Articles by Dr. Lorie Huston

Dr. Lorie was a wonderful veterinarian and a friend. She was a certified veterinary journalist, pet health/pet care expert, author/freelance writer/blogger, and blogging/SM/SEO consultant. It was a big loss for the pet world when she passed away in September 2015. It is my honor that her contributions to my blog can be part of her legacy. Learn more about Dr. Lorie.

Canine Heartworm Infection: Don’t Let Heartworm Become A Heartbreak!

Keeping your dog healthy includes regular preventive health care. Timely administration of heartworm preventive medication is one of the preventive measures that all dog owners should be practicing. What are heartworms? Heartworms are mosquito-borne parasites that live in the heart and blood vessels of an infected dog. These worms cause damage, often significant, to the cardiovascular structures and can lead…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Chronic Vs Acute Pain In Dogs: What Is The Difference?

Many people think of chronic pain in the same way they think of acute pain. However, in reality, there is a world of difference between the two. Let’s start out with a basic definition of both terms. Acute pain is the type of sudden, very real, and sometimes a very severe type of pain. It results from something like a…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Canine Blood Tests: What’s In The Blood—Blood Testing And Interpretation

Blood work is a standard, non-invasive evaluation tool in veterinary medicine. The results can shed light on your dog’s general health and organ function. Blood testing is used for the following: wellness evaluation pre-surgical screening illness diagnosis Introduction Every day, all day, cells within the body are being constantly replaced. You lose a layer of skin, and a new layer…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Canine Parvovirus

Canine parvovirus is a severe, potentially fatal gastrointestinal disease that infects dogs. Puppies and young dogs are most susceptible and tend to have the most severe infections. However, dogs that didn’t acquire immunity can get the infection at any age. Symptoms of parvovirus in dogs Parvovirus attacks the intestinal tract, essentially destroying the inner lining of the intestines. Symptoms most…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Canine Distemper Virus

Canine distemper is a life-threatening disease that most commonly affects puppies and young dogs. Distemper is caused by a virus that can spread easily through an unimmunized (unprotected) population. Fortunately, adult dogs often develop some degree of immunity with age and are less likely to develop the disease. How Does Canine Distemper Spread? Canine distemper spreads through respiratory secretions that…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

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.

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