Alternative treatments

TCVM Food Therapy: Healing Your Dog With Food—More To Food Than Nutritional Value?

The nutritional value of food is, of course, important. But is there more to food that the nutrients we count? According to the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), there are 36 nutrients that are essential for dogs. An essential nutrient is a nutrient that is needed for your dog’s body to function properly but cannot be synthesized by his body…

by Jana Rade

I Started My Dog On CBD: What is Cannabidiol and How I Made My Decision

CBD is the buzz. You cannot ask for advice about any problem your dog has without somebody recommending you put your dog on CBD. My position on any novelty treatments is cautious curiosity. I was tracking the stories and information, and I felt that being aware of the option was good enough for the time being. My dog didn’t have…

by Jana Rade

TCVM for Dogs: Four Paws, Five Directions—The Theory Behind The Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

What the heck is Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) and isn’t it obsolete? Modern veterinary medicine is making daily strides and breakthroughs. But sometimes scientists are limited by the way they know to look at things. A different point of view might offer solutions scientists didn’t dream up. An alternative approach can offer answers where they didn’t seem to be…

by Jana Rade

TCVM Consultation: What To Expect During A Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Exam

The TCVM exam is quite different from what you’re normally used to. While the individual experience might vary with different practitioners, most things should be the same. The first thing Jasmine noticed as she walked into our TCVM vet’s exam room was the lack of an exam table! Yay! A good reason to like the place! Instead, our TCVM vet…

by Jana Rade

Prolotherapy for Dogs: Forerunner To Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy?

Prolotherapy is a non-surgical treatment that can increase tendon and ligament strength and relieve arthritis in dogs. In involves injections of substances to induce inflammation or facilitate other reactions in the affected tissues. The goal is to relieve pain and improve function. Prolotherapy is an alternative treatment option some veterinarians have used for decades. Prolotherapy was the first non-surgical option…

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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