Overview of Common Diseases in Dogs from New York (NY)

Some diseases are more common for some dogs than others. For example, injuries from being hit by a car are mostly seen in dogs that are allowed to roam or accidentally get off a leash. Certain infections such as parvovirus are common in non-vaccinated puppies. But what about by location; does it make a difference in what makes a dog sick? What are the most common canine diseases by state?

This article will review the most common diseases and conditions in dogs from New York (NY).

Most Common Diseases in New York Dogs

(in descending order) were:

1. Diarrhea
2. Vomiting
3. Otitis/ear infections
4. Cranial cruciate ligament tears
5. Urinary tract infections
6. Lameness
7. Dermatitis
8. Conjunctivitis
9. Allergies
10. Gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea)
11. Skin infection (AKA pyoderma; can be secondary to allergies)
12. Hind limb lameness
13. Giardiasis
14. Corneal Ulcer
15. Coughing
16. Renal dysplasia
17. Forelimb lameness
18. Pruritus
19. Skin masses
20. Medial patellar luxation

Summary Of Illness in Dogs from NY:

As you can see from this list, a few major patterns exist in dogs from New York.

1. Vomiting, diarrhea, and a combination of the two are very common. Between the different causes of these symptoms, this accounts for almost 29% of dog illness and vet visits. This number is similar to Pennsylvania and Ohio but higher than Florida, California, and Texas.
2. Allergies are an issue! Allergies can present as ear infections, itching, skin infections (pyoderma), and skin parasites. These problems accounted for 29.4% of the top 20 dog illness and vet visits. This is similar to other nearby states including Ohio and Pennsylvania but lower than Texas, which averages about 41.2%.
3. Lameness and other orthopedic causes of lameness such as cranial cruciate ligament injuries and patellar luxation are common problems across the country (including New York). These orthopedic problems account for approximately 19.6% of dog illness and vet visits.
4. Lumps and tumors are common in canine New Yorkers but slightly less common than some other states. These two items account for approximately 2.3 % of New York vet visits as compared to 8.2% in Pennsylvania and 5.6% in Florida.
5. Lastly, urinary tract infections represented 5.2% of vet visits, a number not greatly different from other states.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of possible problems that can occur in dogs from New York.

Prevention of Most Common Problems in New York Dogs

• To prevent many of the problems associated with vomiting and diarrhea, keep your dog on a good quality dog food and avoid feeding them table scraps. Don’t let your dog roam where he or she can get into the trash, eat other dog feces, or consume objects that aren’t digestible.
• To prevent ear infections, dry your dog’s ears well if you bathe your dog or he swims.
• Allergies are a harder problem to prevent. Many veterinarians recommend feeding a high quality grain free or limited ingredient food, maintaining good flea control, and periodically bathing your dog with a good shampoo designed for dogs.
• Orthopedic problems can be hard to prevent when dogs play. The best thing you can do to prevent traumas such as being hit by a car that can cause lameness is keep your dog leashed.
• Provide plenty of fresh clean water and lots of opportunities to urinate in order to help minimize urinary tract infections.
• Monitor any lumps and bumps for changes. See your vet if you see differences or growth in any of your dog’s skin. Your vet may do a fine needle aspirate test or biopsy to check cells for signs of cancer.

We hope these tips help keep your New York dog healthy.