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.

Is Shaking or Trembling an Emergency? Shaking and Trembling in Dogs

Shaking or trembling falls into the category of “it depends.” It’s one of the things when knowing your breed, your dog, and individual circumstances is essential. For example, my daughter’s Chi shakes even when she gets excited to see somebody. Indeed, some small dogs shake or tremble at the drop of a hat. Yet, small dogs are also highly susceptible…

by Jana Rade

Canine Chronic Ear Infections: Phoenix’s Story

Ear infections in dogs typically secondary to another underlying condition—most commonly allergies. Unless addressed, chronic ear infections will continue to worsen as the tissues change due to the condition. Thank you, Brook, for sharing Phoenix’s story. Phoenix’s story Phoenix is a fourteen-and-a-half-year-old male yellow Labrador Retriever. I received him from the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides when my first…

by Jana Rade

Dog Wellness Exams How To: What’s the Difference between Annual Exams and Wellness Exams?

Annual versus wellness exams–is there a difference? Veterinary wellness exams should be about much more than vaccination boosters. Even though vaccination reminders are often a tool veterinarians use to get you in the clinic, there are better reasons both parties should understand. When Keep the Tail Wagging raised this question, I was surprised. There is a difference? I always thought…

by Jana Rade

Sam’s Mysterious Lameness: Things Are Not Always What They Seem

When your dog suddenly becomes lame, I bet a sprain, strain, or an orthopedic injury are the first things that come to your mind. If life with dogs taught me anything, it is that limping can have causes one would never think of. If you conclude that your dog likely strained or sprained something, often you’ll be right. Particularly if…

by Jana Rade

Smelly Diarrhea in Dogs: Max’s Stinky Runny Poop

Doesn’t all diarrhea smell bad? There is no such thing as poop smelling like roses. When your dog’s runny diarrhea smells worse than you’d expect, does it have a meaning? Parvovirus diarrhea is one with distinct foul smell. However, what if you’re dog is a vaccinated adult? Other potential conditions that can lead to diarrhea with particularly foul odor 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 America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. 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 into 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 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 use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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