Dog Diseases and Symptoms
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 | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

A

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases
Appetite Gain diabetes mellitusCushing’s disease
Appetite Loss Addison’s disease, GI problems (constipation, diarrheaIBD, fecal impaction, ulcers), blastomycosisdental or gum diseasesdiabetes mellitus, diet change, ehrlichiosisheart disease, infections (distemperkennel coughleptospirosis), Lyme diseasekidney failure, kidney infection, liver failuremangepancreatitisstomach cancerworm infestations

B

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Bad Breath bladder infectionsdental/gum diseaseskidney failuremouth cancer, poisoning, poor digestion, stomach/intestinal problems (constipationgasdiarrhea)
Bloat diarrheaGastric-Dilatation-Volvulusworm infestations
Blood in Urine bladder cancerbladder infectionsbladder 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 problemscancer, diet change, hypothyroidism, intestinal blockage, liver disease, medications, prostate enlargement, stress, worm infestations
Coughing allergies, asthma, blastomycosisdistemper, dog flu, heart diseaseheartworms, hepatitis, lung cancerkennel coughparvoviruspneumoniaroundworms, sore throat, tonsillitis, tracheal collapse

D

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Dandruff Diabetes mellitushypothyroidismkidney failure
Dehydration Addison’s diseasediabetes mellitusdiarrhea, fever, heatstroke, leptospirosiskidney failure,parvovirusvomiting
Depression acute infections, Addison’s diseasearthritis, blastomycosiscancer, coronavirus, ehrlichiosis, hypoglycemiakidney failureleptospirosis, pancreatitisparvoviruspneumonia, poisoning, prostatitis
Diarrhea Addison’s diseasecolitis, dietary indiscretion, distemperfood allergiesinflammatory bowel disease, intestinal parasites (e.g. Giardia, worms), leptospirosisliver diseasepancreatitis, parvovirus, poisoning, stomach cancer
Drooling bloatepilesy, heat stroke, liver diseasemouth tumors, motion sickness, peridontal disease, pain, poisoning, rabies

E

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Ears, Itchy allergiesear infectionsear mites
Eyes, Cloudy cataractsglaucoma, keratitis
Eyes, Discharge atopy, blepharitis, corneal or inner eye problems, cherry eyeconjunctivitisdry eyedistemper, eye infections, glaucomakennel cough, keratitis, tooth abscess, uveitis
Eyes, Painful corneal injuries, glaucoma, keratitis
Eyes, Red allergiesconjunctivitis

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 coughdistemper, food poisoning, kidney infection, leptospirosis, leukemiaLyme diseasemangeparvovirus, 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 atopyCushing’s diseasediabetes mellitushot spotshypothyroidismmangeringwormscabiesseborrhea
Head Tilt brain tumorsear infectionsear mites, encephalitis, head injuries, hypothyroidism, idiopathic vestibular syndrome, punctured ear drum
Heart Murmur anemiaheartworm infestation, chronic valvular disease, congenital heart disease

I

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Itching atopy, contact dermatitis, flea allergiesfood allergieshot spots, lick granuloma, mange, scabies, stress, tickswalking 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 anemiaarthritisbloatcancer, chronic infection or inflammation, gastritisglaucoma, heart problems (e.g. congestive heart failure), hormonal or metabolic disorders (e.g. Cushing’s diseaseAddison’s diseasehypothyroidismdiabetes mellitus, etc.), hypoglycemia, hypothermia, infectious diseases (e.g. leptospirosisdistemperparvovirus, etc.), parasites (e.g. worms), poisoning, periodontal problems, trauma
Limping arthritisbone tumorsehrlichiosiselbow dysplasia, injuries, Lyme diseasepemphigus foliaceus

M

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes

N

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Nasal Discharge allergies, foreign objects, influenza, kennel coughdistempernasal cancerperiodontal diseasepneumonia, 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

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Odor, Ear ear infections
Odor, Rear End anal gland problems, perianal fistulas
Odor, Skin allergieshot spotsmangeringwormscabies, seborrhea

P

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Panting acute abdominal pain, anemia, anxiety, congestive heart failureCushing’s disease, eclampsia (milk fever), heatstroke, heartworms

Q

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes

R

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Runny Nose (Nasal Discharge) allergies, foreign objects, influenza, kennel coughdistempernasal cancerperiodontal diseasepneumonia, rhinitis, sinusitis

S

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Scooting anal sac problems, back injury, clipper burns, diarrhea, flea bites, food allergies, perianal fistulas, tapeworms
Seizures brain tumorsCushing’s diseasedistemper, 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 infectionsear 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

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Tilting Head brain tumorsear infectionsear mites, encephalitis, head trauma, hypothyroidism, toxicity, vestibular disease

U

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Urinary Incontinence/Frequent Urination arthritisbrain tumors, ectopic ureter, bladder cancerbladder stonesbladder infections, Cushing’s diseasediabetes mellitus, hip dysplasia, hormonal deficiencies, liver problems, kidney failure, spinal cord injuries

V

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Vomiting Addison’s diseaseCushing’s diseasediabetes mellitusdistemper, food poisoning, inner ear infections, intestinal parasites (e.g. roundworms), leptospirosisliver failurekidney failure, pancreatitisparvovirusstomach problems (e.g. gastritisstomach ulcersstomach cancer

W

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes
Weight Gain hypothyroidism
Weight Loss Addison’s diseaseblastomycosiscancer, Cushing’s diseasediabetes, digestive problems (e.g. gastritisehrlichiosisIBD), giardiaheart diseasekidney failureLyme diseasestomach ulcersstomach cancerworm infestations
Wheezing allergies, asthma, bronchitis, congestive heart failureheartwormskennel cough, sinus infections, tumors (of the larynx, trachea, and lungs)

X-Z

Illness Symptoms Possible Diseases/Causes

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Dog Diseases and Symptoms A-Z