My Dog's Symptoms : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Stinky Urine in Dogs: Why Does My Dog’s Pee Smell Bad?

In people, some foods, such as asparagus, can make urine smell quite weird. I don’t expect your dog eating a plate of asparagus for dinner? I am even not sure it would make their urine smell bad because Jasmine did get some asparagus in her meals and I don’t recall any noticeable changes in the smell of her pee. Of course,…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Dog First Aid Kit: What’s In Yours?

Do you have a first aid kit for your dog? Or do you think that you don’t need one? No matter how carefully you try to keep your dog safe, injuries and unlucky incidents happen. The situation doesn’t need to be life-threatening for you to benefit from having a first-aid kit on hand. I established a first-aid kit for my…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Veterinary Medical Records: Access to Your Dog’s Medical Information–To Whom Do Your Dog’s Records Belong?

Do you have a hard time acquiring your dog’s labs and appointment notes? Or does your vet provide you a copy of everything readily? Online veterinary medical records Jasmine’s vet keeps web-based medical records. Online records are the best thing since sliced bread. I really loved having the constant full access to all medical information and discussions. Anything. Any time.…

by Jana Rade

Canine Hematuria: Blood in Urine. Why Is There Blood in My Dog’s Pee? Causes, Symptoms, and When to See a Vet

By now, it should be your mantra—blood doesn’t belong outside the blood vessels. Urine is no exception. There should never be any visible blood in your dog’s pee. Frank blood When you see blood and recognize it as such, it is referred to as frank blood. In other words, it is the blood that is fresh, bright red, and looks…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

What Makes a Good Veterinarian: Veterinarians Are People First

When I reflect on all the veterinarians we’ve worked with—and it had been quite a few, it brings up an important question. What makes a good veterinarian? Out of all the choices you need to make for your dog’s well-being, this is one of the essential decisions. A good veterinarian is worth their weight in gold. Spoiler alert: A good…

by Jana Rade

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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