Data report · Updated October 2026
The Most Common Dog Health Problems: Teeth, Ears, Skin and Stomach, in Vet Records and Indian Studies
The most common dog health problems are dental disease, ear infections, obesity, skin disease and stomach upsets. In UK vet records for 22,333 dogs in 2016, periodontal disease affected 12.5% in one year, otitis externa 7.3% and obesity 7.1%. Indian clinic studies point the same way: skin disease made up 14.6% of dogs seen at Aizawl, and gut disorders 19.6% at Selesih.
Key findings
- Periodontal disease was the most common diagnosis, in 2,797 of 22,333 UK dogs (12.52%) during 2016.
- Ear infection (otitis externa) affected 7.30% and obesity 7.07% of the same dogs in one year.
- Grouped by body system, dental disorders reached 14.10% of dogs, skin disorders 12.58% and gut disorders 10.43%.
- Skin disease accounted for 107 of 733 dogs (14.6%) at the Central Agricultural University clinic in Aizawl, Mizoram, in 2023 to 2024.
- Bacterial dermatitis caused 78 of 227 dog skin cases (34.4%) at Palampur, followed by demodectic mange (18.1%) and fungal infection (17.6%).
- About 1 in 12 UK dogs (8.18%) had acute diarrhoea in 2019, and 80.27% of cases needed only one vet visit.
- Gut disorders made up 121 of 618 dogs (19.6%) at Selesih, Mizoram, in 2023; 12 (1.9%) had chronic enteropathy.
- Eye disease is the problem our 58 breed guides flag most often, in 36 breeds, ahead of heatstroke risk in 34.
What are the most common dog health problems?
Dental disease, ear infections and obesity top the list. The largest published count comes from VetCompass, a Royal Veterinary College project that reads anonymised records from primary-care vets in the UK. Its team took a random sample of 22,333 dogs from 905,543 under care at 886 clinics in 2016.
Periodontal disease, which is gum and tooth-socket disease, was the most common diagnosis. It was recorded in 2,797 dogs, or 12.52%. Otitis externa, an infection or inflammation of the outer ear, came second at 7.30%, and obesity third at 7.07%.
Overgrown nails (5.52%), anal sac impaction (4.80%), diarrhoea (3.81%) and vomiting (3.04%) followed. In all, 14,704 dogs (65.84%) had at least one disorder recorded that year. The rest came only for vaccines and checks, or not at all.
Source: O'Neill et al. 2021, BMC Veterinary Research, VetCompass primary-care records for 2016. Precise-level diagnoses.
Show the numbers
| Label | % of dogs |
|---|---|
| Periodontal disease | 12.52% |
| Otitis externa (ear infection) | 7.30% |
| Obesity | 7.07% |
| Overgrown nails | 5.52% |
| Anal sac impaction | 4.80% |
| Diarrhoea | 3.81% |
| Vomiting | 3.04% |
| Lameness | 2.65% |
| Osteoarthritis | 2.34% |
| Aggression | 2.24% |
| Conjunctivitis | 2.24% |
| Heart murmur | 2.13% |
| Skin mass | 2.07% |
| Flea infestation | 2.05% |
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| Disorder | Dogs diagnosed | Share of dogs (%) | Median age of dogs diagnosed (years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Periodontal disease | 2,797 | 12.52 | 7.54 |
| Otitis externa (ear infection) | 1,631 | 7.30 | 4.72 |
| Obesity | 1,580 | 7.07 | 5.99 |
| Overgrown nails | 1,233 | 5.52 | 4.68 |
| Anal sac impaction | 1,071 | 4.80 | 5.24 |
| Diarrhoea | 852 | 3.81 | 2.93 |
| Vomiting | 679 | 3.04 | 3.54 |
| Lameness | 591 | 2.65 | 5.50 |
| Osteoarthritis | 522 | 2.34 | 11.30 |
| Aggression | 501 | 2.24 | 5.46 |
| Conjunctivitis | 500 | 2.24 | 4.03 |
| Heart murmur | 475 | 2.13 | 10.03 |
| Skin mass | 463 | 2.07 | 9.11 |
| Flea infestation | 458 | 2.05 | 4.18 |
The study recorded 32,243 disorder events across 678 different diagnoses. A dog's age and its count of disorders rose together, with a Spearman correlation of 0.24.
Which body systems cause dogs the most trouble?
Teeth, skin and gut, in that order. When the same 2016 records are grouped by body system, dental disorders reach 14.10% of dogs. Skin disorders follow at 12.58% and enteropathy, meaning disorders of the gut, at 10.43%.
Musculoskeletal problems such as lameness and arthritis reached 8.64%. Ear disorders came to 8.17% and eye disorders 7.02%. Tumours (neoplasia) and behaviour disorders each affected 5.10%.
Source: O'Neill et al. 2021, BMC Veterinary Research. Grouped-level diagnoses; one dog can have several.
Show the numbers
| Label | % of dogs |
|---|---|
| Dental disorder | 14.10% |
| Skin disorder | 12.58% |
| Enteropathy (gut disorder) | 10.43% |
| Musculoskeletal disorder | 8.64% |
| Ear disorder | 8.17% |
| Obesity | 7.07% |
| Claw or nail disorder | 7.06% |
| Eye disorder | 7.02% |
| Anal sac disorder | 5.59% |
| Mass | 5.23% |
| Behaviour disorder | 5.10% |
| Neoplasia (tumour) | 5.10% |
| Parasite infestation | 3.81% |
| Traumatic injury | 3.68% |
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| Disorder group | Dogs | Share of dogs (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Dental disorder | 3,148 | 14.10 |
| Skin disorder | 2,810 | 12.58 |
| Enteropathy (gut disorder) | 2,330 | 10.43 |
| Musculoskeletal disorder | 1,929 | 8.64 |
| Ear disorder | 1,825 | 8.17 |
| Obesity | 1,580 | 7.07 |
| Claw or nail disorder | 1,577 | 7.06 |
| Eye disorder | 1,567 | 7.02 |
| Anal sac disorder | 1,248 | 5.59 |
| Mass | 1,169 | 5.23 |
| Behaviour disorder | 1,140 | 5.10 |
| Neoplasia (tumour) | 1,140 | 5.10 |
| Parasite infestation | 850 | 3.81 |
| Traumatic injury | 822 | 3.68 |
| Upper respiratory disorder | 789 | 3.53 |
| Heart disease | 633 | 2.83 |
| Complication of clinical care | 417 | 1.87 |
| Female reproductive disorder | 328 | 1.47 |
| Brain disorder | 320 | 1.43 |
| Underweight | 316 | 1.41 |
Sex and neutering shift some risks. Males had 1.76 times the odds of a recorded aggression problem and 1.23 times the odds of otitis externa. Neutered dogs had 1.44 times the odds of obesity, and 1.22 times the odds of periodontal disease, compared with entire dogs.
How common is dog skin infection?
Skin trouble is one of the top three reasons dogs see a vet. In the UK 2016 data, 12.58% of dogs had a skin disorder in one year. Itching (pruritus) was recorded in 1.63%, allergy in 1.57%, bacterial skin infection (pyoderma) in 1.46% and atopic dermatitis in 1.15%.
Indian clinic studies report similar or higher shares. At the Veterinary Clinical Complex of the Central Agricultural University in Aizawl, 107 of 733 dogs screened from November 2023 to October 2024 had skin disease, or 14.6%. At Palampur in Himachal Pradesh, 227 of 2,671 dogs seen from February 2021 to April 2022 had a skin disorder.
That Palampur share works out to 8.5% on our arithmetic; the paper prints 8.40%. Bacterial dermatitis was the top cause, in 78 of the 227 dogs (34.4%). Demodectic mange (41 dogs), fungal infection (40) and flea infestation (38) were next.
Source: Sharma et al., The Haryana Veterinarian 2023;62(SI-2):131-135. Cases from February 2021 to April 2022. Shares computed by dogeats.in from case counts.
Show the numbers
| Label | % of skin cases |
|---|---|
| Bacterial dermatitis | 34.4% (78) |
| Demodectic mange | 18.1% (41) |
| Fungal infection | 17.6% (40) |
| Flea infestation | 16.7% (38) |
| Sarcoptic mange | 3.5% (8) |
| Atopic dermatitis | 2.6% (6) |
| Cheyletiellosis | 2.6% (6) |
| Nutritional deficiency | 2.6% (6) |
| Pemphigus | 1.8% (4) |
Embed this chart
Source: Sharma et al., The Haryana Veterinarian 2023. Shares as printed in the paper.
Show the numbers
| Label | % of skin cases |
|---|---|
| Monsoon | 46.69% |
| Winter | 22.46% |
| Summer | 16.29% |
| Autumn | 14.53% |
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The Palampur team found 46.69% of skin cases in the monsoon, 22.46% in winter, 16.29% in summer and 14.53% in autumn.
Most dogs with skin disease were itchy (80.62%) and many had hair loss (75.33%). Mongrels made up 34.36% of the skin cases, German Shepherds 13.22% and Labradors and Pitbulls 9.69% each. These shares reflect which dogs were brought in, so they do not prove a breed risk. See our tick fever and parvo report for parasite-borne disease.
How common are dog vomiting and diarrhea?
Very common, and mostly short-lived. In the 2016 UK records, 3.81% of dogs had diarrhoea, 3.04% vomiting and 1.33% gastroenteritis recorded in one year. All gut disorders together reached 10.43%.
A 2025 VetCompass study looked only at acute diarrhoea in 2019. It estimated a one-year risk of 8.18%, about 1 in 12 dogs, from 1,835 confirmed cases in a population of 2,250,417. In 80.27% of cases the dog needed only one vet visit for that episode.
Vomiting came with the diarrhoea in 812 of the 1,835 cases (44.25%). 508 dogs (27.68%) had reduced appetite and 444 (24.20%) were lethargic. Blood in the stool was recorded in 538 cases (29.32%).
Source: O'Neill et al. 2025, PLOS ONE, 1,835 acute diarrhoea cases from 2,250,417 dogs. 1.0 = same odds as crossbreds.
Show the numbers
| Label | odds ratio |
|---|---|
| Maltese | 2.17x |
| Miniature Poodle | 2.17x |
| Cavapoo | 2.07x |
| German Shepherd | 1.69x |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 1.51x |
| Cockapoo | 1.36x |
| Crossbred (baseline) | 1.00x |
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Indian figures come from clinic caseloads. At the teaching hospital in Selesih, Mizoram, 121 of 618 dogs seen from January to September 2023 had gastrointestinal disorders, or 19.6%. Twelve (1.9%) had chronic enteropathy, a gut problem lasting three weeks or more.
Chronic enteropathy there rose with age: none of 173 pups under 6 months, 2.76% of dogs aged 1 to 5 and 6.14% of dogs over 5. Large dogs over 25 kg had a 4.68% rate, against 0.66% in dogs under 10 kg. Poisoning (intoxication) was recorded in 0.69% of UK dogs in 2016; our toxic foods report lists the Indian kitchen items behind many cases.
What do Indian vet clinic studies show?
India has no national register of dog diagnoses, so the best data comes from veterinary college hospitals. Each study covers one clinic and one period, and the dogs brought in are not a random sample of all dogs.
Even so, the pattern matches the UK records. Skin disease ran from 8.5% to 14.6% of dogs seen, and gut disorders 19.6%. Indian studies also report infections such as parvovirus and tick fever, which we cover in a separate report.
| Problem | Clinic | Period | Dogs seen | Dogs affected | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin disease (dermatoses) | Aizawl, Mizoram | Nov 2023 to Oct 2024 | 733 | 107 | 14.6 |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | Selesih, Mizoram | Jan to Sep 2023 | 618 | 121 | 19.6 |
| Chronic enteropathy | Selesih, Mizoram | Jan to Sep 2023 | 618 | 12 | 1.9 |
| Skin disease (dermatological disorders) | Palampur, Himachal Pradesh | Feb 2021 to Apr 2022 | 2,671 | 227 | 8.5 |
| Diagnosis | Dogs | Share of skin cases (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bacterial dermatitis | 78 | 34.4 |
| Demodectic mange | 41 | 18.1 |
| Fungal infection | 40 | 17.6 |
| Flea infestation | 38 | 16.7 |
| Sarcoptic mange | 8 | 3.5 |
| Atopic dermatitis | 6 | 2.6 |
| Cheyletiellosis | 6 | 2.6 |
| Nutritional deficiency | 6 | 2.6 |
| Pemphigus | 4 | 1.8 |
The Selesih team also counted chronic enteropathy by breed. Four of 33 Pugs (12.12%), 2 of 10 Pitbulls (20%) and 3 of 11 Saint Bernards (27.27%) had it, against none of 133 non-descript dogs. The breed groups are small, so treat those rates with care.
The Aizawl skin study also split its 107 cases by cause. Bacterial infection accounted for 65 (60.75%), Demodex mites for 26 (24.30%) and other causes such as allergy and hypothyroidism for 16 (14.95%). Six of the bacterial cases were MRSA, a drug-resistant staph, or 0.82% of dogs screened.
Which dog breeds get which health problems?
Breed changes the order of the list. In VetCompass breed studies, Beagles led with obesity at 24.3% in 2019, and Yorkshire Terriers with periodontal disease at 21.1% in 2016. French Bulldogs led with ear infection at 14.0% in 2013.
An earlier England study of 3,884 dogs, covering September 2009 to March 2013, compared popular breeds directly. Labradors had the highest obesity rate at 13.0%, against 3.9% in crossbreds. Yorkshire Terriers had periodontal disease at 25.2% and Labradors and German Shepherds ear infection at 11.8% and 11.4%.
| Breed | Data year | Dogs studied | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | UK, 2013 | 2,074 | Otitis externa 10.4% | Overweight or obesity 8.8% | Degenerative joint disease 5.5% |
| French Bulldog | UK, 2013 | 2,228 | Otitis externa 14.0% | Diarrhoea 7.5% | Conjunctivitis 3.2% |
| Shih Tzu | UK, 2016 | 2,423 | Periodontal disease 9.5% | Anal sac impaction 7.4% | Ear disorders 5.5% |
| Yorkshire Terrier | UK, 2016 | 3,308 | Periodontal disease 21.1% | Overgrown nails 6.5% | Anal sac impaction 4.0% |
| Beagle | UK, 2019 | 3,729 | Obesity 24.3% | Periodontal disease 17.8% | Overgrown nails 11.6% |
| All dogs | UK, 2016 | 22,333 | Periodontal disease 12.5% | Otitis externa 7.3% | Obesity 7.1% |
| Breed | Dogs | Otitis externa (%) | Periodontal disease (%) | Obesity (%) | Diarrhoea (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossbred | 797 | 6.5 | 9.2 | 3.9 | 4.9 |
| Labrador Retriever | 339 | 11.8 | 3.2 | 13.0 | 8.3 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 334 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 6.0 | 4.8 |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 262 | 6.9 | 9.5 | 5.3 | 4.6 |
| Cocker Spaniel | 133 | 8.3 | 12.8 | 8.3 | 9.8 |
| German Shepherd | 132 | 11.4 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 8.3 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 127 | 7.9 | 25.2 | 0.8 | 5.5 |
| Border Collie | 104 | 1.9 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 7.7 |
Our Labrador Retriever guide and Beagle guide cover weight control in Indian homes, where both breeds are popular. Small breeds like the Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier need regular dental checks.
Which health problems do our 58 breed guides flag most?
Eye disease is the problem our guides flag most often, in 36 of 58 breeds. Heatstroke or heat intolerance follows in 34 breeds, hip or elbow dysplasia in 33 and skin problems in 32. Bloat, a twisting of the stomach in deep-chested dogs, appears in 22.
The Indian angle shows in two rows. Heatstroke is not in the UK top lists at all, but our guides flag it for 34 breeds because of Indian summers. Tick-borne disease appears in 17 guides, including 8 of the 9 Indian native breeds.
dogeats.in editorial data compiled from our 58 breed guides, October 2026. A breed counts once per problem group. Not a prevalence measure.
Show the numbers
| Label | breeds |
|---|---|
| Eye disease | 36 of 58 |
| Heatstroke or heat intolerance | 34 of 58 |
| Hip or elbow dysplasia | 33 of 58 |
| Skin problems | 32 of 58 |
| Bloat (GDV) | 22 of 58 |
| Patellar luxation | 20 of 58 |
| Spine and nerve disorders | 18 of 58 |
| Tick-borne disease | 17 of 58 |
| Dental disease | 13 of 58 |
| Obesity or weight gain | 13 of 58 |
| Heart disease | 12 of 58 |
| Hypothyroidism | 11 of 58 |
| Pressure sores or hygromas | 11 of 58 |
| Cancer | 9 of 58 |
Embed this chart
| Health problem | Breeds flagged | Breeds |
|---|---|---|
| Eye disease | 36 | Labrador Retriever, Beagle, Pug, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Mastiff, Kangal, English Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, American Eskimo Dog, Shih Tzu, Dachshund, Siberian Husky, Lhasa Apso, Cocker Spaniel, Saint Bernard, Dalmatian, German Spitz, Bully Kutta, English Bulldog, Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jack Russell Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Pekingese, Japanese Spitz, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Cane Corso, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow |
| Heatstroke or heat intolerance | 34 | Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Pug, Rottweiler, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Mastiff, Pit Bull, Dogo Argentino, Kangal, English Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, American Eskimo Dog, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Boxer, Great Dane, Siberian Husky, Saint Bernard, Dalmatian, German Spitz, Bully Kutta, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Pekingese, Japanese Spitz, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Cane Corso, Bernese Mountain Dog, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow |
| Hip or elbow dysplasia | 33 | Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Mastiff, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Pit Bull, Dogo Argentino, Kangal, English Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, American Eskimo Dog, Boxer, Great Dane, Siberian Husky, Cocker Spaniel, Saint Bernard, Dalmatian, Kombai, Bully Kutta, Doberman, English Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Cane Corso, Bernese Mountain Dog, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow |
| Skin problems | 32 | German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Pug, Shiba Inu, Pit Bull, Dogo Argentino, Kangal, Bull Terrier, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, American Eskimo Dog, Indian Pariah Dog, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Siberian Husky, Lhasa Apso, Cocker Spaniel, Dalmatian, Indian Spitz, German Spitz, Rajapalayam, Kombai, Chippiparai, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Poodle, Bichon Frise, Pekingese, Japanese Spitz, Cane Corso, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow |
| Bloat (GDV) | 22 | Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Tibetan Mastiff, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rampur Greyhound, Kanni, Dogo Argentino, Kangal, English Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Boxer, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Mudhol Hound, Rajapalayam, Bully Kutta, Doberman, Poodle, Cane Corso, Bernese Mountain Dog, Chow Chow |
| Patellar luxation | 20 | Shiba Inu, Bull Terrier, American Eskimo Dog, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Dachshund, Lhasa Apso, Chihuahua, Indian Spitz, German Spitz, Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jack Russell Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Pekingese, Japanese Spitz, Chow Chow |
| Spine and nerve disorders | 18 | German Shepherd, Beagle, Pug, Tibetan Mastiff, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Pit Bull, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Dachshund, Boxer, Great Dane, Lhasa Apso, Doberman, French Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jack Russell Terrier, Pekingese, Bernese Mountain Dog, Alaskan Malamute |
| Tick-borne disease | 17 | Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Beagle, Rottweiler, Rampur Greyhound, Kanni, Pit Bull, Dogo Argentino, Kangal, Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier, Indian Pariah Dog, Indian Spitz, Mudhol Hound, Rajapalayam, Kombai, Chippiparai |
| Dental disease | 13 | American Eskimo Dog, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Dachshund, Lhasa Apso, Chihuahua, Indian Spitz, German Spitz, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Bichon Frise, Miniature Pinscher, Japanese Spitz |
| Obesity or weight gain | 13 | Labrador Retriever, Beagle, Pug, Kangal, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Indian Pariah Dog, Dachshund, Cocker Spaniel, Indian Spitz, Kombai, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Spitz |
| Heart disease | 12 | Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, English Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier, Pomeranian, Boxer, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Chihuahua, Doberman, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| Hypothyroidism | 11 | Golden Retriever, Beagle, Tibetan Mastiff, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Dogo Argentino, Siberian Husky, Doberman, Miniature Pinscher, Australian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Chow Chow |
| Pressure sores or hygromas | 11 | Tibetan Mastiff, Rampur Greyhound, Kanni, English Mastiff, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Mudhol Hound, Rajapalayam, Chippiparai, Bully Kutta, Bernese Mountain Dog |
| Cancer | 9 | Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, English Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Boxer, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Rajapalayam, Bernese Mountain Dog |
| Anaesthetic or drug sensitivity | 9 | Rampur Greyhound, Kanni, Kangal, Mudhol Hound, Rajapalayam, Chippiparai, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois |
| Ear infections | 8 | Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Beagle, Shih Tzu, Cocker Spaniel, Indian Spitz, Poodle, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| Epilepsy | 7 | Beagle, Rhodesian Ridgeback, American Eskimo Dog, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Cane Corso |
| Congenital deafness | 6 | Dogo Argentino, Bull Terrier, Dachshund, Dalmatian, Rajapalayam, Jack Russell Terrier |
| Brachycephalic airway syndrome | 5 | Pug, Shih Tzu, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Pekingese |
| Tracheal collapse | 5 | Pomeranian, Chihuahua, German Spitz, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese |
| Low blood sugar in puppies | 5 | American Eskimo Dog, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese |
| Cruciate ligament injury | 3 | Rottweiler, Pit Bull, Cane Corso |
Twelve guides describe the breed as generally sound, with few inherited problems. They include the Indian Pariah Dog, Mudhol Hound and Rajapalayam, along with the Shiba Inu and Belgian Malinois. See our heat risk ranking and lifespan data for more.
What do pet insurers pay for most often?
Skin allergies, according to the largest US insurer's data. Nationwide said in March 2026 that skin allergies topped its dog list for the 15th straight year. Its March 2025 release had called that year the 13th, so the exact streak is unclear. The 2026 analysis covered more than 3.3 million claims from over one million insured dogs and cats.
Gastroenteritis, ear infection, osteoarthritis and trauma completed the top five in its March 2025 list. The top nine did not move in the March 2026 list, and seizures entered at tenth. Six of the 2026 top 10 were chronic conditions.
| March 2025 rank | Condition | March 2026 rank | Nationwide label (March 2025 list) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skin allergies | 1 | Chronic |
| 2 | Gastroenteritis | 2 | Not marked chronic |
| 3 | Otitis externa (ear infection) | 3 | Not marked chronic |
| 4 | Osteoarthritis | 4 | Chronic |
| 5 | Trauma | 5 | Not marked chronic |
| 6 | Dental disease | 6 | Not marked chronic |
| 7 | Urinary tract infection | 7 | Not marked chronic |
| 8 | Valvular heart disease | 8 | Chronic |
| 9 | Liver disease | 9 | Chronic |
| 10 | Kidney failure | Outside top 10 | Chronic |
| Seizures | 10 | Not stated |
Insurance data counts claims, not dogs, and leans to conditions that cost money to treat. It also reflects US dogs whose owners buy insurance. Our pet insurance report covers the much smaller Indian market.
Have the most common dog problems changed?
The same handful of problems leads in both VetCompass studies, but the order moved. The 2014 paper, covering 2009 to 2013, put ear infection first at 10.2% and periodontal disease second at 9.3%. The 2021 paper, covering 2016, put periodontal disease first at 12.52% and ear infection second at 7.30%.
The two studies used different methods. The first counted diagnoses over a median of 0.7 years per dog; the second counted one calendar year. So the shifts are a guide, not a measured trend.
| Disorder | England 2009 to 2013, 3,884 dogs (%) | UK 2016, 22,333 dogs (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Otitis externa | 10.2 | 7.30 |
| Periodontal disease | 9.3 | 12.52 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7.1 | 4.80 |
| Overgrown nails | 7.1 | 5.52 |
| Diarrhoea | 6.4 | 3.81 |
| Obesity | 6.1 | 7.07 |
| Conjunctivitis | 4.9 | 2.24 |
| Vomiting | 4.1 | 3.04 |
| Heart murmur | 3.9 | 2.13 |
- Osteoarthritis was diagnosed in dogs with a median age of 11.30 years, and cataract 12.00 years.
- Diarrhoea struck youngest among common problems, at a median age of 2.93 years.
- Heart murmurs (median 10.03 years) and skin masses (9.11 years) are problems of older dogs.
- Purebreds had more ear infection than crossbreds in the 2014 study: 11.2% against 6.5%.
At what age do dogs get each health problem?
Gut upsets come early and joint and heart problems late. In the 2016 UK data, dogs diagnosed with diarrhoea had a median age of 2.93 years and those with vomiting 3.54 years. Dogs with osteoarthritis had a median age of 11.30 years and those with heart murmurs 10.03 years.
Periodontal disease sits in the middle, at a median of 7.54 years. Obesity was diagnosed at a median of 5.99 years. The VetCompass Beagle study advises owners and vet teams to put special emphasis on bodyweight control and dental hygiene.
Source: O'Neill et al. 2021, BMC Veterinary Research, Table 1. Median age of the dogs with each diagnosis.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| Osteoarthritis | 11.3 years |
| Heart murmur | 10.0 years |
| Skin mass | 9.1 years |
| Periodontal disease | 7.5 years |
| Obesity | 6.0 years |
| Lameness | 5.5 years |
| Aggression | 5.5 years |
| Anal sac impaction | 5.2 years |
| Otitis externa (ear infection) | 4.7 years |
| Overgrown nails | 4.7 years |
| Flea infestation | 4.2 years |
| Conjunctivitis | 4.0 years |
| Vomiting | 3.5 years |
| Diarrhoea | 2.9 years |
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Vaccination and parasite control are part of the same yearly visit in India. See our vaccination cost data for typical prices by city.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common health problem in dogs?
Periodontal (gum) disease. It was diagnosed in 12.52% of 22,333 UK dogs in 2016, ahead of ear infection at 7.30% and obesity at 7.07%.
How common is skin infection in dogs?
Skin disorders affected 12.58% of UK dogs in one year. In Indian clinic studies, skin disease made up 14.6% of dogs seen at Aizawl and 8.5% at Palampur, where bacterial dermatitis was the top cause at 34.4% of skin cases.
Why do dogs get more skin problems in the monsoon?
Wet coats and humidity favour bacteria and fungi. At Palampur, 46.69% of dog skin cases came in the monsoon season, against 16.29% in summer.
How common is diarrhea in dogs?
About 1 in 12 UK dogs (8.18%) had acute diarrhoea in 2019. Most cases were short-lived: 80.27% needed only one vet visit. Ask your vet about any dog with diarrhoea that lasts or contains blood.
Is vomiting common in dogs?
Yes. Vomiting was recorded in 3.04% of UK dogs in 2016, and it came with 44.25% of acute diarrhoea cases in 2019. Ask your vet about any dog that keeps vomiting or seems unwell.
What are the most common health problems in Labradors?
Ear infection (10.4%), overweight or obesity (8.8%) and degenerative joint disease (5.5%), in a UK study of 2,074 Labradors in 2013. Our guides also flag heatstroke risk for Labradors in Indian summers.
What health problems do Indian dog breeds have?
Our guides flag tick-borne disease for 8 of the 9 Indian native breeds, pressure sores for 6 and bloat and skin problems for 5 each. Several, including the Indian Pariah Dog, Mudhol Hound and Rajapalayam, are described as generally sound.
What do dogs most often claim insurance for?
Skin allergies, which topped Nationwide's US dog claims for the 15th straight year in its March 2026 release. Gastroenteritis, ear infection, osteoarthritis and trauma followed in its March 2025 list.
How many dogs have at least one health problem a year?
Two in three. In the UK 2016 data, 14,704 of 22,333 dogs (65.84%) had at least one disorder recorded, and the median dog had one.
Methodology and limitations
UK prevalence figures are taken from the tables of O'Neill et al. (2021), BMC Veterinary Research, and O'Neill et al. (2014), PLOS ONE, read in full text through Europe PMC on 15 October 2026. We checked each count against its percentage in Python. Breed figures come from the abstracts of the VetCompass breed studies listed in the sources.
Indian figures come from three veterinary college studies, read in full where available. Palampur shares by cause were computed by dogeats.in from case counts; seasonal shares are as printed.
The breed guide counts are dogeats.in editorial data compiled from our 58 breed guides, October 2026. We grouped each guide's named health problems into 22 groups by keyword and counted each breed once per group. Insurance ranks are from Nationwide press releases of 19 March 2025 and 5 March 2026.
Sources
- O'Neill et al., Prevalence of commonly diagnosed disorders in UK dogs under primary veterinary care: results and applications, BMC Veterinary Research 2021;17:69, 22,333 dogs in 2016, precise and grouped disorder prevalence, median ages, odds ratios
- O'Neill et al., Prevalence of disorders recorded in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England, PLOS ONE 2014, 3,884 dogs, 2009 to 2013, disorder prevalence by breed
- O'Neill et al., Epidemiology and clinical management of acute diarrhoea in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK, PLOS ONE 2025, 8.18% one-year risk, signs, breed odds
- Also consulted: Sharma et al., Hospital occurrence of canine dermatological disorders in and around Palam valley of Himachal Pradesh, The Haryana Veterinarian 2023;62(SI-2):131-135, Kar et al., Epidemiology of Canine Dermatoses at Aizawl, Mizoram, Indian Journal of Animal Research 2025, Marwein et al., A study on prevalence of canine chronic enteropathy in hospitals of Mizoram, Indian Journal of Animal Health 2025;64(2):431-433, McGreevy et al., Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2018, O'Neill et al., French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2018, Dale et al., Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK, Canine Medicine and Genetics 2024, O'Neill et al., Yorkshire Terriers under primary veterinary care in the UK, Companion Animal Health and Genetics 2025, O'Neill et al., Beagles kept as companion animals in the UK, Companion Animal Health and Genetics 2025, Nationwide press release (5 March 2026), Nationwide press release (19 March 2025), Engdahl et al., English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK, Canine Medicine and Genetics 2024.
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