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.

Canine Hip And Elbow Dysplasia: Are They The Same Thing?

Hip and elbow dysplasia are a common cause of lameness in dogs. They sound like they should be the same thing, just involving different legs. Are they, though? Definition The word dysplasia has a rather broad meaning. It is from Greek, and it stands for malformation. In the context of veterinary medicine, dysplasia means abnormal development or growth. Both hip…

by Jana Rade

Follicular Cysts in a Dog: Sasha’s Naughty Recurring Skin Growths

Cysts are enclosed sacs with liquid or solid non-infectious content. The different types of cysts include true cysts sebaceous cysts follicular cysts dermoid cysts false cysts Further information: Cysts Follicular cysts are large bumps on a dog’s skin. They form in hair follicles and can be filled with thick white, yellow, or brown material. As they grow, they might ooze,…

by Jana Rade

Seeking a Second Opinion for Your Dog

Choosing the right veterinarian and knowing when to seek a second opinion can be the difference between sickness and health, and sometimes the life and death of your dog. If there is a single take-home point of my blog, it is this—your dog’s health is ultimately in your hands. Making the right decisions for your dog is your responsibility, and…

by Jana Rade

Canine Cystitis: Cassie’s Bladder Inflammation

Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder. Not unlike many other medical terms, it is strictly a description of the problem—in this case, a bladder that is inflamed. Unfortunately, it doesn’t tell you anything about the cause; just the result. That said, the most common cause of bladder inflammation is a bacterial infection. Other potential common causes…

by Jana Rade

Breaching the Subject of Canine Obesity: No TV Tonight!

Obesity is a problem for both dogs and their parents. Yet, the most important thing you can do for your dog to keep them healthy, happy, and living longer is to keep them at an optimal weight. With all else being equal, a life-long reduction in caloric intake can extend your dog’s life by almost two years on average. In…

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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