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.
Idiopathic Vestibular Disease in Dogs: Phoenix’s Story

Idiopathic Vestibular Disease in Dogs: Phoenix’s Story

A few things are as scary as watching your dog unable to walk or even stand. Some terrible conditions can be behind your dog ending up in such a sorry state. One potential reason looks just as horrifying but not dangerous to your dog–vestibular disease. Ataxia caused by idiopathic vestibular disease is due to a disturbance in the balance center. But,…

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Foreign Body Ingestion in Dogs: Levi Eats 200 Gauze Squares

Foreign Body Ingestion in Dogs: Levi Eats 200 Gauze Squares

Labrador Retrievers are notorious for eating things that have no business making it down the gullet. According to PetFirst insurance, Labrador Retrievers are the top breed likely to get in health trouble by swallowing inedible things. Is that because they are such a popular breed that it influences the statistics? Maybe but it seems there is more to it than…

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Canine Extracapsular Repair: Sandy’s Extracapsular Repair

Canine Extracapsular Repair: Sandy’s Extracapsular Repair

Extracapsular repair is an old technique, but it can work, and it is the least invasive surgical technique to date. It is not recommended for large dogs, but it can be done successfully. It is, however, more vulnerable during the post-op recovery. Thank you, Luanne, for sharing Sandy’s story. Sandy’s story Sandy’s conservative management of her ACL injury had to…

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Excessive Drooling in a Great Dane: Henry Gets Bloat

Excessive Drooling in a Great Dane: Henry Gets Bloat

Regardless of how much your dog might typically drool, take note when they start hyper-salivating more than usual. That is especially true when your dog is showing other signs of distress, such as: If your dog is showing these signs, rush them to a veterinarian immediately. Henry’s story Henry was a five-year-old Great Dane. He was indeed a gentle giant,…

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Loss of Muscle in Dogs: Allie’s Muscle Wasting

Loss of Muscle in Dogs: Allie’s Muscle Wasting

Allie was a sweet, loving senior Maltese. She had not lost her appetite, and her weight seemed stable. However, Allie had been losing muscle. So much so that she looked like skin and bone. How could she be wasting away before her owner’s eyes and yet her weight remaining the same? I will not include a photo, but it was…

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