Dog health advocacy

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

Eyelid Growth in a Dog: What Was the Growth on Ted’s Eyelid?

Meibomian cysts are one of the most common growths that can develop on your dog’s eyelid. They are benign and require no intervention as long as they don’t irritate the eye. Ted’s story Ted was a senior Beagle. He started showing early signs of aging, including developing bumps on his body. Having all lumps and bumps checked is important at…

by Jana Rade

Canine Heartworm Disease: Veterinarians Share Insights About Heartworm Disease And Prevention in Dogs

Do you think your dog might be at risk of contracting canine heartworm disease? Do you think it’s something to worry about or not so much? Is your dog on preventative, or do you think they don’t need one? I asked my veterinary friends. Question: Have you seen heartworm-positive dogs in your area? Do you feel that dog owners underestimate…

by Jana Rade

Vet Visit From Hell: Nudge’s Acid Reflux

When your dog gets sick, it is stressful enough. What if the veterinarian doesn’t communicate? Thank you, Kaitlin Falatovich, for sharing Nudge’s story. Nudge’s story I’m sure you, too, have days when it seems that the whole world is conspiring against you. Unfortunately, I had one of those days recently. My pup was suffering from some stomach pain. Being the…

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 →