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

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

How does the toxin from blue-green algae affect your dog’s body? When it’s hot, very few dogs can resist taking a dip and probably a sip from whatever water is nearby. Usually, that’s not a problem. But if the water is home to large numbers of blue-green algae (also called cyanobacteria), you should do everything in your power to keep…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Pain And Itch in Dogs: Are They Two Sides Of The Same Coin?

Pain and itch – two sensations that are really just intensified versions of the sense of touch. Pain and itch play an important protective role. They alert to harmful stimuli and/or irritants. However, when the sensations become chronic, dogs suffer. For years, scientists have longed to determine how closely itch and pain are related. Historically, it was believed that the…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Canine Spay and Neuter: To Neuter Or Not To Neuter… That Is The Question

Do you know the risks and benefits of neutering or not neutering your dog? Apologizes to William Shakespeare, but the decision of whether or not to spay or neuter a dog is a big one for owners. Just like any medical procedure, there are pros and cons, risks and benefits. You should understand these before making a final decision. Unfortunately,…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

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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