Conditions

IMHA in Dogs: Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde—Razzle’s Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

Who doesn’t know the story of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde? How does the story relate to autoimmune disease? What happens during the disease Your dog’s body was designed to maintain health, and it has a fantastic guard against disease—the immune system. His immune system protects your dog against disease by identifying and killing invaders, foreign (infections), and domestic (tumor…

by Jana Rade

A Primer On Congestive Heart Failure

In congestive heart failure (CHF), the heart does not contract as well as it used to. As a result, it cannot pump the blood well enough to keep up with the needs of the dog’s body. The heart and circulatory system transport oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your dog’s body. The heart has four chambers: a right atrium…

by Dr. John A. Bukowski, DVM, and Dr. Susan E. Aiello, DVM

Veterinary Communication with Clients: Breaking The Bad News When It Could Be Something Else—Penny Does Not Have Cancer

Is there a good way of breaking bad news to dog parents? That is a hard one. But what if there is a lack of certainty? How would you like your veterinarian to discuss such news with you? Penny Recently I received a distressed email from a friend regarding her dog. I wanted to reach out to you and tell…

by Jana Rade

A Primer On Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Squamous cell carcinomas are cancers that arise from squamous cells. Squamous cells are one of the three cell types that make up epithelial tissue—skin cells. These cells are flat and appear throughout the body. They are present in large numbers on dogs’ skin, nose, mouth, ear tips, and nails. They also form the lining of many body cavities. Image Online…

by Dr. John A. Bukowski, DVM, and Dr. Susan E. Aiello, DVM

Reader IMHA Stories: Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

Anemia is a deficiency in red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in a decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Potential causes of anemia include blood loss, insufficient red blood cell production, or increased destruction (hemolysis). In immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), the dog’s immune system attacks the red blood cells. IMHA is a life-threatening disease that strikes fast and hard. Acting fast…

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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