10 Common Dog Diseases to Watch Out For

Every dog owner should keep their eyes peeled for these common dog diseases.

The best part of having a dog is, well, having a dog. Getting to hang out with a fluffy best friend who loves you more than anyone else in the world is the easy part. In exchange for all that love, it’s up to you to take the best care of them possible. Every dog owner should keep their eyes peeled for signs their pet needs a trip to the vet.

Here are some of the most common dog diseases that could potentially affect your four-legged friend. Luckily, many of them are preventable!

Ear Infections

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Ear infections are incredibly common in dogs, especially those with floppy ears that can more easily trap moisture, providing a prime breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Any breed, however, can get ear infections.

Fortunately, this is an easy one to diagnose and treat with a vet-prescribed round of antibiotic ear drops.

Signs Your Dog Might Have an Ear Infection

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Signs of ear infections include:

Head shaking
Frequent ear itching
Redness
Swelling
Odor

Prevention tip:

Dry your dog’s ears thoroughly every time they go for a swim or take a bath, and use a specialty dog-cleaning solution weekly or as often as your vet recommends. Allergies can increase the likelihood of your pet developing an ear infection, so ask your vet for recommendations if recurrent ear infections become an issue.

Ringworm

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There are so many parasites a dog can get, but ringworm isn’t what it sounds like. It’s not a worm at all — it’s an itchy fungal infection that can aggravate almost any species, even humans. It’s highly contagious, passed from animal to animal through the outer layer of their skin.

It can be contracted via direct contact with an infected animal or with their bedding, bowls, toys or any other items they’ve been around. Fortunately, it’s not life-threatening, and it’s simple to treat.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Ringworm

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Signs of ringworm include:

A circular area of hair loss with a patchy appearance, often beginning on the head, ears, paws or front legs
Brittle fur and nails
Scabs
Changed in hair texture

Your vet will treat it by prescribing a medicated shampoo or ointment or oral medications for more severe cases.

The fungi can survive on surfaces and reinfect your pet, so deep clean your home and all of your pet’s things to minimize the risk of encountering ringworm, round two.

Dental Disease

Head-and shoulders portrait of Border Collie

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Dental disease in dogs is also extremely common. About 80 percent of dogs have some type of dental disease. Periodontal disease, better known as gum disease, is the most common. It starts with the red, inflamed gums of gingivitis.

As the gum infection spreads, it leads to pain, bone loss and potentially tooth loss. Cavities and fractured teeth are also common.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Dental Disease

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Signs of dental disease include:

Visible redness and swelling of gums
Visible tooth decay
Avoiding chewing on one side
Loss of appetite
Tooth loss

It’s possible to prevent dental disease by brushing your dog’s teeth using dog-friendly toothpaste. Regular dental cleanings at the vet are also important, and some dogs need them more often than others. Once your dog has visible signs of discomfort, a trip to the vet is in order. Treatment can include anything from deep cleaning to a root canal or extraction.

Diabetes

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Just like people, pets can develop diabetes. It’s very common in dogs, especially dogs who are overweight or aging. When a dog develops diabetes, serious complications can occur if it isn’t addressed early.

Diabetes does shorten a dog’s life expectancy, but managing it well with the guidance of a vet can help them live healthier for longer.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Diabetes

Female veterinarian holding a little dog in her arms

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Signs of diabetes in dogs include:

Excessive water drinking
Increased urination
Weight loss, even if they’re eating more
Cloudy eyes
Chronic infections, especially urinary tract infections

Vets can diagnose diabetes by taking a urine culture and blood test. From there, they’ll prescribe insulin based on your pet’s blood test results and weight. Insulin can’t be ingested, so pet owners of diabetic dogs have to learn to give injections.

It’s not as intimidating as it sounds, and your vet will walk you through it. Most pets hardly notice, and once you get over the initial stress of administering a shot, it’s actually easier than trying to get a stubborn dog to eat a pill.

Arthritis

Senior female dog mixed breed lying down

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Arthritis is common, yet complex. Osteoarthritis in dogs works just like it does in people. It causes joint inflammation and gradual degeneration that can be severe enough to get in the way of daily functioning. Your vet can diagnose it with a physical exam and diagnostic imaging.

It’s unclear why it occurs, but genetic predispositions, a dog’s build and their weight are all contributing factors.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Arthritis

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Signs of arthritis in dogs include:

Stiffness
Trouble getting up or lying down
Limping
Avoidance of stairs
Reluctance to jump up or down onto furniture
Sensitivity to touch in certain areas
Walking at a slower pace

Arthritis symptoms often come and go. Sadly, once they appear, it’s impossible to eliminate the condition completely. Once the disease is diagnosed, it’s a matter of managing the condition to maximize your pet’s comfort and function. This usually includes taking steps to normalize their weight, along with medication to reduce inflammation and pain and preserve joint health. Glucosamine supplements may also help.

Outside of veterinary care, providing soft bedding, ergonomic dishes raised off the floor, non-slip surfaces on the floor and a ramp to help them get in the car can improve their comfort and quality of life.

Heartworm

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While ringworm isn’t a parasite, heartworm very much is. Heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected animals. It takes about six months for worms to reach the lungs and heart after initial infection.

Dogs can end up with hundreds of worms that live for years, causing serious complications and even death. Heartworms are spread by infected mosquitoes, and prevention is easier than treatment.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Heartworm

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Signs of heartworm can include:

Heavy breathing
Coughing
Throwing up
Weight loss

Since symptoms of heartworm often aren’t apparent until the advanced stages of infection, it’s best to get your dog tested with a blood test at their annual checkup. Giving them a prescribed heartworm preventative medication is even better.

If they’ve already been infected, treatment is usually a series of injected drugs that kill the parasites. Treatment has a high success rate, but it usually requires an expensive hospital stay.

Kennel Cough

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Kennel cough is a blanket term for contagious respiratory infections that are similar to cold viruses in humans. It’s a type of bronchitis that’s unpleasant and avoidable.

It’s spread through airborne particles when an infected dog coughs or sneezes or through contact with contaminated objects.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Kennel Cough

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Signs of kennel cough include:

A dry cough that produces a honking sound
Gagging
Coughing up foamy phlegm
Fever
Runny nose

Kennel cough is a pain, but it usually goes away on its own. Before you board your pet or take them to the groomer or dog park, make sure they’re up to date on their vaccinations for parainfluenza and Bordetella, two of the most common viruses causing kennel cough. If they do contract it, keep them away from other animals until your vet says they’re no longer contagious. Using a humidifier can help them breathe more comfortably in the meantime.

Parvovirus

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Canine parvovirus is much more serious than kennel cough. It’s a highly contagious virus that can lead to death, even with treatment. Once contracted, parvo attacks any rapidly dividing cells in the body, including white blood cells and those found in the digestive tract.

The virus is especially dangerous to puppies, causing damage to the heart that lasts for life.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Parvovirus

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Signs of parvovirus include:

Severe vomiting
Bloody diarrhea
Loss or appetite
Lethargy

Parvovirus is so contagious that it can be contracted via contact with contaminated surfaces for months after an infected animal passes by. If your dog does contract it, supportive care is the only treatment. There’s no medication to kill the virus, so round-the-clock treatment in an emergency vet hospital is the best option. It can take up to a week for them to recover enough to go home, and many don’t recover at all.

Prevention is a better option. Make sure your dog is vaccinated from puppyhood, and provide them with booster shots as recommended by your vet. Older dogs can also get vaccinated.

Rabies

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Rabies is a viral illness just like parvo, but it’s even more serious. By the time rabies symptoms appear, the disease is nearly always fatal.

Rabies is usually contracted by being bitten by an infected animal, most commonly wildlife. It spreads most rapidly in areas with high numbers of stray, unvaccinated dogs or cats.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Rabies

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Signs of rabies in dogs include:

Changes in behavior
Snapping at any kind of stimuli
Aggression
Hiding in dark places
Eating strange objects
Fever
Paralysis of the throat and jaw
Foaming at the mouth
Paralysis of the hind legs
Weakness
Seizures
Sudden death

Vaccination is the most important part of avoiding a rabies-related tragedy. Even if your dog is vaccinated, take them to the vet if they have a close encounter or fight with a wild animal. They can take steps to catch any potential infection before it’s too late.

Cancer

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Cancer is one of the most common dog diseases. It’s the most common as dogs age, and some breeds are more likely to get certain types of cancer than others. Large breeds, for example, are more likely to get bone cancer, and golden retrievers and boxers are more likely to suffer from lymphoma.

Diagnosis depends on the dog’s symptoms, as does treatment. Prognosis depends entirely on the type of cancer. Some types are slow growing and reduce a dog’s life expectancy very little, if at all. Others progress quickly.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Cancer

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Signs of cancer in dogs vary, but they may include:

Lumps and bumps
Wounds or sores that are slow to heal
Weight loss or loss of appetite
Coughing or difficulty breathing
Difficulty urinating or suddenly having accidents in the house
Pain
Lethargy

Treatment varies from medication to chemotherapy or surgery. There’s no surefire way to prevent cancer, but getting your dog spayed or neutered at a young age can help. Keeping them at a healthy weight is also helpful.