Common dog diseases & illnesses

Do you have a sick dog?

If your dog is ill, it can be a worrying time as a pet owner, because they have no way of telling you what’s wrong. Plus, there are many common dog illnesses in the UK.

While most of them will clear up with the right treatment, it’s important to be aware of common dog diseases. Learn about the symptoms of kennel cough, diabetes in dogs, as well as reasons for dog seizures and more in this guide.

Fleas

Fleas are small blood sucking parasites which live in your dog’s fur. Adult fleas suck blood by biting your dog’s skin. They can jump over a hundred times their own body length and females can lay up to 50 eggs per day. The most obvious sign your dog has fleas is scratching and itching, but you might also notice:

• Fur loss
• Bald or sore patches
• Spots or scabs 
• Redness or irritation 
• Small dark specks in your dog’s fur 
• Small jumping insects in your dog’s bed or other soft furnishings
• Unexplained insect bites on your own skin. 

Although not considered dangerous, fleas can be itchy and unpleasant for your dog, and they can harbour and spread other diseases. 

Fleas are a nuisance if your home becomes infested as it can be difficult to get rid of them. Most vets will advise preventative measures like a topical treatment. This is applied to the nape of your dog’s neck once per month, and effectively kills parasites which live in your dog’s coat, including adult fleas and their eggs. There is also an option to have a stronger solution applied by the vet which can be more expensive but only needs to be applied every three months. 

Be aware that some dogs can be allergic to flea and tick treatments. The solution contains a strong pesticide which can harm aquatic life and other insects and invertebrates. Try to avoid letting your dog swim or roll in long grass for 24-48 hours after treatment. 

Dog sickness bug 

Just like humans, dogs can catch a sickness bug. It can be caused by bacterial infection, viruses, parasites and reactions to new food or medication. Gastroenteritis in dogs has similar symptoms to humans, including:

• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting 
• Abdominal pain
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite

Dog sickness bugs are infectious, so separate your dog from others while they’re unwell and for up to a week afterwards, until they’re fully recovered. Try to walk them in quieter areas on the lead. 

Feeding your dog a bland diet while they have a sickness bug can help relieve symptoms. Small amounts of plain cooked rice and chicken breast can help your dog recover, as well as access to fresh clean water.

Reduce the risk of your dog contracting a sickness bug by preventing them from scavenging for mouldy, bacteria-ridden food on walks. Train the ‘leave’ command or keep your dog on a lead in areas where they might find discarded food. If they’re prone to drinking out of streams or puddles, limit this by taking clean drinking water on walks. 

Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is a contagious respiratory infection caused by different viruses and bacteria. While it’s not usually dangerous in healthy dogs; puppies, elderly dogs, and dogs with pre-existing health conditions can be more seriously affected. In extreme cases, it can lead to pneumonia.  

Vaccinations for some common strains of bacteria and viruses that cause kennel cough are given to puppies with their usual vaccinations. The primary bacteria in kennel cough is the Bordetella bronchiseptica virus. The vaccine is administered as a live vaccination through a nasal spray or injection. This doesn’t guarantee 100% protection, but it reduces the likelihood of dogs contracting the illness. 

Many kennels require an up-to-date kennel cough vaccine before allowing dogs to board with them. Although the name can be misleading, kennel cough isn’t always caught by putting your dog in kennels. But they may be more likely to catch the illness at the kennels as there are many dogs in an enclosed environment. 

Kennel cough symptoms

One of the most common symptoms of kennel cough is a hacking cough. The cough from kennel cough sounds as though your dog has something stuck in its throat. The coughs may be followed by gagging, swallowing or coughing up mucus. 

Kennel cough may have additional symptoms including:

• Runny nose
• Eye discharge
• Sneezing. 

Kennel cough is airborne, and can also spread between dogs through direct contact, or from sharing toys, bowls, or other objects. Kennel cough has an incubation period of two to 14 days, and some dogs may be carriers without developing symptoms. 

Kennel cough treatment 

You should take your dog to the vet if the cough lasts longer than a week, they’re more fatigued than usual, have a fever or stop eating.

While there is no specific treatment for kennel cough, and most symptoms cases resolve by themselves, there are some medications to consider. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics against the Bordetella bacteria, anti-inflammatories or cough suppressants.

Using a harness instead of a collar may help minimise the coughing.

Worms

Intestinal worms are common in dogs. Worms are parasites which live inside the dog’s organs – usually the intestinal tracts. They strip nutrients from dog’s food and some species move to other parts of the body to reproduce, causing further damage. 

There are five main types of worms in dogs: ringworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm and lungworm. Dogs and puppies can pick up worms from a variety of sources, such as:

• Their mother
• Contaminated soil
• Eating infected meat
• Fleas
• Drinking infected water

Symptoms of intestinal worms can include:

• Lethargy
• Swollen abdomen
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Cough (in roundworm, lungworm and hookworm infections)
• Blocked intestines.

As worm eggs can be picked up easily in your dog’s environment, prevention is better than cure. Worming treatments are available to buy online, in pet shops and from your vet. Deworming medication can be administered as a pill, a medicine, or an injection. It’s important that you give the correct dose for your dog’s body size. Puppies need regular worming treatments, and adult dogs should be given deworming treatment every three months. 

Your dog may vomit or have loose stools for a day or so following a worming treatment, and this is usually nothing to worry about. Make sure you follow the instructions provided when administering the dosage, as some tablets advise avoiding feeding your dog for several hours before and after to prevent nausea. 

Ear infections

Ear infections are an overgrowth of bacteria or fungus in your dog’s ear canal. This can be caused by:

• Dirt, water or other foreign objects getting into the ear
• A skin problem
• Ear mites 
• A build-up of earwax. 

Dogs with ear infections might scratch their ear, shake their head more frequently than usual, rub their ear against you or the floor, and whine or seem unsettled. If you look inside their ear, it could be red and swollen, or warm to the touch. You might notice discharge coming from the ear, or scabs and crusting in and around the ear and side of their face. 

Ear infections are painful, and you should visit the vet immediately if you think your dog has one. Left untreated, ear infections can spread deeper into the middle or inner ear, which can be more dangerous. 

Your vet may prescribe antibiotics, ear drops and painkillers to help your dog recover. Make sure you follow their instructions on the frequency of treatments to make sure the condition clears up.

To prevent reinfections, check your dog’s ears regularly and keep them clean. Clean them gently using a soft wet cloth or cotton wool pad – but never insert cotton buds into their ears. 

Ear infections are common in many dog breeds, but some are more susceptible than others. Dogs with floppy and long ears are at higher risk of infection than those with pointy ears, as dirt and bacteria become trapped more easily.

Conjunctivitis 

Another common dog disease, conjunctivitis is when the conjunctiva – the mucous membrane – of the eye becomes inflamed. If things like dirt, dust, seeds, pollen, twigs or dirty water get into your dog’s eye, it can cause bacteria to infect the conjunctiva. It can also be caused by injuries like a scratch or bite in the eye area, or a bacterial or viral infection. 

Conjunctivitis in dogs may have the following symptoms:

• Weeping eye
• Clear or greenish discharge from the eye
• Red and swollen eye area
• Pawing the affected eye
• More frequent blinking. 

Conjunctivitis often starts in one eye but can spread to the other through contamination. 

Visit your vet if your dog has conjunctivitis symptoms. They may prescribe eye drops, antihistamines or steroids to help reduce inflammation. Home remedies like bathing the eye with a saltwater solution or a cold compress can help alleviate symptoms and flush out foreign bodies.

Poisoning

Unfortunately, dogs are prone to eating things they shouldn’t. And a lot of foods that are safe for humans to eat are toxic to dogs. For example:

• Chocolate
• Garlic and onions
• Grapes
• Certain nuts 
• Alcohol

Some common plants are also toxic to dogs, including acorns, daffodils and tulips. And of course, some dogs may also eat man-made objects like balls and squeakers from toys. Or even cleaning products or batteries – just about anything small enough to fit in their mouths. 

For this reason, it’s very important to know the signs of poisoning in dogs so you can help. Symptoms of poisoning include:

• Vomiting or dry heaving
• Diarrhoea
• Extreme salivating
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness or lethargy 
• Collapsing
• Pale or yellow gums 
• Coughing up blood
• Elevated heartbeat
• Increased or decreased urination
• Increased thirst
• Tarry stools.

If you know that your dog has eaten something toxic, or you notice any of these symptoms without a known cause, notify your vet as soon as possible. If your vet isn’t available, contact an emergency vet to help you. 

The treatment depends on what your pet has eaten. If treated immediately, the vet may induce vomiting or pump the dog’s stomach. However, in more severe cases surgery may be required to remove the poison or toxin. Time is of the essence in cases of poisoning, so don’t hesitate to contact a vet. 

Pancreatitis

The pancreas is an organ that produces enzymes that help digest food, and hormones like insulin which helps regulate blood sugar. Pancreatitis is when the pancreas becomes inflamed, and it is quite a common health problem in dogs. 

Common symptoms of pancreatitis in dogs include:

• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Dog taking a play bow position

Inflammation of the pancreas can cause digestive enzymes to escape into the abdominal cavity and damage other organs like the liver, gall bladder, intestines and bile ducts. If the illness is severe, it can cause acute shock and in extreme cases even death.

Diagnosis of pancreatitis is usually done through lab testing, which may find high levels of white blood cells or pancreatic enzymes. Your vet may also perform an ultrasound scan which can pick up on inflammation of the pancreas. 

Mild cases of the condition can usually be treated with plenty of rest to allow their body to heal. This might require you to fast your dog (not feeding them) for several days and returning to a low-fat, easily digestible diet when reintroducing food. 

More severe cases may need to stay at the vets for monitoring and to be given an IV drip with medication and fluids. 

Most dogs recover from pancreatitis without any long-term consequences, but some will have recurrences of the condition. More severe cases can cause damage to other organs or develop chronic pancreatitis.

Dog or puppy constipation

If your canine companion hasn’t gone to the toilet for over two days, or if they seem to be struggling to poo, they could be constipated. Any dog can have constipation, but it’s more common in elderly dogs.

Here are some of the symptoms of dog constipation:

• Straining
• Crying when trying to go to the toilet
• Appetite loss
• Hard and dry poo
• Blood in poo

What can cause a dog to become constipated?

Your dog may be constipated for lots of different reasons, including:

• Dehydration
• Foreign bodies caught in the digestive tract
• Prostrate problems
• Blocked or infected anal glands
• Loss of appetite
• An upset tummy

You should take your dog to the vet if they haven’t been to the toilet in two days or haven’t eaten for 24 hours.

The vet may recommend feeding more fibre to help a constipated dog or prescribe a laxative. In serve cases, an enema may be needed to push out the blocked contents.

Dog seizures

A seizure is abnormal electrical activity inside the brain. It causes the body to move uncontrollably – it can affect the whole body or just parts.

Seizures can be caused by:

• Epilepsy
• Toxins
• Head trauma
• Heatstroke
• Low blood sugar or calcium
• Liver disease
• Infections
• Brain tumours

Seeing your dog having a seizure is scary. Most dog seizures are full-body and symptoms of a seizure include:

• Collapse
• Jerking movements
• Loss of consciousness
• Eyes rolling back
• Paddling legs
• Drooling
• Going to the toilet

If this happens, you’ll need to keep calm and make sure they’re in a safe place on the floor. Then, dim the lights and make the room quiet and keep it as cool as you can. Unless advised otherwise, don’t move your dog while the seizure is happening. Don’t restrain them, try to bring them round or wrap them up.

Always contact your vet if you’re concerned. Call your vet immediately if the seizure last longer than two minutes, or if it’s the second seizure in 24 hours.

Diabetes

Diabetes in dogs is a common condition caused by a lack of insulin. Insulin regulates the level of blood sugar in your dog’s blood, so a lack of insulin means that your dog’s body cannot control these levels.

Diabetes can have fatal long-term effects if left untreated or not regulated, including seizures, liver disease and neurological damage.

Signs of diabetes in dogs include:

• Drinking more
• Eating more
• Increased urination
• Lethargy
• Weight loss
• Dehydration

Dogs with diabetes need lifelong monitoring and support. Your vet will be able to recommend treatment and medication. They may suggest diet changes and insulin treatments.

A balanced diet can help with regulating their blood sugar levels and your vet will be able to help with what to feed and how much to give them.

How to prevent your dog from getting sick

The best way to prevent your dog from getting sick is by being clued up on the signs and symptoms of common illnesses. Preventative measures like vaccinations and flea and worming treatments mean your dog is less likely to get ill. It’s also a good idea to train commands like ‘leave’ to prevent them from eating things they shouldn’t. 

Keep your dog at a healthy weight for its size to prevent them from developing diseases like diabetes and joint problems. By taking out dog insurance, you could be covered financially if your dog does develop an illness and needs to visit a vet.

Sainsbury’s Bank Dog Insurance

Taking out dog insurance can help to cover the costs of vet visits, treatments, medication and other expenses, if your dog develops any of these common health conditions.

We offer three levels of cover to suit your needs and budget. We can’t cover pre-existing conditions, so taking out dog insurance early can ensure they’re protected if they do develop health conditions later in life. Find out more and get a quote.

Please note that we won't cover any pre-existing conditions and that terms, conditions, excesses, exclusions and limitations apply.