Pet Health Problems by Breed, Organized by Symptom
You usually arrive here with a symptom, not a diagnosis: a cloudy eye, a limp, a cough, a lump. Each breed page is sorted by symptom, tells you what that symptom usually means in that breed, and says plainly when it is a vet visit this week, a vet visit today, or an emergency right now. Every page also has an honest section on when a decline has stopped being about symptoms and started being about goodbye.
What each breed page covers
- ✓Eye problems
- ✓Breathing problems
- ✓Stomach and digestive problems
- ✓Joint, back, and mobility problems
- ✓Heart problems
- ✓Cancer
- ✓Kidney and urinary problems
- ✓Seizures and neurological problems
- ✓Skin and coat problems
- ✓Ear problems
- ✓Dental and mouth problems
- ✓Hormonal and metabolic problems
Plus warning signs, what the breed usually dies from, a bridge to the breed's end-of-life guide, and sources. Written from veterinary references; general information, not a diagnosis.
Dog Health Problems by Breed (57)
Golden Retrieverhealth problemsLabrador Retrieverhealth problemsFrench Bulldoghealth problemsGerman Shepherdhealth problemsPoodlehealth problemsBulldoghealth problemsBeaglehealth problemsRottweilerhealth problemsGerman Shorthaired Pointerhealth problemsDachshundhealth problemsPembroke Welsh Corgihealth problemsAustralian Shepherdhealth problemsYorkshire Terrierhealth problemsBoxerhealth problemsCavalier King Charles Spanielhealth problemsDoberman Pinscherhealth problemsGreat Danehealth problemsMiniature Schnauzerhealth problemsShih Tzuhealth problemsSiberian Huskyhealth problemsBoston Terrierhealth problemsPomeranianhealth problemsHavanesehealth problemsShetland Sheepdoghealth problemsBernese Mountain Doghealth problemsBrittanyhealth problemsEnglish Springer Spanielhealth problemsCocker Spanielhealth problemsVizslahealth problemsPughealth problemsMastiffhealth problemsChihuahuahealth problemsBorder Colliehealth problemsWeimaranerhealth problemsMaltesehealth problemsEnglish Cocker Spanielhealth problemsBasset Houndhealth problemsColliehealth problemsNewfoundlandhealth problemsRhodesian Ridgebackhealth problemsWest Highland White Terrierhealth problemsShiba Inuhealth problemsBichon Frisehealth problemsBelgian Malinoishealth problemsAkitahealth problemsSt. Bernardhealth problemsSamoyedhealth problemsBloodhoundhealth problemsAlaskan Malamutehealth problemsPapillonhealth problemsScottish Terrierhealth problemsIrish Setterhealth problemsJack Russell Terrierhealth problemsStaffordshire Bull Terrierhealth problemsGoldendoodlehealth problemsGreyhoundhealth problemsDalmatianhealth problems
Cat Health Problems by Breed (20)
Tabby Cathealth problemsSiamese Cathealth problemsPersianhealth problemsMaine Coonhealth problemsRagdollhealth problemsBritish Shorthairhealth problemsBengalhealth problemsAbyssinianhealth problemsScottish Foldhealth problemsSphynxhealth problemsRussian Bluehealth problemsBirmanhealth problemsBurmesehealth problemsNorwegian Forest Cathealth problemsDevon Rexhealth problemsOriental Shorthairhealth problemsAmerican Shorthairhealth problemsTonkinesehealth problemsHimalayanhealth problemsExotic Shorthairhealth problems
Small Pet, Reptile, Bird, and Fish Health Problems (31)
Exotic pets hide illness longer and decline faster. These pages lean on what an exotic-animal vet would want you to notice first.
Ball Pythonhealth problemsBearded Dragonhealth problemsLeopard Geckohealth problemsAxolotlhealth problemsHedgehoghealth problemsGuinea Pighealth problemsHamsterhealth problemsFerrethealth problemsCockatielhealth problemsBetta Fishhealth problemsRabbithealth problemsRathealth problemsChinchillahealth problemsGerbilhealth problemsSugar Gliderhealth problemsBudgiehealth problemsCockatoohealth problemsAfrican Grey Parrothealth problemsMacawhealth problemsConurehealth problemsLovebirdhealth problemsCanaryhealth problemsChickenhealth problemsDuckhealth problemsTortoisehealth problemsTurtlehealth problemsGoldfishhealth problemsCorn Snakehealth problemsCrested Geckohealth problemsHorsehealth problemsGoathealth problems
Condition Deep Dives (14)
Longer guides for the conditions that most often lead to end-of-life decisions in a specific breed: progression, quality of life, and when to act.
Golden Retriever CancerGolden Retriever Hip DysplasiaLabrador Retriever Hip DysplasiaLabrador Retriever ObesityGerman Shepherd Degenerative MyelopathyGerman Shepherd Hip DysplasiaFrench Bulldog Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)French Bulldog Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Mitral Valve Disease (MVD)Boxer Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)Bernese Mountain Dog Histiocytic SarcomaGreat Dane Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat/GDV)Dachshund Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)Pug Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is a symptom an emergency?
- Go to an emergency vet now for: trouble breathing or blue gums, collapse or fainting, a seizure lasting more than five minutes, retching with nothing coming up and a swollen belly (bloat), straining to urinate with nothing coming out (especially male cats), sudden paralysis of the back legs, uncontrolled bleeding, or a small pet (rabbit, guinea pig, bird) that has stopped eating. Everything on the breed pages is sorted into "emergency now", "vet today", and "vet this week".
- What are signs my pet is in pain?
- Pets hide pain, so subtle changes matter. Watch for decreased appetite, reluctance to move or play, limping or stiffness, panting or restlessness, hiding or withdrawing, changes in grooming, and vocalizing when touched. Cats may stop jumping or using the litter box. Dogs may lick one spot repeatedly. Any of these lasting more than a day is a vet visit.
- How do I know if my pet is dying rather than just sick?
- Illness usually has a specific symptom (an eye, a limp, a cough) and a pet that still wants to eat and be with you. The end tends to look like the whole animal fading: refusing food and water, unable to get up or get to the bathroom, pain that medication no longer reaches, withdrawing, and more bad days than good over two weeks. Every breed health page has a "when it may be time" section and links to the breed's end-of-life guide.
- How often should I take my pet to the vet?
- Once a year for healthy adults. Puppies and kittens need several visits in the first year. Seniors (about 7 and up for dogs, 10 and up for cats) benefit from twice-yearly checkups with bloodwork, because kidney, thyroid, and heart problems show up in blood before they show up in behavior.
If it has stopped being about symptoms
When the question is no longer "what is wrong" but "is it time", these are the pages to read.