Real-life Stories

Dewclaw Avulsion in Dogs: Cookie Breaks Her Dewclaw

Nail injuries, however minor they appear can be extremely painful and might lead to substantial lameness. The reason for potentially severe bleeding and pain is the quick, which is a collection of blood vessels and nerves. If you ever cut the quick while trimming your dog’s nails, you’re familiar with the outcome. Why do nails break? The longer the nail,…

by Jana Rade

Head-Shaking and Swollen Lymph Nodes: Murphy’s Indolent T Cell Lymphoma

Sometimes, when you hear hooves, zebras show up. The most common cause of excessive head-shaking is discomfort in the ears. The causes might include: allergies foreign bodies inflammation infections parasites polyps Infections, on the other hand, are typically secondary to another problem, such as allergies. Further reading: Excessive Head Shaking in Dogs Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system;…

by Jana Rade

Canine Xylitol Poisoning: Aslan’s Deadly Snack

The sugar substitute, Xylitol, while harmless to humans, is a deadly poison to dogs. Ingestion of even a tiny amount of xylitol can be fatal to your furry companion. It leads to dangerously low blood sugar, which can result in seizures, coma, and even death. There is enough xylitol in just three pieces of sugar-free gum to kill a small…

by Jana Rade

Canine Papilloma Virus: Ralf’s Itchy Legs and Skin Lesions

Papillomas are benign, wart-like grows caused by a virus. They are prevalent in puppies or dogs with declined immune function. Often, papillomas have a unique cauliflower appearance. However, never assume what a growth is strictly by its look—papillomas can be smooth bumps too. In puppies, papillomas typically develop in and around the mouth or eyes. While oral papilloma is the…

by Jana Rade

Really Angry Vet on Seizures: Winston’s First Seizure

A wonderful client of mine brought her 12-year-old Boxer to see me. Last night, Winston had his first seizure. Because it was after hours, the owners found themselves at a local 24-hour veterinary facility. They came in today to discuss what had happened last night. They wanted me to examine their dog and get my opinion about the next step…

by Dr. Robert Foley

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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