Articles by 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. Countless 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 merely 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 get a diagnosis. 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.

Unsteady Gait in a Dog: Raven’s Stumbling and Trouble Walking

Dealing with your dog’s mobility issues can be equally hard on you and your dog. The list of potential things that can impair your dog’s ability to walk is long and can include: injuries/trauma degenerative conditions metabolic disorders endocrine disorders heart and blood disease infections poisoning immune-mediated conditions adverse reactions neurological conditions cancer The potential suspects differ with acute or…

by Jana Rade

Rescuing a Heart Dog: Cookie’s Untold Story #MyUnspokenPet

Your rescued dog’s story did not start when you met. As you begin your life together, do you wonder what their story was? This post is sponsored by CUDDLY, a crowdfunding platform built for animal welfare organizations worldwide. I am sharing Cookie’s story as part of the #MyUnspokenPet campaign. Learn about Cuddly’s worthy mission and how it can save lives.…

by Jana Rade

TPLO Post-Op Disaster: Sampson Destroys His TPLO Repair

Every surgery carries potential complications. Some of them are common and predictable, but sometimes your dog might surprise you with what they manage to inflict on themselves. The more invasive the surgery is, the more room for a disaster. Yet, serious complications are quite rare. Some of the common TPLO complications include: swelling, bruising, and seromas at the incision poor…

by Jana Rade

Canine Idiopathic Renal Hematuria: Sclerotherapy—Lucy’s Unique Life-Saving Procedure

If your dog starts peeing blood, it typically involves two potential scenarios—damage to the tissues of the urinary tract or conditions that cause abnormal bleeding. The most common cause of blood in your dog’s urine (hematuria) are urinary tract infections (UTIs) or urinary tract stones. Other potential causes include: trauma non-infectious inflammation cancer Further information: Blood in the Urine in…

by Jana Rade

Hiatal Hernia and Regurgitation in Dogs: Cookie’s Story

A hernia is a condition in which an organ pushes through muscle or other tissue that contain it. In the case of hiatal hernial, abdominal organs push through a diaphragm right where the esophagus enters the stomach. In dogs, hiatal hernia can develop as a result of a birth defect or trauma. Symptoms of a hiatal hernia in dogs include:…

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.

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