Poisoning

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Dogs: Reilly’s Acute Leg Spasms

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. What makes carbon monoxide dangerous is the fact that it replaces circulating oxygen. Further, because it bonds more strongly, it’s hard for oxygen to regain its rightful place. As a result, the body—especially the brain and the heart—is deprived of oxygen. That leads to chemical suffocation. Further, the problem can continue for 10…

by Jana Rade

Rat Bait Poisoning in a Dog: Penny’s Eats Rodenticide

Rodenticides are not poisonous just to rodents. There are two kinds of mouse and rat poisons: long-acting anticoagulants (LAACS) cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) While either of them can kill your dog, anticoagulants have an antidote, while lethal levels of Vitamin D3 do not. In my opinion, poisons that don’t have antidote should not be sold in the first place. Yet, cholecalciferol…

by Jana Rade

Homemade Playdough Poisoning in a Dog: Daisy’s Trip to Veterinary Emergency

If you make your kids’ modelling mixture at home, it is perfectly safe, isn’t it? After all, everything you put in there is edible, right? Right. But not everything that humans can eat is safe for dogs. Let’s take a look at an example homemade playdough recipe. The ingredients include: 2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup salt 4 teaspoons cream…

by Jana Rade

Dog Poisoning: Don’t Panic. Don’t Panic … Too Late—Our Call To Pet Poison Helpline

When your dog gets ill, it is stressful enough. But what if you suspect poisoning? Unfortunately, dogs can get poisoned by many things. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, the top 10 most frequently reported poisonings are: foods (chocolate, xylitol, grapes/raisins) insecticides rodenticides human NSAIDs household cleaners human antidepressants fertilizers acetaminophen amphetamines veterinary pain meds The above list was published…

by Jana Rade

Two Dogs Sick at the Same Time: Rosie and Ruby’s Story

When two dogs in the same household get sick at the same time, what is the first thing you suspect? Did they get into something they shouldn’t? Did they catch an infection? Rosie and Ruby are housemates. Rosie is 5-years-old and Ruby is 7 months. They are happy, healthy Labrador Retrievers. One night, right after supper Rosie started drooling excessively and stagger…

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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