Real-life Stories

Multiple Dog Household Gastroenteritis: Three Housemates All get Diarrhea and Vomiting

Diarrhea and vomiting can have a myriad of causes. However, when more than one dog in the same household come down with upset bellies, it narrows down the potential causes. It boils down to something they all got into or an infection. We had that happen once when daughter’s Chi caught a bug someplace and then gave it to our…

by Jana Rade

Upset Stomach in a Dog: Loulou’s Vomiting

Do you know the potential causes behind your dog’s vomiting? Vomiting can be a sign of many diseases and problems. The cause can originate within the GI tract or might not be directly linked to the digestive tract at all. Your dog might throw up after a dietary indiscretion or due to a serious disease such as kidney failure, liver…

by Jana Rade

Gastric Torsion in Dogs: Jack’s Emergency Surgery

Gastric torsion, also known as gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is a life-threatening condition in dogs. Large, deep-chested breeds are especially susceptible. Some of the breeds at risk are Great Danes, Dobermans, Weimaraners, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, and Saint Bernards. Any dog parent, however, should be aware of the symptoms. Symptoms of gastric torsion come on fast and include: distended/swollen…

by Jana Rade

Hot Spots in Dogs: Harvey’s Acute Skin Infection

Dogs usually develop hot spots as a result of skin trauma whether from scratching an itchy spot or running through bushes and brambles. As the skin integrity gets compromised, it allows local bacteria to overwhelm the area. Bacterial infections can get quite bad fast. Harvey’s story Harvey is an energetic Pug. He is full of life and loves to play…

by Jana Rade

Canine Bladder Stones: Lulu’s Straining to Urinate

Bladder stones in dogs start out small but over time can grow in number and/or size. Never punish your dog when they suddenly start having potty accidents. Instead, look for a medical explanation first. Bladder stones can be the reason. All you might observe is your dog asking to go outside with increased frequency and having accidents indoors. Typical symptoms…

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 →