Foreign bodies

Foreign Body Ingestion in Dogs: Levi Eats 200 Gauze Squares

Labrador Retrievers are notorious for eating things that have no business making it down the gullet. According to PetFirst insurance, Labrador Retrievers are the top breed likely to get in health trouble by swallowing inedible things. Is that because they are such a popular breed that it influences the statistics? Maybe but it seems there is more to it than…

by Jana Rade

Abscess Behind the Eye in Dogs: Lola’s Price for Chewing on Rose Bushes

How likely are you to figure that an abscess behind the eye could have anything to do with what goes into the mouth? The mouth and the eyes are different things, aren’t they? They are not in any way connected, are they? Lola’s story Lola is a Golden Retriever puppy. Like most dogs her age, she has to try chewing…

by Jana Rade

Oral Ulcer in a Dog: Penny’s Foul Breath (Halitosis)

Dental issues are the most common cause of bad breath in dogs. But what if there is something else going on? Potential causes of bad breath in dogs include: gum or periodontal disease tooth abscess foreign bodies systemic issues such as GI, metabolic, respiratory or autoimmune disease poisoning In any case, foul breath alerts you to a problem that can…

by Jana Rade

Nasal Foreign Body in a Dog: Foster’s Sneezing and Bloody Nose

Allergies in dogs typically manifest through itchy skin rather than sneezing. Infections or foreign bodies are a much more likely culprit. Consider the season, your dog’s environment, and lifestyle as part of the bigger picture. When your dog’s violent sneezing combines with a nose bleed, the symptoms start to paint a picture. Common causes of excessive sneezing in dogs foreign…

by Jana Rade

Fast-Growing Lumps in Dogs: Yuki’s Swelling

Discovering a lump on your dog is a scary business. Fortunately, not all lumps are tumors. It is possible that what looks and feels like a lump is a swelling instead. Potential causes include immune reactions or infections which can be due to: insect bites and stings injuries foreign bodies The essential step in dealing with a lump is identification—that…

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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