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Dogs | Top 15 common diseases (plus 3 population-specific additions)
Osteoarthritis, periodontal disease, obesity, atopic dermatitis, otitis externa, acute gastroenteritis and gastrointestinal foreign bodies, pancreatitis, myxomatous mitral valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, intervertebral disc disease, canine parvovirus enteritis, kennel cough, the three big endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus), chronic kidney disease and lower urinary tract disease, and neoplasia, with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, cranial cruciate ligament disease and idiopathic epilepsy added. Each one is broken into five parts — cause, signs, workup, direction of treatment, prevention — and the treatment section gives handling principles only, with no drug names and no doses.
Dogs | Top 15 common diseases (plus 3 population-specific additions)
This content is compiled from the dog chapter of the veterinary animal encyclopedia. The same sign is handled differently in different species, and following advice written for another species can be harmful — confirm which animal you are dealing with first.
Structure used for every disease: cause → signs → workup → direction of treatment → prevention.
⚠️ The treatment section contains no drug names and no doses. It gives only "handling principles" and the reason a veterinary prescription is required.
⚠️ The original teaching material named 0 canine diseases (verified in §0.2), so this section is entirely newly added. Disease names and mechanisms are clinical common knowledge, but incidence figures and numbers are all first listed as "pending machine verification" — in this round the verifiable items were checked one by one and given sources (see 7-1 / 7-9 / 7-11 / 7-17 below and `70-查證log-20-T1-犬.md`); the remaining diseases with no stated incidence are handled as "known direction of risk, no specific incidence needed", and filling in percentages afterwards from memory is not allowed 【Verification result: this item should not be given a fixed value — for diseases with no stated incidence, incidence is a multifactorial epidemiological statistic rather than a single attributable whitelisted number, so the original handling of leaving it blank is retained, 2026-07-30】.
7-1 Osteoarthritis (including hip and elbow dysplasia)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, osteochondrosis, sequel to CCL injury, trauma, excess body weight, aging |
| Signs | The dog does not cry out in pain, it goes quiet: refusing stairs or jumping into the car, getting up more slowly, shorter walks, bunny hopping with the hind legs, licking one joint, muscle atrophy, becoming irritable, restless at night, worse in cold weather |
| Workup | Physical examination plus gait assessment plus joint palpation and range of motion, radiographs (including dedicated positioning and scoring), CT or arthroscopy where needed; pain scoring scales; rule out neurological problems (IVDD also makes a dog refuse stairs) |
| Direction of treatment | ① Weight control is the single most effective measure and it is free ② multimodal pain management (analgesia prescribed by the veterinarian; human painkillers may not be used, see §10) ③ rehabilitation and physiotherapy (original teaching material line 176 "biomechanics and rehabilitation") ④ environmental modification (non-slip flooring, ramps, raised food bowls) ⑤ joint supplements (evidence strength varies: a systematic review found "the evidence of efficacy of nutraceuticals is poor, with the exception of diets supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids in dogs", Vandeweerd et al. 2012, *J Vet Intern Med*, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22404506/, ⑥ surgical options (depending on joint, age and severity) ⑦ regular reassessment of pain |
| Prevention | No over-nutrition and no calcium supplementation in puppyhood, avoid high-impact exercise during growth, keep an ideal body condition for life, joint scoring of the parents before breeding, non-slip flooring |
7-2 Periodontal disease
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Plaque → calculus → gingivitis → loss of periodontal attachment; crowded dentition in small breeds and abnormal occlusion in brachycephalic breeds accelerate it |
| Signs | Bad breath, red swollen bleeding gums, calculus, loose or lost teeth, chewing on one side only, dropping food, drooling, facial swelling, refusing to have the head touched, behavior change |
| Workup | Probing of every tooth under anesthesia plus full-mouth radiographs (examination in a conscious dog shows only the tip of the iceberg) |
| Direction of treatment | COHAT (scaling, probing, extraction where needed, periodontal treatment where needed); pain management and antibiotics are decided by the veterinarian (in line with antimicrobial stewardship, original teaching material line 203); daily toothbrushing afterwards to maintain the result |
| Prevention | Daily toothbrushing; regular professional assessment; small and brachycephalic breeds should build the habit from an early age; no anesthesia-free scaling |
7-3 Obesity (original teaching material line 195 lists "obesity and metabolic disease" under endocrinology)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Calorie intake greater than expenditure; no adjustment after neutering; several family members feeding the dog; too little activity; breed predisposition (Labrador and others); secondary to hypothyroidism or hyperadrenocorticism |
| Signs | Ribs cannot be felt, no waistline, sagging abdomen, exercise intolerance, panting, difficulty grooming, unable to jump up |
| Workup | Weight trend plus BCS (9-point scale) plus muscle condition score MCS; thyroid and adrenal testing is required to rule out secondary causes; blood lipids and blood glucose |
| Direction of treatment | The veterinarian sets the calorie target and timeline, a weight-loss therapeutic diet is used, treats are counted into the daily total, low-impact exercise is increased gradually, the dog is reweighed at fixed intervals (the interval is set by the veterinarian 【No single authoritative value for this item: the whitelisted sources give no dog-specific reference value for the reweighing interval】), and the whole household follows the same rules |
| Prevention | Adjust the feeding amount right after neutering, feed fixed amounts at fixed times, keep a record of treats, feel for the ribs every month |
7-4 Canine atopic dermatitis (including flea allergy dermatitis)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | An inherited skin barrier and immune abnormality reacting to environmental allergens; often combined with flea allergy, adverse food reactions, and secondary bacterial and yeast infection |
| Signs | Itching (licking, chewing, rubbing, scratching) concentrated on the paws, armpits, groin, ears, face and perianal area; coat licked to a rusty color; recurrent otitis externa; thickened darkened skin; recurring seasonal flare-ups |
| Workup | History (seasonality, age of onset, sites), **thoroughly rule out fleas and *Sarcoptes* first**, skin cytology (to find secondary infection), fungal culture, an elimination diet trial where needed (which has to be run strictly for several weeks); allergen testing is used to choose immunotherapy, not to make the diagnosis |
| Direction of treatment | ① this is lifelong management, not elimination of the disease ② strict flea control ③ treat secondary infection ④ skin barrier care (shampoos and moisturizers, the choice is specified by the veterinarian) ⑤ prescription anti-itch medication or immunotherapy (the type and dose have to be decided by the veterinarian; long-term steroids have well-defined side effects) ⑥ dogs with food allergy need strict dietary control |
| Prevention | The inherited predisposition cannot be prevented, but the frequency of flare-ups can be reduced: year-round flea control, bathing and moisturizing as a routine, early treatment of ear infections, and no use of human ointments on your own initiative |
7-5 Otitis externa
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | There is an underlying cause in almost every case: allergy (the most common), ear canal anatomy (drop ears, hairy canals, narrow canals as in the Shar Pei), foreign bodies (grass awns), ear mites, endocrine disease, tumors, swimming and humidity; with secondary bacterial and *Malassezia* yeast infection |
| Signs | Head shaking, scratching the ear, head tilt, odor, red swollen canal with discharge, pain on touch; chronic cases develop calcified narrowed canals; if the middle or inner ear is involved → loss of balance, nystagmus, facial nerve paralysis |
| Workup | Otoscopy (assessing whether the eardrum is intact — the key point that decides whether certain medications can be used), ear canal cytology (to distinguish bacteria from yeast), culture where needed, imaging (middle ear), and finding the underlying cause |
| Direction of treatment | Correct ear cleaning (incorrect flushing when the eardrum is ruptured can cause hearing and nerve damage → it has to be done by the veterinarian), topical treatment chosen on the cytology (prescription), control of the underlying allergy, and assessment for surgery in chronically stenotic canals |
| Prevention | Control the allergy, dry the ears after swimming or bathing, do not push cotton buds deep into the canal, and do not reuse leftover ear medication from last time (the eardrum status and the organisms involved may now be different) |
7-6 Acute gastroenteritis and gastrointestinal foreign body
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Diet change and scavenging (garbage toxicosis), infection (viral, bacterial, parasitic), foreign bodies (balls, toys, socks, peach stones, corn cobs, rawhide, linear foreign bodies), toxins, secondary to systemic disease, intussusception |
| Signs | Vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood), poor appetite, an abdominal pain posture (praying position), dehydration; the classic combination for obstruction is persistent vomiting plus no defecation plus abdominal pain plus dullness; linear foreign bodies may give atypical signs but are more dangerous |
| Workup | Physical examination (abdominal palpation, dehydration assessment), radiographs (including serial films), ultrasound (the mainstay for linear foreign bodies and intussusception), blood work with electrolytes, fecal testing, endoscopy where needed |
| Direction of treatment | Mild cases: supportive care under veterinary guidance (fluids and electrolytes, an easily digested diet, antiemetics and gut protectants, all prescription items); obstruction is an emergency requiring surgery or endoscopic removal; a linear foreign body must not be pulled at home (even if the thread is visible in the mouth or anus it must not be pulled, because it will cut through the intestine); a clear history of toxin ingestion is handled per §10 |
| Prevention | Put away string-like and small objects, use a lidded bin, match toy size and durability to the dog, supervise chewing, change food gradually, and do not feed leftovers or cooked bones |
7-7 Pancreatitis
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | A high-fat dietary event (holiday leftovers are the classic), breeds with hyperlipidemia (Miniature Schnauzer), obesity, certain medications, trauma or surgery, endocrine disease (diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism); most cases have no identified cause |
| Signs | Vomiting, complete loss of appetite, abdominal pain (praying position), dullness, diarrhea, fever, dehydration; severe cases develop systemic inflammation, coagulation abnormalities, and renal and pulmonary complications, and can be fatal |
| Workup | History (what was eaten and when), a canine pancreatic lipase specific test (cPL type) plus general blood work, abdominal ultrasound, and obstructive intestinal disease and other causes of abdominal pain have to be ruled out |
| Direction of treatment | Inpatient supportive care is the core: intravenous fluids and electrolytes, aggressive analgesia (prescription), antiemetics, early enteral nutrition (low fat), and monitoring for complications; prolonged fasting is not recommended; severe cases need intensive care |
| Prevention | Do not feed high-fat human food (tell the whole family before the holidays), control body weight, test blood lipids regularly in hyperlipidemic breeds and use a low-fat diet, and mention any past pancreatitis when a new medication is started |
7-8 Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease (MMVD, the leading heart disease of small breeds)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Degeneration of the mitral valve (myxomatous change) → regurgitation → enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle → eventually pulmonary edema. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and most small breeds are at high risk |
| Signs | Early on there are no signs at all, and only auscultation reveals a heart murmur; once it progresses: coughing (especially at night and after activity), exercise intolerance, a rising sleeping respiratory rate, rapid labored breathing, fainting, reduced appetite; acute pulmonary edema is a §8 red flag |
| Workup | Auscultation (murmur grading) → echocardiography (the key to staging) plus thoracic radiographs (to assess heart size and pulmonary edema) plus blood pressure, ECG (arrhythmia) and cardiac biomarkers; the ACVIM staging system (A–D) 【Newly added · pending verification, current version must be checked】 |
| Direction of treatment | It depends on the stage: in part of the asymptomatic phase there is evidence supporting starting medication to delay the onset of heart failure (the drug and the timing are decided by the cardiologist or veterinarian on the echocardiographic stage; this chapter lists no drug names or doses); in the heart failure phase the focus is relieving pulmonary edema, supporting cardiac output and controlling complications; recording the sleeping respiratory rate at home every day is the most valuable task an owner can do; sodium restriction and body condition maintenance; avoid overheating and excessive exercise |
| Prevention | The degeneration itself cannot be prevented → find it early: auscultation yearly in high-risk breeds (twice yearly in old age) plus echocardiography where needed; cardiac assessment before breeding |
7-9 Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM, large breeds and specific breeds)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Inherited (Doberman, Great Dane, Boxer ARVC type, Irish Wolfhound and others); secondary to nutrition (taurine and carnitine related), arrhythmia, infection, or toxins (some anticancer drugs); on the link between particular diet formulations and DCM, the current FDA position is that the evidence is still not sufficient to confirm or rule out a causal relationship, and routine public updates were stopped from 2022-12-23 (AVMA citing the FDA statement, avma.org/news/until-more-science-available-fda-will-end-public-updates-potential-link-between-certain-diets, ; this is neither "the link has been ruled out" nor "harm has been proven") |
| Signs | The first sign may be sudden death or fainting; others: exercise intolerance, coughing, rapid breathing, an enlarging abdomen (ascites), poor appetite, weight loss |
| Workup | Echocardiography is the core of diagnosis plus ECG and 24-hour Holter monitoring (needed in Dobermans and Boxers) plus thoracic radiographs plus cardiac biomarkers plus blood taurine (depending on breed and dietary history) |
| Direction of treatment | Heart failure treatment plus antiarrhythmic treatment (all prescription drugs, and an error in antiarrhythmic medication can be fatal); in secondary cases correct the underlying cause (diet assessment, nutrients); exercise restriction; regular echocardiographic and Holter follow-up |
| Prevention | In high-risk breeds start regular screening (echocardiography plus Holter) once adult, without waiting for signs; feed a complete and balanced food that meets recognized nutritional standards; screen before breeding |
7-10 Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Early disc degeneration and herniation in chondrodystrophic breeds (Dachshund, French Bulldog, Pug, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Cocker Spaniel); large breeds usually have the gradual form; jumping and obesity are aggravating factors |
| Signs | Back or neck pain (refusing to lower the head to eat, arched back, stiffness, crying out when touched), unsteady walking, dragging and wearing down the toes, hind limb weakness progressing to paralysis, urinary and fecal incontinence; acute paralysis with absent deep pain sensation is an emergency in which time is the enemy |
| Workup | Neurological localization examination (to identify the affected segment), radiographs (to rule out fracture and tumor; the disc itself is not visible), MRI or CT is the standard for confirmation and pre-surgical localization; rule out fibrocartilaginous embolism, aortic thromboembolism, spinal tumor and degenerative myelopathy |
| Direction of treatment | Mild: strict cage rest (the number of days is set by the veterinarian) plus pain management (prescription) plus rehabilitation; moderate to severe or deteriorating neurological function: surgical decompression, and the earlier the better; paralyzed dogs need bladder care, pressure sore prevention and a rehabilitation plan; massage, manipulation and stretching at home are not allowed |
| Prevention | Weight control plus restricting jumping and stairs (use ramps or steps) plus a harness instead of a collar (cervical region) plus non-slip flooring plus early veterinary care (treating at the back-pain stage is far better than after paralysis); in high-risk breeds avoid twisting the spine when lifting (one hand under the chest, one under the rump) |
7-11 Canine Parvovirus enteritis (CPV-2, the puppy killer)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | CPV-2 spreads by the fecal-oral route; the virus is extremely persistent in the environment and ordinary detergents cannot remove it effectively; puppies that have not completed the vaccination series are at highest risk; some breeds are more susceptible: "Doberman Pinschers (OR = 3.1), Rottweilers (OR = 6.0), and English Springer Spaniels (OR = 8.1) had a significantly increased risk of CPV enteritis" (Glickman et al. 1985, *JAVMA*, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3003015/, |
| Signs | Depression, vomiting, bloody watery diarrhea with a characteristic foul smell, dehydration, abdominal pain, fever or hypothermia, secondary sepsis and hypoglycemia; puppies can deteriorate and die within a short time |
| Workup | Fecal antigen rapid test (false negatives are possible, so it has to be combined with the clinical picture), blood work (leukopenia, electrolytes, glucose, protein), and ruling out foreign body obstruction and other forms of enteritis |
| Direction of treatment | Intensive inpatient supportive care is the key to survival: intravenous fluids and electrolyte correction, antiemetics, pain management, antibiotics (aimed at secondary bacteremia, following antimicrobial stewardship), early nutritional support, isolation and strict disinfection; there is no "magic drug" that lets this be handled at home; the expected costs and survival rate should be discussed with the veterinarian in advance (original teaching material line 266, "explain the risks, the options, the costs and the prognosis clearly") |
| Prevention | Enter environments with other dogs only after the puppy vaccination series is complete (§0.3, mistake 3); the dam's immune status before pregnancy; treat the environment with an effective disinfectant; treat the area where an affected dog was kept as contaminated for a long time; quarantine new dogs on arrival |
7-12 Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex, CIRDC (commonly called kennel cough)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Several pathogens acting together: *Bordetella bronchiseptica*, canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus type 2, canine respiratory coronavirus, canine influenza virus, *Mycoplasma* and others; high-density contact settings (boarding, grooming, dog parks, dog shows, shelters) are transmission hotspots |
| Signs | Sudden dry or paroxysmal coughing (often described as "sounding like something is about to come up" or as a goose honk), retching, nasal and ocular discharge; most cases are self-limiting, but it can progress to pneumonia (especially in puppies, old dogs, brachycephalic dogs and immunosuppressed dogs) |
| Workup | History (recent contacts) plus physical examination (tracheal palpation inducing a cough); if it persists or worsens: thoracic radiographs (pneumonia), respiratory sampling for a PCR panel and culture; a cough can also mean heart disease, tracheal collapse, a foreign body, parasites or a tumor → it must not be assumed to be kennel cough in every case |
| Direction of treatment | Most mild cases are handled with rest, isolation, environmental humidity and avoiding pulling on the collar; antibiotics are not needed in every case (following antimicrobial stewardship, original teaching material line 203) and whether to use them is judged by the veterinarian on the evidence; cough suppressants are prescription items; pneumonia needs active treatment and imaging follow-up |
| Prevention | Non-core vaccines by risk assessment (*Bordetella*, CPiV, CIV); the isolation period after illness follows veterinary advice; for high-risk settings choose facilities that require vaccination and have good ventilation; while the dog is coughing tell the boarding or grooming business proactively and do not take it to public places |
7-13 The three big endocrine diseases: hypothyroidism / hyperadrenocorticism / diabetes mellitus
Original teaching material line 195: `• 内分泌科：糖尿病、甲状腺、肾上腺、肥胖与代谢疾病。` — this is the only line in the original material that lists canine endocrine diseases.
| Disease | Cause | Signs | Workup | Direction of treatment | Prevention / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypothyroidism | Mostly autoimmune thyroid atrophy or lymphocytic thyroiditis (the opposite of cats: in dogs the "under-function" form dominates) | Weight gain without eating more, cold intolerance, dullness, symmetrical hair loss and poor coat quality, skin hyperpigmentation, recurrent skin and ear infections, a slower heart rate, and rarely neurological signs | Thyroid blood tests (other diseases and medications causing falsely low results have to be excluded) plus general blood work (cholesterol) | Lifelong hormone replacement (the dose has to be adjusted on blood results and decided by the veterinarian; adjusting it yourself can cause overdose toxicity) plus regular retesting | In high-risk breeds (Golden Retriever, Doberman, Beagle, West Highland White and others) do not write off "getting fatter and lazier" as aging |
| Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) | Mostly pituitary-dependent, some adrenal tumors; iatrogenic forms also occur (long-term steroid use) | Drinking more, urinating more, eating more, a distended abdomen (pot belly), symmetrical hair loss, thin skin that bruises easily, recurrent urinary tract infection, panting, muscle weakness; complications include hypertension, diabetes mellitus and thromboembolism | General blood work and urinalysis (specific gravity, protein) → dynamic endocrine testing (screening and confirmatory tests differ) → imaging (abdominal ultrasound, brain imaging) to localize; check blood pressure at the same time | Medication or surgery depending on the type (medical treatment needs close monitoring, and over-suppression can cause a fatal adrenal crisis → it must not be adjusted on your own) plus management of complications (hypertension, urinary tract infection, diabetes mellitus) | Dogs on long-term steroids need a tapering plan from the veterinarian, and stopping on your own is not allowed; PU/PD is the home sign that most warrants a visit |
| Diabetes Mellitus | In dogs it is mostly insulin-dependent (loss of pancreatic beta cells); risk factors include pancreatitis, hyperadrenocorticism, hormones during estrus, obesity and certain breeds (Schnauzer, Samoyed and others) | Drinking and urinating more, eating a lot yet losing weight, rapidly developing cataracts, dullness; deterioration into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), an emergency (vomiting, dehydration, deep rapid breathing, collapse) | Blood glucose plus urine glucose and ketones plus a longer-term marker such as fructosamine; look for complications and triggers (pancreatitis, hyperadrenocorticism, infection, estrus) | Lifelong insulin treatment is required (this chapter lists no insulin type, unit or frequency — an incorrect dose can cause fatal hypoglycemia); fixed food type and feeding times; intact females are usually advised to be spayed to stabilize blood glucose; home monitoring methods are taught by the veterinarian; hypoglycemia is the most dangerous complication and the owner has to be trained to handle it in advance | Control body weight, avoid high-fat diets and pancreatitis, seek care early when drinking and urination increase, and return regularly for adjustment |
7-14 Chronic kidney disease and lower urinary tract disease (CKD / LUTD)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | CKD: aging, nephrotoxins (see §10: grapes, NSAIDs, antifreeze, certain antibiotics), infection (leptospirosis, pyelonephritis), congenital disease (some breeds), immune-mediated glomerular disease, hypertension. LUTD: uroliths (calcium oxalate, struvite, urate — breed related), bacterial urinary tract infection, tumors, prostatic disease, urethral obstruction |
| Signs | CKD: drinking and urinating more, weight loss, poor appetite, vomiting, bad breath and oral ulcers, pale mucous membranes from anemia, dullness. LUTD: frequent small urinations, straining, blood in the urine, licking the genitals, pain; complete inability to pass urine is a §8 emergency |
| Workup | Blood work (renal markers, electrolytes, phosphorus, calcium, anemia) plus urinalysis (specific gravity is the most critical value) plus urine protein quantification plus blood pressure plus imaging (ultrasound, radiographs for stones) plus urine culture and sensitivity testing where needed (antimicrobial stewardship); staging system (IRIS) 【Newly added · pending verification, current version must be checked】 |
| Direction of treatment | CKD: a renal therapeutic diet is one of the measures with the strongest evidence plus phosphorus control plus hydration plus control of hypertension and proteinuria plus management of nausea and anemia (all prescription) plus regular restaging visits. LUTD: a dissolution diet or surgical or endoscopic removal depending on stone type, antibiotics chosen on culture, and urethral obstruction needs immediate catheterization or drainage to relieve pressure (an emergency) |
| Prevention | Avoid nephrotoxins (§10), test the urine immediately for any PU/PD, run blood and urine tests every six months in older dogs, adjust diet and water intake by stone type in high-risk breeds (Schnauzer, Dalmatian, terriers), encourage water intake, and attend to neutering and reproductive tract health |
7-15 Neoplasia (original teaching material line 70 lists `Withrow & MacEwen's Small Animal Clinical Oncology`)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Common types | Lymphoma (enlarged lymph nodes), mast cell tumor (a skin mass whose appearance varies enormously), osteosarcoma (long bones of large breeds, pain and lameness, can cause pathological fracture), hemangiosarcoma (spleen, heart, subcutis; can rupture suddenly and cause fatal internal bleeding), mammary tumors (intact females), oral tumors, cutaneous epithelial tumors, transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, histiocytic sarcoma (Bernese Mountain Dog) |
| Signs | A palpable mass or a mass that grows larger or faster, enlarged lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, lameness that does not improve, reduced energy and appetite, an enlarging abdomen (effusion), pale and weak (internal bleeding), nosebleeds, difficulty urinating or defecating |
| Workup | A mass has to be sampled; "let us watch it first" is not an option: fine needle aspiration cytology or biopsy; staging workup (blood work, imaging, thoracic and abdominal radiographs and ultrasound, lymph nodes, CT where needed); immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry for typing (lymphoma) |
| Direction of treatment | By type and stage: surgery (the width of the excision margin is decisive for the outcome, so diagnose first and then operate; do not cut it off and only afterwards think about testing it), chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, palliative treatment and pain management; all anticancer drugs are high-risk prescription drugs and carry a health risk for the owner on contact, so professional guidance is needed; referral to oncology (original teaching material line 263, "know when to refer") |
| Prevention / early detection | Once a month do a "whole-body feel" at home (including armpits, groin, mammary chain and mouth), and any new mass or any change in an existing mass → have it sampled at the clinic; the timing of spaying in females is related to mammary tumor risk (see §6.3); raise vigilance in high-risk breeds (Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, Rottweiler, Boxer, Great Dane) |
Addition 7-16 Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | The skull is shortened but the soft tissue is not reduced proportionally → several levels of obstruction stack up: stenotic nares, overgrowth of intranasal structures, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules, protruding tonsils, hypoplastic trachea, and secondary laryngeal collapse; obesity makes it markedly worse |
| Signs | Snoring and noisy breathing at rest, snoring in sleep, sleeping with the mouth open, or needing to sleep sitting up or with the head raised, needing to stop and rest after only brief exercise, endless panting on hot days, difficulty swallowing and choking coughs, vomiting and gastroesophageal reflux, fainting, a purple tongue; acute decompensation in hot weather or during excitement can be fatal |
| Workup | Respiratory function grading (an exercise tolerance test), examination of the upper airway and larynx (usually needing sedation or anesthesia), imaging of the trachea and thorax, assessment of the digestive tract at the same time (hiatal hernia, reflux), and body condition scoring |
| Direction of treatment | ① Weight control and heat management are the two things that can be done every day ② a harness instead of a collar ③ surgical correction (widening the nostrils, shortening the soft palate, removing the laryngeal saccules and so on; doing it early works better, and waiting until laryngeal collapse has developed gives a poor outcome) ④ management of concurrent reflux ⑤ anesthesia has to be handled by a team experienced with brachycephalic dogs, and the most dangerous moment is after extubation ⑥ acute decompensation is a §8 red flag |
| Prevention | The breeding end is the root: choose parent animals that have respiratory function assessment and grading, and avoid selecting for extreme appearance. On the owner's side: lifelong body condition control, avoiding heat and excessive excitement, treating snoring as a sign rather than a charming trait, and regular respiratory function assessment |
Addition 7-17 Cranial Cruciate Ligament disease (CCL)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | In dogs it is mostly degenerative progressive breakdown (unlike the acute sports tear in people); excess body weight, tibial plateau angle, breed (Labrador, Rottweiler, Newfoundland), and a relationship with neutering timing: a single-breed study in Golden Retrievers reported "no cases of CCL diagnosed in intact males or females, but in early-neutered males and females the occurrences were 5 percent and 8 percent, respectively" (Torres de la Riva et al. 2013, *PLOS ONE*, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23418479/, ; the effect size differs by breed and may not be applied to all breeds) |
| Signs | Sudden or gradual hind limb lameness, sitting with the leg stuck out to the side, difficulty getting in and out of the car, the other side often follows after a period of time (becoming bilateral), and thigh muscle atrophy over time |
| Workup | Physical examination (cranial drawer and tibial compression tests, which often need sedation to assess), radiographs (joint effusion, osteoarthritis, ruling out other conditions), ultrasound, MRI or arthroscopy where needed; assess the menisci at the same time |
| Direction of treatment | Depending on body size, activity needs and severity: surgical correction (several techniques exist; the choice is made by the surgeon for the individual) or conservative management (weight, pain management, rehabilitation, bracing); the post-operative rehabilitation plan determines long-term function (original teaching material line 176, "biomechanics and rehabilitation") |
| Prevention | Maintain an ideal body condition (the strongest factor), avoid explosive activity (for example repeated ball throwing with sudden stops and turns), non-slip flooring, discuss neutering timing for large breeds with the veterinarian, and actively monitor the other side once one side is affected |
Addition 7-18 Idiopathic Epilepsy
Original teaching material line 193: `• 神经科：脑、脊髓、神经、癫痫、疼痛定位与神经影像。`
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Cause | Primary (inherited or unknown; Beagle, Border Collie, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Boxer, Dachshund and others); secondary causes have to be excluded: intoxication (§10), hypoglycemia, hepatic encephalopathy (portosystemic shunt — Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese), encephalitis (pug dog encephalitis), brain tumor (the first consideration for new-onset seizures in an old dog), trauma, electrolyte abnormalities |
| Signs | Generalized seizures (collapsing, stiff jerking limbs, incontinence, drooling, loss of consciousness) or focal seizures (twitching on one side, abnormal behavior, chewing movements, apparent hallucination); behavior changes before and after the event; cluster seizures or an event lasting beyond a certain duration (status epilepticus) is a §8 emergency |
| Workup | Video is the most important piece of information, so record it; blood work (glucose, electrolytes, liver and kidney values, bile acids) plus urinalysis plus blood pressure; neurological examination; MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are used to exclude secondary causes (especially new-onset seizures in old dogs and focal seizures) |
| Direction of treatment | Antiepileptic medication is chosen by the veterinarian or neurologist on seizure frequency and type, with regular blood level monitoring; stopping it on your own is not allowed (abrupt withdrawal can trigger status epilepticus); training in home seizure handling (move dangerous objects away, do not put your hand in the mouth, time the event, record video, keep things quiet and cool; the dog may be disoriented afterwards); a seizure diary; the goal of control is "reducing frequency and severity" rather than a promise that seizures will stop completely |
| Prevention | In secondary cases correct the underlying cause; primary epilepsy cannot be prevented, so the focus is regular medication, a regular routine, avoiding triggers, keeping a diary and returning for regular checks; agree in advance at home on "who does what during a seizure and which hospital to go to" |
Limits of this content
This content comes from the dog chapter of the veterinary encyclopedia (the original location and the content hash are in the evidence chain). The sources at the end are the authoritative material cited by that chapter, a chapter-level correspondence; it does not mean that every sentence traces back to a specific source. This material is for education and cannot replace diagnosis and prescription by a practicing veterinarian; for emergencies seek care immediately. This text has not been clinically reviewed by a named veterinarian.
FAQ
- Does a dog cry out when it is in pain?
- Mostly it does not. A dog in pain does not cry out, it goes quiet: refusing stairs, refusing to jump into the car, getting up more slowly, shorter walks, bunny hopping, licking one joint, muscle atrophy, becoming irritable, restless at night, worse in cold weather. These are often written off as simple aging, when they are the classic presentation of osteoarthritis. Weight control is the most effective measure and it costs nothing; analgesia has to be prescribed by the veterinarian, and human painkillers may not be used.
- 犬は痛いときに鳴きますか？ — 多くは鳴きません。犬の痛みの表れ方は「鳴くこと」ではなく「静かになること」です：階段を上らない、車に飛び乗らない、立ち上がりが遅くなる、散歩が短くなる、後肢をそろえて跳ぶ、特定の関節をなめる、筋萎縮、気が荒くなる、夜間に落ち着かない、寒い日に目立つ。これらは単なる加齢と見なされがちですが、骨関節炎の典型的な現れ方です。体重管理は効果が最も大きく、しかも費用がかかりません。鎮痛は獣医師の処方によるものとし、ヒト用の鎮痛薬を使ってはいけません。
- Does a dog cry out when it is in pain? — Mostly it does not. A dog in pain does not cry out, it goes quiet: refusing stairs, refusing to jump into the car, getting up more slowly, shorter walks, bunny hopping, licking one joint, muscle atrophy, becoming irritable, restless at night, worse in cold weather. These are often written off as simple aging, when they are the classic presentation of osteoarthritis. Weight control is the most effective measure and it costs nothing; analgesia has to be prescribed by the veterinarian, and human painkillers may not be used.
- I found a lump on my dog — can I watch it for a while first?
- A lump has to be sampled, not watched. The approach is fine needle aspiration cytology or a biopsy, followed by staging tests if needed. The width of the surgical excision margin is decisive for the outcome, so diagnose first and then operate; do not cut it off and only afterwards think about testing it. As a routine, do a "whole-body feel" at home once a month, including the armpits, groin, mammary chain and mouth, and have any new lump or any change in an existing lump sampled.
- 犬にしこりを見つけました。しばらく様子を見てもよいですか？ — しこりは検査が欠かせず、様子を見るという選択肢はありません。方法は針吸引細胞診または組織生検で、必要に応じてステージング検査を追加します。手術での切除縁の幅が予後を左右するため、先に診断してから執刀することとし、切ってしまってから検査を思い出すのは避けます。日ごろから月に一度、自宅で「全身を触る」ことをお勧めします。脇の下、鼠径部、乳腺、口腔を含め、新しく出てきたしこりや既存のしこりの変化があれば受診して検査を受けてください。
- I found a lump on my dog — can I watch it for a while first? — A lump has to be sampled, not watched. The approach is fine needle aspiration cytology or a biopsy, followed by staging tests if needed. The width of the surgical excision margin is decisive for the outcome, so diagnose first and then operate; do not cut it off and only afterwards think about testing it. As a routine, do a "whole-body feel" at home once a month, including the armpits, groin, mammary chain and mouth, and have any new lump or any change in an existing lump sampled.
- How can heart disease in a small dog be found earlier?
- Myxomatous mitral valve disease has no signs at all in the early phase, and only auscultation reveals a heart murmur, so high-risk breeds should be auscultated yearly and twice yearly in old age, with echocardiographic staging where needed. Only after it progresses do coughing (especially at night and after activity), exercise intolerance, a rising sleeping respiratory rate, rapid labored breathing and fainting appear. Recording the sleeping respiratory rate at home every day is the most valuable task an owner can do.
- 小型犬の心疾患を早く見つけるにはどうすればよいですか？ — 粘液腫様僧帽弁疾患は初期にはまったく症状がなく、聴診による心雑音でしか見つかりません。そのため高リスク品種は毎年、高齢では半年ごとに聴診し、必要に応じて心臓超音波でステージを確認します。進行してから、咳（特に夜間と活動後）、運動不耐、睡眠時呼吸数の上昇、速く苦しそうな呼吸、失神が現れます。自宅で毎日、睡眠時呼吸数を記録することが飼い主にとって最も価値のある仕事です。
- How can heart disease in a small dog be found earlier? — Myxomatous mitral valve disease has no signs at all in the early phase, and only auscultation reveals a heart murmur, so high-risk breeds should be auscultated yearly and twice yearly in old age, with echocardiographic staging where needed. Only after it progresses do coughing (especially at night and after activity), exercise intolerance, a rising sleeping respiratory rate, rapid labored breathing and fainting appear. Recording the sleeping respiratory rate at home every day is the most valuable task an owner can do.
Source anchors
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Cite this article
獸醫百科編輯部・《Dogs | Top 15 common diseases (plus 3 population-specific additions)》・IDAEO 知識庫・2026-08-13・https://km.idaeo.ai/post/vet/dog-common-diseasesUpdated 2026-08-14