Articles by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

For over 15 years, Dr. Jennifer has been writing and editing content related to veterinary medicine, pets, and the human-animal bond as well as providing consulting services to businesses in the pet care industry. Clients have included petMD, Chewy, Colorado State University, PennFoster College, Pet360 Media, Pet Life Today, The Spruce Pets, PetCoach, VetDepot, Veterinary Team Brief, Kroger Pet Insurance, veterinary practitioners, independent writers, and many more. Dr. Jennifer is also the author of Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian. Learn more about Dr Jennifer

Euthyroid Sick Syndrome in Dogs: When Is Hypothyroidism not Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases I see in dogs. It occurs most frequently in middle-aged (4-10 years old) medium to large-breed dogs. Breeds that are commonly affected include Doberman Pinschers, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, Miniature Schnauzers, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, and Airedale Terriers. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland secretes less thyroid hormone than normal. It…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Severe Vomiting in Dogs: What Happens in a Dog’s Body with Severe Vomiting?

We all know that vomiting is bad, but many dog owners don’t understand exactly how much damage severe or prolonged vomiting can do to a dog’s body. Dehydration Severe vomiting causes direct loss of water from the body but equally important is the fact that it prevents dogs from holding down and absorbing water that they try to drink to…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Hypothermia in Dogs: What Happens in a Dog’s Body with Hypothermia?

Normal body temperature for dogs is around 100.5-102.5°F (38-39.2°C). Hypothermia sets in when the body loses heat at a faster rate than it can generate heat. In dogs, I consider a body temperature of under 99°F (37°C) to be evidence of early/mild hypothermia. We normally think of exposure to cold environmental temperatures, particularly combined with windy and/or wet conditions, as…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Veterinary Care Decisions: The Other Side Of The Coin – The Cost Of Defensive Medicine

You may have heard the phrase “defensive medicine” used during the recent health care debate in the United States. Defensive medicine describes the situation where a doctor makes a decision regarding a patient’s care not simply based on what is best for that patient but also taking into consideration a perceived need to cover his or her white-coated backside in…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Common Limping Misdiagnoses in Dogs

In my last post, I talked about difficulties diagnosing dermatological and hormonal diseases in dogs. Now, let’s take a look at conditions affecting the bones and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. Limping If a dog has a painful musculoskeletal condition, he will usually favor his affected leg. However, if multiple legs are affected, limping may not be so obvious.…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

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. 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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