Conditions

Interpreting Lab Results in Context: Cookie’s Elevated Kidney Values

When your dog’s lab results show irregularities, don’t panic but don’t ignore them either. Figure out what is going on. It has been my experience that often one value or another can be off on blood panel. With Jasmine, every other panel had something out of range. The question is what to do when that happens? Investigate. Immediate values and…

by Jana Rade

Addison’s Disease in a Chihuahua: Kermit’s Story

In dogs, the main cause of Addison’s disease is an immune process. Dogs can show a variety of different signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease, including lethargy vomiting diarrhea lack of appetite shaking and weakness Addison’s disease in a Chihuahua Kermit was a spirited sweetie with a unique personality, adopted as a stray. He was an oddball, who brought his…

by Jana Rade

Hannah Gets Ill: Addison’s Disease Awareness—What’s Wrong With Hannah?

Addison’s disease is caused by adrenal insufficiency. It is a condition in which the adrenal glands fail to produce enough steroid hormones. Whether there are too many or too little of these hormones in the blood, your dog can get quite ill. Further reading: The Function of Cortisol: What Happens In A Dog’s Body When It Goes Awry? Thank you,…

by Jana Rade

Is Your Dog Pesty? Give Them The Benefit of the Doubt

Before you dismiss your dog’s pesty or weird behavior as your dog being pesty, consider a medical reason behind it. I just want to come in so I can go back out. Every now and then a funny picture of a dog, captioned with the above text, circulates social media. Is your dog just being a pest or is there…

by Jana Rade

Canine IVDD Back Brace: How Is WiggleLess® Helping to Provide Support for Dogs Suffering from or Prone to IVDD?

Canine intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common orthopedic problem affecting the spine. Injuries and diseases that affect the spine are quite dramatic and disabling. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the problem. The affected breeds include Dachshunds, Beagles, Basset Hounds and Shih Tzus. Further information: Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) in Dogs Thank you, Lisa Luckenbach, for sharing your 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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