Conditions

A Primer On Intestinal Worms: Types, Symptoms, and Diagnosis of Intestinal Worms in Dogs

Intestinal worms in dogs are parasites that live in the digestive tract. They cause damage and rob your dog of needed nutrients. The damage they cause depends on the type and number of worms involved. In general, the adult worms that infect dogs cannot live in people. However, in rare cases, immature forms of these parasites can migrate through human…

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

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

A Primer on Kennel Cough: What Is This Highly Contagious Respiratory Disease?

Dogs often develop an upper respiratory infection after staying at the kennel or any place where they come into contact with many other dogs. The term “kennel cough” is a sort of a catchall phrase. It stands for any infectious cough that can spread rapidly from dog to dog. What causes kennel cough Kennel cough can result from an infection…

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

Why Is My Dog So Itchy: Top 5 Causes Of Itching In Dogs

Dogs can become itchy and begin to scratch for many different reasons. However, allergies of various types are among the most common causes. Canine Flea Allergy Dermatitis A flea allergy is one of the most common reasons dogs become itchy. When a flea bites a dog, it injects a substance into the dog’s skin which causes an allergic response. For…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

A Primer On Pancreatitis in Dogs

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large, elongated gland that sits transversely behind the stomach. The pancreas is an amazing organ that performs two vital functions: Dogs of any age, sex, or breed, and occasionally cats, can get pancreatitis. Unfortunately, there is a poor understanding of the exact cause. However, there is often a parallel…

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

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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