Dog Health Guides: Dog Symptoms, Conditions & Care
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Dog Symptoms, Conditions & Care: Your Dog Health Guide Library
Welcome to our dog health library. These educational guides help you make sense of dog symptoms, spot problems early and decide what to do next. Your veterinarian remains the best first step when your dog is unwell.
Most dog symptoms start small: a skipped meal, a softer stool, a new cough, scratching at one spot, a slight limp, or a dog that is quieter than usual. Many of these pass in a day. Others are the first sign of a common dog disease such as an ear or skin infection, parasites, kennel cough, or a stomach upset that needs a vet. Knowing which sick dog symptoms can wait and which cannot is the most useful thing an owner can learn.
Browse dog symptoms and conditions below by body system, disease, treatment type or everyday care. Every guide explains what owners commonly see, what to check tonight, and when a vet visit cannot wait. None of them give doses or replace an exam.
Emergency dog symptoms: call your vet or an emergency vet now
Trouble breathing or blue, gray or very pale gums; collapse or a dog that cannot stand; a swollen, tight belly with retching that brings nothing up; vomiting or diarrhea with blood, or that will not stop; seizures; heavy bleeding; a suspected poisoning (chocolate, grapes or raisins, xylitol, rat bait, human medicines); heatstroke; a puppy with vomiting and diarrhea; or no urine for a day.
Poison help in the US: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. A consultation fee may apply.
Medicine safety for dogs
Medicines and doses for your dog should always come from your veterinarian, who knows your dog’s weight, age, breed, health and other medicines. Do not give human pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen, leftover pet medicines, or products made for horses, livestock or birds. Some herding breeds, such as collies, shelties and Australian shepherds and their mixes, can be sensitive to ivermectin and some other parasite medicines, so ask your vet before giving your dog any parasite product. See heartworm in dogs and antibiotics for dogs.
Search dog health guides by symptom
Start here if you are not sure what is wrong. Choose the group of dog symptoms that best matches what you are seeing.
Digestive Symptoms in Dogs
Vomiting, diarrhea, a gurgling or upset stomach, appetite loss, gas, or changes in poop.
Open Upset Stomach Guide →Skin and Coat Problems
Itching, scratching and biting, redness, hair loss, bumps, scabs, smelly skin, and raw hot spots.
Open Skin Problems Guide →Behavioral Changes
Anxiety, pacing at night, fear of storms, drooling or vomiting in the car, or a dog that is suddenly quiet and lethargic.
Open Dog Anxiety Guide →Respiratory Symptoms in Dogs
Coughing, honking, sneezing, snorting, a runny nose, or fast or noisy breathing.
Open Coughing & Sneezing Guide →Eye Symptoms
Red, squinting or swollen eyes, eye boogers, or yellow or green discharge.
Open Eye Infection Guide →Limping, Pain & Injuries
Limping, stiffness, a bleeding or broken nail, cuts, scrapes and bites.
Open Dog Limping Guide →Tired, Not Eating or “Not Right”
Lethargy, hiding, not eating or drinking, fever, or yellow gums.
Open Sick Dog Guide →Search dog health guides by disease
These guides explain common dog diseases and symptoms: what each condition is, how owners spot it, how it spreads or develops, and what to do tonight.
Bacterial Infections in Dogs
Pyoderma (bacterial skin infection) is the most common, usually following allergies, fleas or a scratch. Bacterial infection in dogs symptoms include pimples, crusts, smelly skin, and infected ears, eyes, wounds or bladder.
Open Guide →Parasitic Infections
Fleas, ticks, mites, intestinal worms, giardia and heartworm. Intestinal parasites in dogs symptoms include diarrhea, worms in poop, scooting and weight loss. Most are prevented with a vet plan and regular poop tests.
Open Guide →Allergies in Dogs
Food, flea and environmental allergies that cause itchy skin, paws and ears, and sometimes tummy upsets.
Open Guide →Heartworm Disease
A serious worm spread by mosquitoes that lives in the heart and lungs. A yearly vet test and monthly prevention protect your dog.
Open Guide →Kennel Cough
A contagious cough that spreads where dogs meet. Usually mild, but puppies and older dogs can get pneumonia.
Open Guide →Eye Infections
Conjunctivitis and other eye infections, and the eye problems that look like them.
Open Guide →Liver Problems
Liver disease from infections, toxins, inherited conditions or age. Yellow gums or eyes are an urgent sign.
Open Guide →Search dog health guides by treatment type
Educational guides to the main treatment types. They explain what each one is for and when vets use it. They do not prescribe or give doses.
Antibiotics for Dogs
What antibiotics can and cannot treat, side effects to watch for, and why every course should be prescribed and finished as your vet directs.
Open Antibiotics Guide →Antiparasitic Treatments & Prevention
Heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, and deworming chosen by your vet after a heartworm test or poop test.
Open Heartworm Guide →Supportive Care
Caring for a lethargic or sick dog at home: rest, water, bland food, and tracking what changes.
Open Sick Dog Care Guide →Wound Care & First Aid
Cleaning cuts and scrapes, stopping a bleeding nail, and knowing which wounds need a vet today.
Open Dog Wound Care Guide →Dog care education library
Everyday care prevents many of the problems in this library. Start with the basics, learn what normal looks like for your dog, and feed a complete diet.
Basic Dog Care
Puppy care and adult dog care: vet visits, vaccines, worming, food, house training, grooming and exercise.
Open Puppy Care Guide →Monitoring Dog Health
Normal dog temperature, heart rate and breathing, gum checks, and a simple weekly nose-to-tail check.
Open Monitoring Guide →Dog Nutrition
What a complete diet looks like, how to make homemade dog food safely with a vet, and foods dogs must never eat.
Open Dog Nutrition Guide →All dog health guides
Related products
Monthly heartworm prevention for dogs. Ask your vet for a heartworm test first and to confirm this product suits your dog. It does not treat an existing heartworm infection. Some herding breeds, such as collies, can be sensitive to ivermectin, the active ingredient, so check with your vet before use.
Antibiotic eye ointment (oxytetracycline and polymyxin B). The manufacturer’s label covers dogs, as well as cats, horses, cattle and sheep, for surface eye infections. Use it only after your vet has examined the eye and directs it: scratches, ulcers, dry eye and glaucoma need different care.
Sea salt saline spray for cleaning minor skin irritations and small wounds. Deep, bleeding, bite or infected wounds need a vet.
On-food supplement for older pets covering general nutrition, joints and mobility, skin and coat, and immune support. Ask your vet about supplements for your pet.
Liquid joint and soft-tissue supplement with glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. Sudden limping or swelling needs a vet exam first.
Powder for food that supports calm, settled behaviour without sedation. Talk to your vet about sudden or severe anxiety.
Once-a-day immune support powder for food for dogs. It is not a replacement for your vet’s treatment.
HomeoPet drops listed for dogs during thunderstorms, fireworks and loud noise. Follow the label, and talk to your vet if fear is severe, new or getting worse.
Free shipping on orders $75+. Prices and stock update automatically. Products are listed for education; medicines are used only when a veterinarian directs care. This page does not diagnose or prescribe.
Dog Symptoms & Dog Health FAQ
What dog symptoms need a vet right away?
Trouble breathing, collapse, pale or blue gums, a swollen belly with retching, repeated vomiting or bloody diarrhea, seizures, heavy bleeding, suspected poisoning, heatstroke, or a puppy that is vomiting. See the emergency signs and call your vet or an emergency vet now.
What are common signs of illness in dogs?
Common sick dog symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, appetite changes, drinking more or less, itchy or red skin, coughing, sneezing, limping, eye discharge, and behavior changes. Start with our lethargic dog guide or search by symptom.
How do dogs become sick?
Dogs become ill from infections, parasites, allergies, eating things they should not, injuries, inherited conditions, aging, and contact with sick dogs at parks, kennels and daycare. Vaccines, parasite prevention and regular checkups prevent many common dog diseases.
When should I seek veterinary care for my dog?
Right away for any emergency sign. Book a visit within a day or two if symptoms last more than 24 to 48 hours, keep coming back, or your dog is a young puppy, a senior, or has an ongoing health condition. If you are unsure, call your vet and describe what you see.
Is there a free dog symptom checker?
These guides work as a simple dog symptom checker, free to use: pick the sign you see and each guide explains likely causes, what to check at home, and red flags. They cannot diagnose your dog. If you are using it as a senior dog symptom checker, remember that older dogs and puppies get sick faster, so check with your vet sooner.
What are the top 10 most common dog diseases?
Vets most often see skin infections and allergies, ear infections, stomach upsets with vomiting or diarrhea, intestinal worms and giardia, dental disease, kennel cough, arthritis, eye infections, heartworm in many regions, and liver or kidney problems in older dogs. Start with skin problems in dogs or dog upset stomach.
Can I give my dog human medicine?
Not without your vet’s advice. Many human medicines, including common pain relievers, are dangerous to dogs. Your vet will choose a medicine and dose that suit your dog.
Will these guides help me find related products?
Where it fits, guides list related products with live prices and stock. Medicines are for use when a veterinarian directs care, not a substitute for diagnosis or dosing advice. Free shipping on orders $75+.
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