Dog health advocacy

Abscess Behind the Eye in Dogs: Lola’s Price for Chewing on Rose Bushes

How likely are you to figure that an abscess behind the eye could have anything to do with what goes into the mouth? The mouth and the eyes are different things, aren’t they? They are not in any way connected, are they? Lola’s story Lola is a Golden Retriever puppy. Like most dogs her age, she has to try chewing…

by Jana Rade

Pain Management For Dogs: Types of Pain Medications for Dogs And What They Do

The two main issues with pain in dogs are recognizing pain in your dog and what to do about it. “What can I get over the counter to help my dog’s pain,” is one of the most frequent questions on dog forums. And yet, that’s not what we’ll be talking about today. Two main types of pain Pain falls into two…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Dog Scooting: Why Was Benji Dragging His Bum along the Ground?

Does your dog rub their bum on the floor, scooting around the house? What does it mean when dogs do that? There are a few potential causes: anal gland issues (impaction, infection, abscess, cancer) perianal fistula rectal prolapse worms skin allergies Anal gland issues, however, are the most likely cause of scooting in dogs. Other symptoms might include: reluctance to…

by Jana Rade

Trembling and Loss of Appetite: What is Wrong with Elsie?

Uncontrolled shaking or trembling in dogs is a sign of a serious issue.…

by Jana Rade

Breathing Changes in Dogs: Daisy’s Strange Breathing

When your dog looks like they’re having difficulty breathing or even choking, It’s a scary sight. In fact, actual difficulty breathing or choking is an emergency. Daisy’s story Daisy was a 7-year-old Bichon Frise. She’s been happy and healthy except for strange breathing episodes now and then. These episodes were short-lasting with no lasting effects. Daisy’s dad figured that something…

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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