Rare Dog Diseases

Most dogs contract diseases that are common among many different breeds. But some canine diseases are very rare. Because of that, your veterinarian may have trouble diagnosing the disease. Treatment also can be difficult because some diseases are so rare that adequate testing has not been done on the proper medications.

  1. Tuberculosis

    • Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that is much less common in dogs than in people. Dogs usually get the disease by inhaling contaminants. Upper respiratory symptoms are common with tuberculosis. Other common symptoms include weight loss, jaundice, vomiting, dehydrating, increased thirst and coughing up blood.

    Aujeszky's Disease

    • Aujeszky's disease, or pseudorabies, is a rare viral canine disease that usually results in death. The disease is often seen in dogs that live on or have visited farms because it is a strain of herpes virus commonly associated with pigs. Dogs can also contract the disease by eating raw, infected pork or infected rats. Symptoms include depression, lethargy, convulsions and coma. The dog also can experience sudden death. There is no effective treatment for Aujeszky's disease.

    Leishmaniasis

    • Leishmaniasis is an extremely infectious and dangerous disease that is usually transmitted through a bite from a sand fly carrying the disease or through contact with infected bodily fluids. Leishmaniasis can affect a dog's skin, organs or both. It can cause skin lesions, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding from the nose and deformed or brittle nails. Diagnosing the disease is difficult and there is no known effective treatment.

    Babesia

    • Babesia is a rare canine disease caused by a bite from a tick. Only a few tick species that commonly carry this disease are found in the United States. Ticks carrying this disease need to feed on the dog for at least two to three days before the dog becomes infected. This disease causes weakness, jaundice and red or orange urine. About half the dogs diagnosed require a blood transfusion. There are some medications used with babesia cases, but they can have extreme side effects, including death.