Real-life Stories

Severely Stinky Breath in a Dog: Mia's Case of Terrible-Smelling Breath

What can I do about my dog’s stinky breath? Asking how to get rid of a dog’s foul breath is one of the most common question dog parents ask. There are also many tips and advice they receive. The bottom line is, however, that a dog’s breath doesn’t smell bad without a reason. Unless you find and address the reason,…

by Jana Rade

Dog Care and Trust: How Do I Know When There Is Something Wrong with Cookie's Foot?

Many dogs tend to hide pain and discomfort. That doesn’t mean you cannot detect the signs if you observe carefully. I believe that the degree to which dogs share with us when something is bothering them is a matter of trust. If that is so, Cookie trusts us explicitly. Cookie and I have entered a new level of trust and…

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

Dog Suffocation Awareness: Bree Almost Suffocated In A Chip Bag—Prevent Pet Suffocation

Would you figure that your snack bag could cause your dog’s death? Dog suffocation in snack, cereal, and other bags and containers happens often and it happens quickly. Don’t let that happen to your dog. Further reading: Be Aware of Pet Suffocation Prevent Pet Suffocation by Bonnie Harlan On Friday, April 4, 2014, Jude Dillon arrived home from work in…

by Jana Rade

Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia: Annie’s Lost Battle with IMHA

What makes immune-mediated diseases so horrible is that the immune system, which should protect your dog from disease, turns on them. Thank you to Alison Kaylor for sharing Annie’s Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia story. Annie’s story My little Maltipoo of 11 years and 11 months, Annie (Snanniebug) was my biggest joy. She was a healthy little pup, had a great appetite…

by Jana Rade

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.

View Full Profile →