Diagnoses

Veterinary Diagnosis The Whole Picture: When The Test Results Don’t Match What’s In Front Of You

As is true for all healthcare professionals, veterinarians sometimes develop tunnel vision. Now and then, they become so focused on test results that they fail to consider whether or not these results actually make sense in relation to the animal sitting atop their exam room table. When the patient’s appearance says one thing and test results indicate something different, astute…

by Dr. Nancy Kay

Allergies in Dogs: Common, Commonly Misdiagnosed, or Both?

Watching an itchy pet scratch to the point of self-mutilation is an agonizing and all-too-common experience for dog owners. The veterinary visits that usually (and should!) follow often result in a diagnosis of allergies. While allergies are extremely common in dogs, owners should be aware that this very fact can sometimes lead vets to diagnose an allergy when something else…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Pre-Anesthetic Blood Tests: Jack’s Test Reveals Kidney Failure

Many illnesses can go from undetectable to potentially deadly (particularly when combined with surgery and/or anesthesia) over the course of just a few weeks. Having fresh blood work provides insight into your dog’s overall health making sure that they can handle anesthesia safely. It is important to adjust the treatment plan if the blood test reveals any abnormalities. Knowing is…

by Jana Rade

Canine Fur Analysis: What Fur Can Reveal and Differences between Labs

There was more than one reason I wanted to run a canine fur analysis for Cookie. I wanted to make sure her diet provides everything she needs, particularly when it comes to minerals. Cookie is on a raw diet so I am not worried about proteins or vitamins. It is the minerals that can be a challenge. I also wanted…

by Jana Rade

Observation Skills for Dog Owners: Cookie’s Sore Shoulder

Signs of lameness can be subtle and hard to see. The sooner you discover a problem, the easier it is to deal with. Watch for any changes in gait or posture. Hubby used to think that I see ghosts. Over time he came to realize that ghosts are real. Often I am not sure if my mind is playing tricks…

by Jana Rade

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. 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 into 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 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 use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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