Conditions
Pet health conditions, owner-facing overviews
Plain-English overviews of common dog and cat conditions: what they are, the signs you can spot at home, when to escalate to a vet, and the gear and diet implications. Cited from Merck Vet Manual, Cornell, AVMA, IRIS, and peer-reviewed literature. Not medical advice.
orthopedic · dog
Canine hip dysplasia
A developmental orthopedic disease in which the hip joint forms abnormally, leading to laxity, subluxation, and secondary osteoarthritis. Largely genetic with environmental modifiers, screening parents (OFA, PennHIP) and keeping puppies lean through growth are the strongest prevention levers.
renal · cat & dog
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Progressive, irreversible loss of kidney function, the single most common cause of death in older cats. Early detection via routine senior bloodwork (including SDMA) plus a renal-support diet are the two interventions with the largest published impact on quality and length of life.
dermatologic · dog & cat
Otitis externa (ear infection)
Inflammation of the external ear canal, one of the top three reasons dogs visit primary-care vets. Almost always has an underlying cause (allergy, conformation, foreign body, parasites) that has to be addressed alongside the infection itself.
urinary · cat
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD)
An umbrella term for conditions of the cat bladder and urethra, most commonly feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), urolithiasis, and urethral obstruction. A male cat straining to urinate without producing urine is a same-day emergency: urethral obstruction kills within 24-72 hours if untreated.
metabolic · cat
Feline hyperthyroidism
The most common endocrine disorder in cats over 10, caused by a benign overproduction of thyroid hormone. Classic picture is an older cat losing weight despite a ravenous appetite. A single blood T4 confirms in most cases, and four established treatments, radioiodine, medication, prescription diet, or surgery, all give good outcomes when started early.
metabolic · dog & cat
Diabetes mellitus (dogs and cats)
A chronic disease in which the body cannot regulate blood glucose, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (typical of dogs) or because tissues become insulin-resistant (typical of cats). Lifelong insulin injections are the mainstay; many cats achieve remission with early aggressive treatment and a low-carbohydrate diet.
dermatologic · dog
Canine atopic dermatitis (allergic skin disease)
A genetically predisposed, lifelong inflammatory skin disease driven by environmental allergens (pollens, dust mites, molds). Itch, recurrent ear infections, paw licking, and secondary skin and yeast infections are the typical picture. Modern treatment is multimodal and effective, but cure is not the goal, long-term control is.
dental · dog & cat
Periodontal disease (dogs and cats)
The most common disease of adult dogs and cats, plaque-driven inflammation of the gums and supporting structures around the teeth. Studies estimate the majority of pets show some periodontal disease by age 3. Daily home brushing plus periodic professional cleaning under anaesthesia is the only intervention with strong evidence.
infectious · dog
Canine parvovirus (CPV)
A highly contagious viral disease of puppies and unvaccinated dogs that destroys rapidly dividing intestinal and bone-marrow cells. Bloody diarrhea, severe vomiting, and rapid dehydration are the classic picture; untreated mortality is high, hospitalized treatment survival commonly cited at 80-95%. The vaccine is core, cheap, and overwhelmingly effective.
neurologic · dog
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
Degeneration and herniation of the spinal discs that compress the spinal cord, causing pain, weakness, or paralysis. Most common in chondrodystrophic breeds (Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, Beagles, Corgis) and most preventable by maintaining a lean body condition, banning jumping from furniture, and using a harness rather than a neck collar.
orthopedic · dog & cat
Osteoarthritis
Progressive degeneration of joint cartilage and the surrounding tissues, producing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. The single most evidence-backed at-home lever is keeping the animal lean; weight loss alone produces measurable lameness improvement in overweight dogs in controlled studies.
metabolic · dog
Canine obesity
An excess of body fat severe enough to impair health. Surveys put the prevalence of overweight or obese dogs in the US and UK above 50%. The most evidence-backed intervention is a measured, calorie-restricted feeding plan built around the dog's body condition score, not the bag's feeding guide.
metabolic · cat
Feline obesity
Excess body fat severe enough to impair health. Around 60% of US cats are overweight or obese. Feline weight loss is more delicate than canine—rapid restriction risks hepatic lipidosis, a life-threatening liver condition—so any plan must be vet-supervised and gradual.
behavioral · dog
Canine separation anxiety
A panic response triggered by being left alone or separated from a specific attachment figure. It is a clinical anxiety disorder, not disobedience. The gold-standard treatment is gradual systematic desensitization to absence, often combined with vet-prescribed anxiolytic medication; punishment-based corrections make it worse.
gastrointestinal · dog
Canine pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas—acute attacks are medical emergencies, while chronic pancreatitis smoulders for years. The strongest dietary lever is a sustained low-fat diet; high-fat treats, table scraps, and rich holiday food are repeatedly implicated as triggers.
cardiac · dog
Canine myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD)
The most common acquired heart disease in dogs—a slowly progressive degeneration of the mitral valve, found especially in small breeds. Early-stage management is sodium-controlled diet and monitoring; once the heart enlarges, evidence-based medication (per the ACVIM consensus staging) delays the onset of congestive heart failure.
behavioral · dog
Canine noise phobia
A persistent, exaggerated fear response to specific sounds—fireworks, thunder, gunshots, construction. It is a clinical anxiety disorder, not a training issue, and it typically worsens with each untreated exposure. Evidence-based management combines a safe refuge, systematic desensitization with recorded soundtracks, and vet-prescribed anxiolytic medication for high-stakes events.
metabolic · dog
Canine Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism)
A chronic endocrine disease in which the adrenal glands overproduce cortisol—usually driven by a pituitary tumour, less often by an adrenal tumour. It is a middle-aged-to-senior dog disease. The hallmark owner-visible signs are dramatic thirst, urination, and appetite, with a pot-bellied appearance and thinning coat over months.
neurologic · dog
Canine epilepsy
Recurrent unprovoked seizures arising from the brain itself. Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common chronic neurologic disease in dogs, with a strong genetic component in several breeds. The IVETF tiered diagnostic and treatment framework is the current clinical standard; management is lifelong, success is measured by seizure reduction, not elimination.
orthopedic · dog
Cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCL rupture)
Progressive degeneration and eventual rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in the stifle (knee), the single most common orthopedic condition in dogs. Roughly 40-60% of dogs that rupture one CCL rupture the other within two years, and surgical stabilization (TPLO or TTA) is the standard of care in dogs over 15 kg.
infectious · dog
Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (kennel cough)
A contagious upper-respiratory disease of dogs caused by a rotating mix of pathogens (Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza, canine adenovirus-2, canine respiratory coronavirus, canine influenza). Most cases self-resolve in 1-2 weeks; the risk is secondary pneumonia in young, elderly, or immunocompromised dogs.
ophthalmic · dog
Canine conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane lining the eyelids and covering the sclera. In dogs, most cases are allergic, secondary to another ocular problem (dry eye, entropion, corneal ulcer), or bacterial; primary viral conjunctivitis is uncommon compared with cats.
gastrointestinal · dog
Acute canine gastroenteritis
Sudden-onset vomiting and/or diarrhea lasting less than 14 days, one of the top three reasons dogs present to primary care. Most cases are self-limiting dietary indiscretion; the risk is dehydration in small dogs and puppies, and missing a serious underlying cause (parvo, foreign body, pancreatitis, toxin) in an otherwise unwell dog.
dermatologic · dog
Canine anal sac disease
Impaction, infection, or abscessation of the paired anal sacs (scent glands) at 4 and 8 o'clock relative to the anus. One of the most common presenting complaints in small-breed dogs; not solved by 'expression' alone, most cases have an underlying cause (allergy, soft stool, obesity) that has to be addressed.
orthopedic · dog
Canine patellar luxation
Dislocation of the kneecap (patella) out of its femoral groove, one of the most common orthopedic diagnoses in small-breed dogs. Graded I-IV; grades I-II are often managed conservatively with weight control and rehab, grades III-IV usually require surgical correction to prevent progressive osteoarthritis.
dermatologic · dog & cat
Flea allergy dermatitis
The most common skin allergy in dogs and cats worldwide. Hypersensitivity to flea saliva means a single bite can trigger weeks of itching in a sensitized animal; visible fleas are not required for a diagnosis. Year-round adulticide flea prevention on every pet in the household is the cornerstone of treatment.
infectious · cat
Feline upper respiratory infection (URI)
A contagious viral or bacterial infection of the nose, throat, and eyes, extremely common in kittens and multi-cat environments (shelters, catteries, foster homes). Most cases are caused by feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) or feline calicivirus (FCV), with bacterial co-infection common. Most cats recover with supportive care; the risk is in kittens and immunocompromised adults.
gastrointestinal · cat
Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Chronic inflammation of the intestinal lining, one of the most common causes of chronic vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss in adult and senior cats. Distinguishing IBD from small-cell intestinal lymphoma requires biopsy; the two conditions look identical on ultrasound and share the same signs.
dental · cat
Feline tooth resorption
Progressive destruction of tooth structure by cells called odontoclasts, affecting an estimated 30-70% of adult cats. Painful even when the cat appears to eat normally; the only definitive treatment is extraction. Dental radiographs are required for diagnosis, visual exam alone misses most lesions.