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

A Primer on Glaucoma in Dogs

Glaucoma is a condition where pressure builds up in the eyeball, damaging the structures and leading to blindness. Introduction A dog’s eyeball is filled with fluid that nourishes the eye, cushions it, and helps it keep its shape. Some of this fluid is thick, like jelly, while some are thin, like water. The fluid constantly moves because new fluid is…

by Dr. John A. Bukowski, DVM, and Dr. Susan E. Aiello, DVM

Purpose of Differential Diagnoses: Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses

So Jasmine broke out with a third skin infection in quite a short time. This time it was a nasty bacterial folliculitis—inflammation of hair follicles—around the base of her tail. Further reading: Folliculitis in Dogs She lost a bunch of fur, which left her with bald patches. The infection seemed to have cleared up with antibiotics and topical treatment. Even…

by Jana Rade

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

A Primer On Skin Fold Infections

Skin-fold infections are prevalent in dogs. The role of breed and body condition score Folds in the skin create a moist environment that favors the growth of bacteria. As a result, they are vulnerable to infections, especially in wrinkly breeds such as: Obese dogs are also at greater risk of pyoderma because of the folds produced by excess fat. In…

by Dr. John A. Bukowski, DVM, and Dr. Susan E. Aiello, DVM

Abscess Behind the Eye in Dogs: Lola’s Price for Chewing on Rose Bushes

How likely are you to figure that an abscess behind the eye could have anything to do with what goes into the mouth? The mouth and the eyes are different things, aren’t they? They are not in any way connected, are they? Lola’s story Lola is a Golden Retriever puppy. Like most dogs her age, she has to try chewing…

by Jana Rade

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of American and an award-winning 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 →