you a better idea at least as to whether the problem is a serious one.
The bottom line is, when in doubt, and when the symptoms persist, consult a veterinarian before considering or attempting any type of treatment.
This page gives a list of some common dog diseases and symptoms for your quick reference. New information will periodically be added to this page, so be sure to check back regularly!
Common Dog Diseases and Symptoms A-Z
A
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases |
| Appetite Gain |
diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease |
| Appetite Loss |
Addison’s disease, GI problems (constipation, diarrhea, IBD, fecal impaction, ulcers), blastomycosis, dental or gum diseases, diabetes mellitus, diet change, ehrlichiosis, heart disease, infections (distemper, kennel cough, leptospirosis), Lyme disease, kidney failure, kidney infection, liver failure, mange, pancreatitis, stomach cancer, worm infestations |
B
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Bad Breath |
bladder infections, dental/gum diseases, kidney failure, mouth cancer, poisoning, poor digestion, stomach/intestinal problems (constipation, gas, diarrhea) |
| Bloat |
diarrhea, Gastric-Dilatation-Volvulus, worm infestations |
| Blood in Urine |
bladder cancer, bladder infections, bladder stones, injuries, kidney disease, leptospirosis, prostate enlargement |
| Bowel Incontinence |
complication of certain surgeries, diarrhea, old age, spinal cord injuries |
C
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Constipation |
anal gland problems, cancer, diet change, hypothyroidism, intestinal blockage, liver disease, medications, prostate enlargement, stress, worm infestations |
| Coughing |
allergies, asthma, blastomycosis, distemper, dog flu, heart disease, heartworms, hepatitis, lung cancer, kennel cough, parvovirus, pneumonia, roundworms, sore throat, tonsillitis, tracheal collapse |
D
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Dandruff |
Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, kidney failure |
| Dehydration |
Addison’s disease, diabetes mellitus, diarrhea, fever, heatstroke, leptospirosis, kidney failure,parvovirus, vomiting |
| Depression |
acute infections, Addison’s disease, arthritis, blastomycosis, cancer, coronavirus, ehrlichiosis, hypoglycemia, kidney failure, leptospirosis, pancreatitis, parvovirus, pneumonia, poisoning, prostatitis |
| Diarrhea |
Addison’s disease, colitis, dietary indiscretion, distemper, food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal parasites (e.g. Giardia, worms), leptospirosis, liver disease, pancreatitis, parvovirus, poisoning, stomach cancer |
| Drooling |
bloat, epilesy, heat stroke, liver disease, mouth tumors, motion sickness, peridontal disease, pain, poisoning, rabies |
E
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Ears, Itchy |
allergies, ear infections, ear mites |
| Eyes, Cloudy |
cataracts, glaucoma, keratitis |
| Eyes, Discharge |
atopy, blepharitis, corneal or inner eye problems, cherry eye, conjunctivitis, dry eye, distemper, eye infections, glaucoma, kennel cough, keratitis, tooth abscess, uveitis |
| Eyes, Painful |
corneal injuries, glaucoma, keratitis |
| Eyes, Red |
allergies, conjunctivitis |
F
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Fecal Incontinence |
complication of certain surgeries, diarrhea, old age, spinal cord injuries |
| Fever |
bladder infection, brain infection, diabetes, ehrlichiosis, dog flu, kennel cough, distemper, food poisoning, kidney infection, leptospirosis, leukemia, Lyme disease, mange, parvovirus, pneumonia, prostatitis, sore throat, tonsillitis, valley fever |
G
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Gagging |
elongated soft palate, foreign objects in esophagus, mouth, or throat, kennel cough, rhinitis, roundworms, sinusitis |
H
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Hair Loss |
atopy, Cushing’s disease, diabetes mellitus, hot spots, hypothyroidism, mange, ringworm, scabies, seborrhea |
| Head Tilt |
brain tumors, ear infections, ear mites, encephalitis, head injuries, hypothyroidism, idiopathic vestibular syndrome, punctured ear drum |
| Heart Murmur |
anemia, heartworm infestation, chronic valvular disease, congenital heart disease |
I
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Itching |
atopy, contact dermatitis, flea allergies, food allergies, hot spots, lick granuloma, mange, scabies, stress, ticks, walking dandruff (Cheyletiellosis) |
J
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
K
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
L
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Lethargy |
lots of illnesses, such as anemia, arthritis, bloat, cancer, chronic infection or inflammation, gastritis, glaucoma, heart problems (e.g. congestive heart failure), hormonal or metabolic disorders (e.g. Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, etc.), hypoglycemia, hypothermia, infectious diseases (e.g. leptospirosis, distemper, parvovirus, etc.), parasites (e.g. worms), poisoning, periodontal problems, trauma |
| Limping |
arthritis, bone tumors, ehrlichiosis, elbow dysplasia, injuries, Lyme disease, pemphigus foliaceus |
M
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
N
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Nasal Discharge |
allergies, foreign objects, influenza, kennel cough, distemper, nasal cancer, periodontal disease, pneumonia, rhinitis, sinusitis |
| Nose Bleeding |
blood-clotting disorders (e.g. anticoagulant rat poisons, ehrlichiosis, hemophilia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, von Willebrand’s disease), foreign objects, nasal infections, nasal cancer, trauma |
O
P
Q
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
R
S
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Scooting |
anal sac problems, back injury, clipper burns, diarrhea, flea bites, food allergies, perianal fistulas, tapeworms |
| Seizures |
brain tumors, Cushing’s disease, distemper, encephalitis (infection of the brain), epilepsy, head injuries, heatstroke, hypoglycemia, liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy), poisoning |
| Shaking head |
allergies (e.g. fleabite allergy dermatitis, contact dermatitis, food allergy), aural hematoma, ear infections, ear mites, foreign objects in ear, infections, ticks, toxicity, vestibular disease |
| Sneezing |
atopy, foreign objects in nose, influenza, insect bites, tooth abscess, tumors in the nose, upper respiratory tract infections |
T
U
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Urinary Incontinence/Frequent Urination |
arthritis, brain tumors, ectopic ureter, bladder cancer, bladder stones, bladder infections, Cushing’s disease, diabetes mellitus, hip dysplasia, hormonal deficiencies, liver problems, kidney failure, spinal cord injuries |
V
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Vomiting |
Addison’s disease, Cushing’s disease, diabetes mellitus, distemper, food poisoning, inner ear infections, intestinal parasites (e.g. roundworms), leptospirosis, liver failure, kidney failure, pancreatitis, parvovirus, stomach problems (e.g. gastritis, stomach ulcers, stomach cancer |
W
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
| Weight Gain |
hypothyroidism |
| Weight Loss |
Addison’s disease, blastomycosis, cancer, Cushing’s disease, diabetes, digestive problems (e.g. gastritis, ehrlichiosis, IBD), giardia, heart disease, kidney failure, Lyme disease, stomach ulcers, stomach cancer, worm infestations |
| Wheezing |
allergies, asthma, bronchitis, congestive heart failure, heartworms, kennel cough, sinus infections, tumors (of the larynx, trachea, and lungs) |
X-Z
| Illness Symptoms |
Possible Diseases/Causes |
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