Real-life Stories

Weird Things We Do for Dogs: The Wackiest Thing I Ever Did For My Dog

What is the weirdest thing you ever did for your dog? Over at Keep the Tail Wagging, Kimberly wrote a post 11 Ridiculous Things I Do for My Dogs. I went through the memories of my time with Jasmine, I thought about the whackiest thing I ever did for her. The weirdest thing I did for my dog It was…

by Jana Rade

Hemangiosarcoma in a Dog: Fast Decline—Joey’s Hemangiosarcoma

Canine hemangiosarcoma usually attacks the dog’s spleen but can metastasize to other organs. That, unfortunately, includes the brain. This cancer is almost exclusive to dogs, though other species can also get it. It is a highly invasive cancer of the cells that form blood vessels. This story is shared by a friend who wants to remain anonymous. Joey’s story I…

by Jana Rade

Canine TPLO Post-Op: Coco’s Diary

Obtaining and carefully following post-surgery instructions from your veterinarian/surgeon is essential for a positive outcome. Make sure you ask for a detailed, day-by-day recovery plan. You’d be surprised how often surgeons allow dog parents to go home without them. You can see an example of a cruciate ligament (ACL/CCL surgery post-op care plan looks like here. There are some…

by Jana Rade

Dog Addison’s Diagnosis: Gracie Lou Clough’s Story

Canine Addison’s disease can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated. Canine Addison’s disease doesn’t have a cure, but it can be managed with treatment. Thank you, Bobbi Borst Clough, for sharing Gracie Lou’s story. Gracie Lou’s story The background Gracie was a 10-year-old 134 lb English Mastiff. Gracie was abused until she was six months old. She then went…

by Jana Rade

Shifting Lameness in Dogs: Is It Always Lyme Disease?

We all know this one, right? The cause of shifting lameness, quick, anybody? Yes, intermittent or shifting lameness is a common symptom of Lyme disease. So that’s it? Case closed? Not so fast. Yes, shifting lameness, stiff walk, and sensitivity to touch can signal Lyme disease. However, it likely wouldn’t be the only symptom you’d see. You can observe any other…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of American and an award-winning author. 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 in 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 how to 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 save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners . What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

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