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.

Medication Overdose in Dogs: Trusting Your Instincts May Save Your Dog’s Life—Brandy’s Story

Thank you, Carol Bryant, for sharing Brandy’s story of serious medication overdose. I feel a connection to Jana Rade and her dog, Jasmine, although we’re yet formally meet. Dogs often bring people together, and that is certainly the case for me: Most of my friends and connections are “dog people.” A fan of Jana’s Facebook group and her blog, I…

by Jana Rade

Drug-Resistant Canine Hookworms: Superworms not Responding to Treatment?

Drug-resistant infections are one of the veterinarians’ and dog parents’ worst nightmares. Hookworms worms are true blood-suckers. These common, tiny small intestinal parasites anchor themselves in the intestinal lining, feeding on blood. Despite their size, hookworms can ingest a surprisingly large amount of blood. Consequently, hookworm infestation can lead to anemia as well as inflammation of the intestine. How does…

by Jana Rade

Straining to Defecate in Dogs: From The Case Files—What The Prostate Exam Revealed

Do you assume that if your dog is straining to defecate they have simple constipation? It is one possibility but not the only one. For example, your dog can strain to poop for the opposite reason —diarrhea. Sometimes, however, the problem can be even more serious. Luca’s story Luca, a neutered eight-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, was having difficulty with his bowel…

by Jana Rade

OrthoPets Canine Orthotics and Prosthetics … and Casts

When my Rottweiler partially ruptured her CCL, the last thing we wanted to do was put her through surgery. Our original plan was regenerative cell therapy. However, by the time we’d be able to do that, the tear was full. So as it turned out, surgery was what we did. However, what if regenerative treatment or surgery isn’t a good…

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by Jana Rade

Spinal Tumor in a Dog: Lupa Cannot Walk

If your dog becomes unable to walk, it is one of the scariest things to experience. The problem is usually because of the disruption of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Sometimes, the dog might have difficulty moving and appear weak, and sometimes they might be unable to walk at all. As it turns out, there…

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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