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

Masticatory Myositis in Dogs: Ginger’s Painful Mouth

Masticatory myositis is an auto-immune disease. In other words, the immune system attacks the dog’s own jaw muscles as a foreign invader. As a result, the puppies are in severe pain and unable to open their mouth. Can you imagine if it hurt when you tried to eat? And I mean really hurt. Some breeds, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,…

by Jana Rade

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

Acute Kidney Failure in Dogs: Blitzen’s Tragic Story. What Would You Do If It Was Your Dog?

Many things can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Toxins are high on the list of potential causes. What constitutes a toxin, though? The well-known substances that cause injury to the kidneys include antifreeze grapes and raisins over-the-counter pain relievers Infections, such as leptospirosis are not far behind. This does not, however, constitute a complete list. Diagnosing kidney failure is…

by Jana Rade

Tips for a Healthy Dog: My Favorite Things for Keeping A Dog Fit and Healthy

Owners are always on the lookout for ways to keep their dogs in top shape. Keeping your dog fit and free from pain will ensure a lifetime of good health. Here is a list of my favorite things to help maintain good fitness and joint health, based on years of experience with products and resources while finding out which are…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Diarrhea/Runny Stools in Dogs: Why Is My Dog’s Poop Runny?

My dog has diarrhea. What caused it and what do I do? Diarrhea is a medical term describing unformed, loose stools. Bowel movements can be larger or more frequent. The poop might contain mucus, blood, worms, and all sorts of other things. Who am I kidding–we all know what diarrhea is. The important question is what caused it and what…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer, dog health advocate, writer, and author. 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 in 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 how to 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 save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners . What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

View Full Profile →