Alternative treatments

Iliopsoas Injury Recovery Medications: What We Used to Facilitate Cookie’s Iliopsoas Injury Healing

Injured iliopsoas can be a bear to treat. During the orthopedic specialist’s exam, it turned out there was more pain going on than Cookie was letting on. We already had the experience with this injury from the past. With Jasmine, it took a very long time for her iliopsoas to heal. Besides strict rest, it was important to manage pain…

by Jana Rade

Canine Toplines and How They Translate to Function

What does canine topline refer to and what is its significance? Introduction There is a special reason I look forward to the month of February each year–the Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) Dog Show as a credentialed member of their Media/Press team. The show is pure happiness and the Westminster staff considers the dogs the true stars of the show. At…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Fecal Transplants for Dogs: Micro-biome Restorative Therapy (MBRT)

Have you heard about the micro-biome Restorative Therapy (MBRT)? Does your dog eat poop? Do they know what they’re doing? In a healthy dog, healthful bacteria coat the entire surface of the gut, protecting it from invaders and toxins. Illness and antibiotic therapy can seriously damage the balance of gut microflora. With the beneficial bacteria and other protective factors missing,…

by Jana Rade

Horse Fence Encounter: Cookie Meets The Electric Horse Fence And Her First Chiropractic Adjustment

The other weekend, Cookie got acquainted with the electric fence around the horse run. She was not impressed! There are several runs at the horse farm. The horses stay in one or another based on the season. Most of the year, the horses are at the back of the property. The runs up front are empty, and the fences are…

by Jana Rade

PT for Animals: My Foreword To “Physical Therapy And Rehabilitation For Animals: A Guide For The Consumer”

How important do you think physical therapy is during your dog’s recovery after surgery or injury? Limpy’s story I met Limpy at a dog park. A young Lab, full of life. Even though it wasn’t slowing him down much, he was clearly favoring his left hind leg. I asked what happened. “He’s torn a knee ligament,” the owner said. Having…

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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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