Conditions

Urinary Incontinence in Puppies: Puppies Pee, Huh? Koda’s Story

Urinary incontinence describes involuntary pee leakage. Common causes of urinary incontinence include: urinary tract infections (UTIs) excessive drinking weak bladder sphincter spinal cord disease The above issues are those your veterinarian should look at first. But what happens when they are ruled out and a solution is lacking? Then it is time to investigate less common causes, such as ectopic…

by Jana Rade

Elbow Dysplasia in a Dog: Running With The Wind—Trago’s Elbow Dysplasia Surgery And Stem Cell Treatment

The canine elbow quite a complicated joint. Various problems in the elbow are all categorized as elbow dysplasia. Unlike the hip, the elbow joint is made up of three bones. Not unlike with hip dysplasia, when the bones don’t fit together perfectly, it leads to pain, lameness, and arthritis. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease but usually involves…

by Jana Rade

Alternative Treatment Of Dog Arthritis: Viva’s Acupuncture Treatment Update

Can acupuncture treat arthritis in dogs? Acupuncture improves blood flow. This leads to increased oxygenation of tissues, and the reduction of accumulated waste products. Acupuncture also relaxes muscles and relieves pain. Source: VCA Animal Hospital If you don’t remember the original story, check out Canine Spondylosis: The Many Faces Of Arthritis—Viva’s Story article. When Viva was adopted she was…

by Jana Rade

Canine Stem Cell Therapy: Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment

Can your dog benefit from a regenerative treatment such as stem cell therapy? I met Lisa Muscillo, on VetStem’s Facebook page. As we are both equally delighted at what stem cell therapy did for our dogs, I asked her to share her story with us. Zeus’ story Zeus is a 10-year-old Rottie. He is a highly intelligent soul who is…

by Jana Rade

CCL Surgery Complications: My Love Is Sleeping At My Feet

Any surgery can bring complications. CCL surgeries are no different. Every type comes with a list of potential complications; some more predictable and avoidable than others. This story was submitted by one of my readers, who wishes to remain anonymous. It is not fair that some dogs have been dealt such terrible cards. But love overcomes much! My love and…

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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