17 Conditions That Can Affect Your Dog

There are entire veterinary textbooks covering the different fields that clinical practice spans. For example, internal medicine, which includes branches such as dermatology, the digestive system, neurology, and so on. But there's no single guide that covers every condition that can exist — the closest thing to that is a vet's own knowledge.

Here at SoyUnPerro we wanted to lay out the most common diseases/conditions in dogs in general, so we have a point of reference if we notice our dog might be sick.

Main conditions in dogs

We'd like to stress the importance of seeing a vet if our dog isn't feeling well or we think they might be sick. Not every disease is covered here — only the most common ones in general, and those on the rise. But there are many others that could even show similar symptoms. We could mention:

1. Kennel cough: a disease contagious between dogs, but not from dogs to humans. It's comparable to a cold or flu in a person. It usually needs anti-inflammatories to clear up. You can find more info here: Symptoms of kennel cough in a dog.
2. Conjunctivitis: there are many types of conjunctivitis in dogs, and all of them require veterinary treatment to be cured. It's a very common condition, generally showing redness of the eyes, swelling, and tearing. You can find in-depth information here: Types of conjunctivitis in dogs and treatment.
3. Parasites: there are many types of parasites, and it's normal for a dog to have different species over their lifetime, so prevention should be routine. Some internal parasites are eliminated with a simple quarterly pill as prevention, but others, like Giardia, are trickier to get rid of. For external parasites, treatment is based on oral or topical skin products.
4. Diarrhea: Diarrhea can have several causes, and a dog may need antibiotics for it. It can also be diet-related, happening when the dog has some indigestion or we've given them something that didn't agree with them. Internal parasites like Giardia spp. can also cause diarrhea, usually in puppies. You can find more information here: Remedies to stop diarrhea in a dog.
5. Vomiting: it's fairly common, especially in puppies, for our pet to vomit. This can have several causes: a foreign object, indigestion, something that didn't agree with them... Additional tests will be needed to see what's going on in the digestive tract. Treatment will depend on the cause.
6. Canine diabetes: just like in humans, dogs can also develop diabetes, and it's a common disease. The main symptoms are usually excessive drinking and, as a result, urination, polyphagia (constant hunger), and so on. It isn't contagious, and you can find full information here: Symptoms and treatment of canine diabetes.
7. Parvovirus: a common disease in puppies, extremely contagious and lethal. There's a vaccine to prevent it, but it's sometimes not enough. It doesn't spread from dogs to humans. You can find more information here: Main symptoms of canine parvovirus.
8. Ear infections: depending on the cause and how long-standing it is, these can be mild or more serious. Since they can have different origins, they need to be treated by a vet. You can find detailed information here: Ear infections in a dog.
9. Cushing's syndrome or hyperadrenocorticism: this condition is caused by an abnormal rise in corticosteroids in the body. It produces symptoms such as hair loss, a pot-bellied abdomen, excessive thirst, and excessive urination. It isn't contagious but needs diagnosis and treatment.
10. Limping: a very common reason dogs are brought into the vet clinic. It can be due to trauma (the most common cause) — having fallen, exercised more than usual, or taken a knock. It usually resolves with anti-inflammatories and a stomach protectant.

Conditions on the rise in the canine world

Among what could be classified as less common conditions, given how rare they are in the canine world, there are some that are becoming more frequent and increasingly likely to appear. These (among many others) are:

1. Pancreatitis: due to poor feeding habits some owners give their pet, our dog can show symptoms such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. It needs to be treated by a vet, since it's very painful and can be fatal within a few days. It isn't a contagious disease. You can find more detailed information here: Symptoms and treatment of canine pancreatitis.
2. Hip or elbow dysplasia: dysplasia is a disease caused by wear or poor bone formation in the joints. It's usually hereditary but can develop after a year of age (though this doesn't rule out that it wasn't already present). It causes dogs a lot of pain, so it needs to be treated by a vet. You can find more information here: Symptoms and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs.
3. Canine leishmaniasis: a parasitic disease transmitted through a mosquito bite. It can be fatal if untreated (lifelong treatment is needed in most cases). You can find all the information on this disease here: Symptoms and treatments for canine leishmaniasis.
4. Allergies: these can be generated by the dog's own body (immune system) or by external factors like pollen arriving in spring, for example — food allergies are also becoming more common. They usually show up as diarrhea, vomiting, dermatitis, and/or nutritional problems. They aren't contagious; you can find detailed information here: Guide to the most common allergies in dogs.
5. IBD, or Inflammatory Bowel Disease: This is a disease that's becoming more widespread and is hard to treat. Dogs with it can suffer abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or vomiting, chronic weight loss... They can die within a short time if not treated properly. It isn't a contagious disease. You can find more detailed information here: IBD in dogs.
6. Epilepsy: Dogs can also have epilepsy, and although treatments exist (usually lifelong), seizures can happen at any time. There are many grades within this non-contagious disease: Symptoms and treatment of epilepsy in dogs.
7. Thyroid problems: If our dog is excessively overweight or has a slow metabolism (among many other symptoms), we should run a thyroid blood test at a vet clinic. It's affordable, simple, and can help detect a hypothyroidism problem (the more common type) in dogs.

These conditions are quite varied among themselves, so there's no single test or treatment that can detect most of them. Each one requires a series of tests that the vet will carry out based on cost and the diagnostic ability of each one.

Some, like IBD, require a biopsy, which means an endoscopy under general anesthesia. Remember that only a vet can diagnose a dog and prescribe treatment.