Wellness exams

Elevated ALT in Dogs: Regular Wellness Exam—Cookie’s ALT Was Elevated

Checking ALT levels is the mainstay veterinary test for liver disease in dogs. The typical reason of ALT elevation is liver and bile duct disease but there are other potential causes. Further information: Why Are My Dog’s ALT Levels Abnormal? Cookie’s wellness exam Regular wellness exams are one of the most important things you can do for your dog. Many…

by Jana Rade

Example Wellness Exam Results: Practicing What I Preach—Jasmine’s Semi-Annual Wellness Exam

Taking care of your best friend, there are few things that are way more important than people recognize. Regular wellness exams are definitely one of them. A healthy young dog should be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year. Senior dogs should have their checkups at least twice a year. The purpose of wellness exams Why take your…

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.

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