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.
gastrointestinal · dog
Giardiasis in dogs
Infection of the small intestine with the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis, picked up by swallowing cysts from contaminated water, soil, or another dog's feces. The hallmark sign is soft, pale, foul-smelling diarrhea that comes and goes; many infected dogs show no signs at all.
dermatologic · dog
Mange in dogs (sarcoptic and demodectic)
Two different mite diseases share one common name. Sarcoptic mange (scabies) is intensely itchy and highly contagious; demodectic mange is usually not itchy, not contagious, and reflects an immature or suppressed immune system. Treatment differs, so the distinction matters before anything is bought or applied.
gastrointestinal · dog
Bloat and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in dogs
The stomach distends with gas and can rotate on its axis, cutting off its own blood supply and compressing the major vessels returning blood to the heart. GDV is a surgical emergency measured in hours, not days, and it disproportionately affects large, deep-chested dogs.
metabolic · dog
Hypothyroidism in dogs
An underactive thyroid gland, in most dogs the result of immune-mediated destruction of thyroid tissue. It slows metabolism, producing weight gain on an unchanged diet, lethargy, cold intolerance, and a dull, thinning coat. It is one of the more treatable endocrine diseases in dogs.
other · dog
Tracheal collapse in dogs
Progressive weakening of the cartilage rings of the windpipe, so the airway flattens during breathing and triggers a dry, honking cough. It is most common in small and toy breeds, and day-to-day management centres on weight, airway irritants, and eliminating neck pressure.
neurologic · dog
Canine cognitive dysfunction (dog dementia)
An age-related neurodegenerative syndrome in dogs, comparable in several respects to Alzheimer disease in people. It shows as disorientation, altered social interaction, disrupted sleep, house-soiling in a previously reliable dog, and reduced activity. It is under-reported because owners file it under 'just getting old'.
ophthalmic · dog
Cataracts in dogs
Opacity of the lens that scatters light and reduces vision, ranging from a small incidental fleck to complete blindness. Cataracts are not the same thing as the blue-grey haze of normal aging, and in dogs they are strongly associated with diabetes mellitus and with inherited breed predisposition.
urinary · dog
Urinary tract infection in dogs
Bacterial infection of the bladder, usually ascending from the perineum, producing frequent small urinations, straining, and sometimes blood. Sporadic bacterial cystitis is common in female dogs; recurrent infection is a signal to look for an underlying cause rather than to repeat the same antibiotic.
other · cat
Feline asthma
Chronic allergic inflammation of the lower airways that causes bronchoconstriction, excess mucus, and airway remodelling. The classic sign is a crouched, neck-extended cough that owners frequently mistake for a hairball. It is lifelong and manageable, and environmental control is half the treatment.
gastrointestinal · cat
Constipation and megacolon in cats
Infrequent or difficult passage of hard, dry faeces. Left unmanaged it can progress to obstipation and then to megacolon, an irreversibly dilated, poorly contractile colon. Hydration, litter box access, and pain control are the three levers that matter most before it gets that far.
dermatologic · cat
Ringworm (dermatophytosis) in cats
A fungal infection of hair and skin, not a worm. Microsporum canis causes most feline cases. It is contagious to other pets and to people, it survives in the environment on shed hairs, and treatment always has two halves: the cat and the house.
gastrointestinal · cat
Pancreatitis in cats
Inflammation of the pancreas that in cats is usually chronic and frustratingly vague: lethargy, reduced appetite, and dehydration rather than the dramatic vomiting seen in dogs. It frequently travels with inflammatory bowel disease and cholangitis, a trio known as triaditis.
cardiac · cat
Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
The most common heart disease in cats, in which the left ventricle wall thickens and stiffens so the chamber fills poorly. Most affected cats look completely well until the disease is advanced, and the first sign an owner sees is often already an emergency: laboured breathing, or sudden paralysis of the hind legs from a clot.
renal · cat
Feline polycystic kidney disease
An inherited disease in which fluid-filled cysts are present in the kidneys from birth and enlarge over years, gradually crowding out working tissue until the cat develops chronic kidney disease in middle age. A single DNA test on a cheek swab identifies affected cats before they are ever bred or sold.
other · dog & cat
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
A set of anatomical obstructions in flat-faced breeds that makes every breath hard work: narrowed nostrils, an overlong soft palate, and often a windpipe too narrow for the body. The snorting and snoring owners are told is normal for the breed is the syndrome itself, and it progressively worsens if left alone.
ophthalmic · dog & cat
Progressive retinal atrophy
A group of inherited diseases in which the retina's light-sensing cells degenerate, causing painless and gradual blindness. Night vision goes first, often months before day vision is affected. There is no treatment, most animals adapt well, and DNA tests exist for many breeds.
orthopedic · dog
Elbow dysplasia
An umbrella term for several developmental abnormalities of the elbow in medium and large breed dogs, causing front-leg lameness usually before the first birthday and arthritis thereafter. Because it is frequently present in both elbows, the dog often does not limp at all, which is why it gets missed.
infectious · dog & cat
Heartworm disease
A parasitic infection spread by mosquito bite, in which worms mature in the vessels of the heart and lungs. It is almost entirely preventable with year-round preventive medication, expensive and risky to treat in dogs, and has no approved treatment at all in cats, which makes prevention the whole strategy.
gastrointestinal · cat
Feline hepatic lipidosis
Liver failure unique to cats, triggered when a cat stops eating and the body mobilises fat faster than the liver can process it. An overweight cat who eats nothing for three to four days is the classic case, which makes this one of the few emergencies caused by an absence rather than an event.
orthopedic · cat
Feline osteochondrodysplasia
A painful, progressive cartilage and bone disease caused by the same gene variant that produces the Scottish Fold's folded ears. Any cat carrying the fold variant can develop it, which means the breed's defining feature and its defining health problem cannot be separated.