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.

Albuterol Poisoning in a Dog: Clarke Chews Up an Asthma Inhaler

When your dog chews on and punctures an asthma inhaler, they can suffer severe, acute poisoning. Asthma inhalers contain one of two substances: drugs that expand the lungs (such as albuterol) steroids One inhaler can contain up to 200 doses of medication. If your dog gets that in their system, the poisoning is severe. Potential effects include: agitation hyperactivity vomiting…

by Jana Rade

Tibial Tuberosity Advancement: My Two Cents on the TTA Repair

The tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) was one of the first modern surgical options to address cranial cruciate ligament tears in dogs. The TTA neutralizes the abnormal forces in the joint that result from a CCL rupture differently. Even though it also involves cutting a bone, it uses the strength of the patellar tendon to stabilize the knee. This technique underwent…

by Jana Rade

Nail Injury in a Dog: Keep Your Dog’s Nails Trimmed—Bubba’s Lameness

Overgrown toenails can cause lameness when they grow into the paw pad or break. Toenail injuries are painful. The quick, which you might be familiar with, is a collection of blood vessels and nerves. That’s why it bleeds and hurts so much. Dogs can break their nail when they sang it on the carpet or upholstery, outdoor terrain, or when…

by Jana Rade

Cyanotoxin Poisoning Antidote: Can Cholestyramine Save Your Dog?

Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are common in stale or stagnant water and are often found in ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. Dogs can get poisoned with the toxins found in blue-green algae when they swim or drink from waters contaminated by the bloom. Blue-green algae toxin can attack either the liver or the nervous system. Symptoms depend on which…

by Jana Rade

Cataracts in a Dog: Snoop Goes Blind in Both Eyes

Do you know what can cause your dog to go blind, and can you do anything about it? Conditions that can lead to loss of sight in dogs include: genetic predisposition age eye injuries infections/inflammation cancer diabetes cataracts glaucomas suddenly acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) Further information: Blindness In Dogs: Causes, Treatments And Prevention What are cataracts? A cataract is…

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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