Splenic tumors

Internal Bleeding in a Dog: Lucy’s Sudden Weakness

Blood loss for any reason is bad news. With external bleeding, at least you see it. When your dog is bleeding internally, how can you tell? Think about what blood does–it caries nutrients and oxygen to all tissues in the body. Symptoms of blood loss, then, reflect the lack of oxygen and include: pale mucus membranes (e.g. gums) panting lethargy…

by Jana Rade

Splenic Tumors in Dogs: Buddy’s Distended Abdomen

Splenic tumors in dogs are not always malignant but are always life-threatening. Buddy is a fierce, brave Jack Russel Terrier; a true representative of his breed. He is in charge of his world. Buddy’s parents observed no red flags about his health except for his belly. Buddy’s belly seemed to be growing in front of their eyes. How could that…

by Jana Rade

Dog Arthritis Acting Up? If You Catch Yourself Using These Words, Consider an Abdominal Ultrasound

What the heck am I talking about? What does arthritis have to do with the abdomen? Just had another friend, whose dog’s arthritis started acting up, facing a diagnosis of a splenic tumor. Yes, arthritis can get more painful on some days, particularly if your dog overdoes it, or is a weekend warrior. For some dogs, weather can play a role…

by Jana Rade

Early Signs of Splenic Tumors: What You Probably Didn’t Know about Splenic Tumors in Dogs

You can’t see splenic tumors coming–or can you? Too often, splenic tumors pass under the radar until the dog collapses as a result of severe internal bleeding. My brother-in-law had a dog die to hemangiosarcoma a couple of years ago. The prognosis with this cancer is generally poor but on top of that, their vet insisted it was a urinary…

by Jana Rade

Pale Gums Are An Emergency: Bailey’s Story

Pale, gray or white mucous membranes can be a sign of anemia, shock, blood loss or, severe dehydration, and more. In other words, if your dog’s gums are pale, they are in big trouble and could die. Pale gums are always an emergency and your dog needs medical help immediately. Thank you, Dr. Krista, for sharing Bailey’s story. Bailey’s story…

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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