Dog Health Questions From Readers

Readers send us questions about their own dogs, and our team answers them in plain English. Here are the most recent, along with the guides we have most recently updated. Each answer is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet’s advice.

Latest reader questions

• A 13-Year-Old Doberman With Wobbler Syndrome Who Started Wheezing and Coughing at NightRelated guide: Why Is My Dog Wheezing?
• An Italian Greyhound Whose Breathing Rate Rose With Lung CancerRelated guide: Why Is My Dog Breathing Fast?
• A 6-Year-Old Lab Cross With a Fever No One Could ExplainRelated guide: Dog Fever and Normal Dog Temperature
• An Australian Shepherd With Facial Nerve Damage Who Can't BlinkRelated guide: Why Is My Dog Drooling So Much?
• A Nearly 10-Year-Old Dog Who Became Lethargic, Vomited and Snapped When StartledRelated guide: Lethargic Dog: Why Is My Dog So Tired?
• A Rescue Shih Tzu Who Had a Dental Cyst and Five Teeth RemovedRelated guide: Dog Bad Breath: Causes and How to Fix It
• A Young Dalmatian Who Died After Surgery for a Swallowed ChewRelated guide: Why Is My Dog Throwing Up? Causes and When to Worry
• Two Vaccinated Puppies That Died With Vomiting and Bloody DiarrheaRelated guide: Dog Vomiting Blood: Causes and When It's an Emergency
• A Small Dog Who Has Vomited for a Year and Lost Almost Half His WeightRelated guide: Dog Upset Stomach: What to Give and When to See a Vet
• A 3-Year-Old Dog With Recurring Vomiting, Gas and Weight LossRelated guide: Dog Upset Stomach: What to Give and When to See a Vet
• A 10-Year-Old Schnauzer Who Stopped Eating After Drinking MoreRelated guide: Dog Not Eating: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do
• Two Young Labs Shaking Their Heads With Red, Swollen Ear FlapsRelated guide: Why Does My Dog Keep Shaking His Head?
• A 9-Year-Old Schnauzer With a Seizure, Trembling and Changed BehaviorRelated guide: Why Is My Dog Shaking? Causes and When It's an Emergency
• A Rescued Puppy With a Skin Problem: Mange or Something Else?Related guide: Mange in Dogs: What It Looks Like, Types and Treatment
• How to Get Rid of Mange in a German ShepherdRelated guide: Mange in Dogs: What It Looks Like, Types and Treatment
• A Non-Itchy, Spreading Rash With Hair LossRelated guide: Ringworm in Dogs: What It Looks Like, Treatment and Is It Contagious?
• A Foster Puppy With a Sudden Bald Spot: Could It Be Ringworm?Related guide: Ringworm in Dogs: What It Looks Like, Treatment and Is It Contagious?
• A Round Open Sore With a Lump Beside ItRelated guide: Ringworm in Dogs: What It Looks Like, Treatment and Is It Contagious?
• A 10-Year-Old Staffy With Fur Coming Out in ClumpsRelated guide: Ringworm in Dogs: What It Looks Like, Treatment and Is It Contagious?
• Early Kidney Failure in a Bichon With Skin Growths and an Eye LesionRelated guide: Kidney Disease in Dogs: Causes, Stages, Treatment and Life Expectancy
• Losing a Diabetic Yorkie With Heart Failure and Rising Kidney ValuesRelated guide: Signs of Kidney Failure in Dogs: Early, Late and End-Stage
• Sudden Loss of a Papillon Who Coughed Up Bloody FoamRelated guide: Dog Throwing Up White Foam: Causes and When to Worry
• Our Experience With Nasal Cancer in an Irish SetterRelated guide: Dog Nose Bleed: Causes, First Aid and When It's an Emergency
• Finding the Strength to Say Goodbye to a Dog With Nasal CancerRelated guide: Dog Nose Bleed: Causes, First Aid and When It's an Emergency
• Swollen Toe With Hard White Lumps After a Torn NailRelated guide: Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws? Causes and When to Worry
• Senior Mastiff With Blood in Her Urine for 2 DaysRelated guide: Blood in Dog Urine: Causes and When It's an Emergency
• Pit Bull With Swollen, Crusty, Oozing Paws and Weight LossRelated guide: Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws? Causes and When to Worry
• Cyst Between a Shih Tzu's Toes That Won't Fully HealRelated guide: Interdigital Cysts in Dogs: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
• Senior Bichon Passing Stones and Blood Clots With Recurring StruviteRelated guide: Blood in Dog Urine: Causes and When It's an Emergency
• Yorkie With Long-Running Bacterial and Yeast Infections on the Paws and BellyRelated guide: Dog Paw Yeast Infection: Signs, Causes and Treatment

Recently updated guides

• Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs (10/19)
• Why Is My Dog Wheezing? (10/19)
• Why Is My Dog Drooling So Much? (10/19)
• Why Is My Dog Breathing Fast? (10/19)
• Why Does My Dog Keep Gagging? (10/19)
• Lethargic Dog: Why Is My Dog So Tired? (10/19)
• Dog Poisoning: Signs, What to Do and Common Toxins (10/19)
• Dog Hiccups: Why Puppies and Dogs Get Them (10/19)

Guides by topic

General health and emergencies

Dog Ate Chocolate? What to Do Now · Dog Ate Grapes or Raisins? What to Do · Dog Bad Breath: Causes and How to Fix It · Dog Fever and Normal Dog Temperature · Dog Not Eating: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do · Dog Poisoning: Signs, What to Do and Common Toxins · Ehrlichiosis in Dogs: Symptoms, Stages, Treatment and Prognosis · Lethargic Dog: Why Is My Dog So Tired? · Lyme Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Testing, Treatment and Prevention · Seizures in Dogs: What to Do, Causes and Treatment · Tick Bite Pictures: What a Tick Bite Looks Like on a Dog (and on People) · Tick Prevention for Dogs: How to Keep Ticks Off Your Dog · Why Is My Dog Drooling So Much? · Why Is My Dog Panting So Much? Causes, When to Worry and How to Help · Why Is My Dog Shaking? Causes and When It's an Emergency · Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs

Digestive system

Anal Gland Symptoms in Dogs: Signs of Impaction, Infection and Abscess · Bloat in Dogs (GDV): Signs, Treatment and Prevention · Colitis in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment · Dog Anal Glands: What They Are, Common Problems and Treatment · Dog Poop Chart: What Your Dog's Poop Color and Consistency Mean · Dog Throwing Up White Foam: Causes and When to Worry · Dog Throwing Up Yellow: Causes, Home Care and When to Worry · Dog Upset Stomach: What to Give and When to See a Vet · Dog Vomiting Blood: Causes and When It's an Emergency · IBD in Dogs (Inflammatory Bowel Disease): Symptoms, Diet and Treatment · Mucus in Dog Poop: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do · Treatment for Dog Anal Gland Problems: From Expression to Surgery · Why Is My Dog Throwing Up? Causes and When to Worry

Diarrhea

Bloody Diarrhea in Dogs: Causes, HGE and When It's an Emergency · Dog Diarrhea Treatment: Medicines, Antibiotics and What Vets Do · Dog Diarrhea: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do · Dog Vomiting and Diarrhea: Causes, Warning Signs and What to Do · Home Remedies for Dog Diarrhea: What to Feed and What to Avoid

Constipation and stool

Dog Constipation Symptoms: Signs, Look-Alikes and When to Worry · Dog Constipation: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do · Home Remedies for Dog Constipation: What's Safe and What to Avoid

Breathing and respiratory

Bordetella (Kennel Cough) Vaccine for Dogs: Types, Timing, Side Effects and How Often · Dog Choking: Signs and First Aid · Dog Hiccups: Why Puppies and Dogs Get Them · Dog Nose Bleed: Causes, First Aid and When It's an Emergency · Kennel Cough Treatment at Home: Safe Home Care, Remedies and When to See a Vet · Kennel Cough in Dogs: Symptoms, Sound, Treatment and How Long It Lasts · Kennel Cough in Puppies: Signs, Treatment, Recovery and Prevention · Reverse Sneezing in Dogs: Causes, What to Do and When to Worry · Why Does My Dog Keep Gagging? · Why Is My Dog Breathing Fast? · Why Is My Dog Coughing? Causes, Types of Cough and When to Worry · Why Is My Dog Sneezing? Causes and When to Worry · Why Is My Dog Wheezing?

Skin and coat

Demodectic Mange in Dogs · Dog Paw Yeast Infection: Signs, Causes and Treatment · Hot Spots on Dogs: What Causes Them and How to Treat Them · Interdigital Cysts in Dogs: Causes, Treatment and Prevention · Itchy Skin in Dogs: Causes and How to Help · Lumps and Bumps on Dogs: Skin Tumors, Lipomas and Cysts · Mange in Dogs: Symptoms, Types and Treatment · Mange in Dogs: What It Looks Like, Types and Treatment · Puppy Mange: Demodectic Mange in Puppies and Dogs · Ringworm in Dogs: What It Looks Like, Treatment and Is It Contagious? · Sarcoptic Mange (Scabies) in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Can Humans Get It? · Signs of Canine Mange · Skin Rashes in Dogs: Common Types, Causes and Treatment · Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws? Causes and When to Worry · Yeast Infections on Dogs' Skin and Paws

Allergies

Allergies in Dogs: Types, Symptoms, Testing and Treatment · Food Allergies in Dogs: Symptoms, Common Triggers and Elimination Diets

Ears

Ear Hematoma in Dogs: Signs, Causes, Treatment and Cost · Ear Infections in Dogs: Signs, Causes and Treatment · Swollen Dog Ear: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do · Why Does My Dog Keep Shaking His Head?

Ear infections

Treating Dog Ear Infections: What Vets Do and How to Clean Ears · Yeast Infections in Dogs' Ears: Signs, Causes and Treatment

Eyes

Cataracts in Dogs: Causes, Signs, Surgery and Living With Them · Cherry Eye in Dogs: Causes, Treatment and Surgery · Cloudy Eyes in Dogs: Causes and When to Worry · Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) in Dogs: Causes, Treatment and Is It Contagious? · Dog Eye Discharge and Eye Boogers: What's Normal and When to Worry · Dog Eye Infections: Signs, Treatment and When to Worry · Eye Ulcers (Corneal Ulcers) in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Healing · Glaucoma in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Breeds at Risk

Heart and blood

Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Life Expectancy · Dog Heart Disease Symptoms: Early Signs and When to Worry · Dog Heart Medication: Pimobendan (Vetmedin), Furosemide and More · Enlarged Heart in Dogs: Causes, Signs and Life Expectancy · Heart Disease in Dogs: Signs, Types, Stages and Treatment · Heart Murmur in Dogs: Grades, Causes and What to Do

Urinary and kidneys

Bladder Stones in Dogs: Types, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention · Blood in Dog Urine: Causes and When It's an Emergency · Dog Food for Kidney Disease: What to Feed and What to Avoid · Dog UTI Symptoms: Signs in Female and Male Dogs, and What Else It Could Be · Dog UTI Treatment: Antibiotics, Home Care and Remedies to Avoid · Fecal (Bowel) Incontinence in Dogs: Causes, Treatment and Home Care · Kidney Disease in Dogs: Causes, Stages, Treatment and Life Expectancy · Old Dog Pooping in the House? Senior Dog Fecal Incontinence, Dementia and What Helps · Recurrent Bladder Infections in Dogs: Why UTIs Keep Coming Back and What Helps · Signs of Kidney Failure in Dogs: Early, Late and End-Stage · UTI in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention · Urinary Incontinence in Dogs: Causes and Treatment

Bones, joints and muscles

Arthritis in Dogs: Signs, Causes and Treatment · Dog Hip Surgery: Types, Recovery, Success Rates and Cost · Dog Knee Problems and Knee Surgery · Dog Limping: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do · Dog Paw Injuries: Sprained Paws, Cut Pads and First Aid · Dog Sprains and Strains: Signs, Treatment and Recovery · Hip Dysplasia in Dogs: Signs, Causes and Treatment · Luxating Patella in Dogs: Grades, Symptoms and Treatment · Reader Bone, Joint and Muscle Problems and Vet Answers · Torn ACL in Dogs: Symptoms, Surgery, Cost and Recovery

Cancer

Bone Cancer (Osteosarcoma) in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Life Expectancy · Cancer in Dogs: Types, Signs and Treatment · Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Life Expectancy · Lymphoma in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Life Expectancy · Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs: Signs, Grades, Treatment and Life Expectancy · Mouth (Oral) Cancer in Dogs: Types, Treatment and Life Expectancy · Signs of Cancer in Dogs: Warning Signs and When to Worry · Signs of Oral Cancer in Dogs: Mouth and Gum Lumps to Watch For

Hormones and glands

Addison's Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment · Cushing's Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment · Hypothyroidism in Dogs: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment · Pancreatitis in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Diet

Parasites

Hookworms in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention · Roundworms in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment and Deworming · Tapeworms in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention · Worms in Dogs: Types, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Viruses

Dog Flu (Canine Influenza): Symptoms, Spread and Vaccination

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