Dog health advocacy

Dr. Michelle Oakley: Yukon Vet Tackles Westminster with Ease and Grace

Dr. Michelle Oakley wowed canines, spectators and the media alike during her first trip to the Westminster Dog Show in NYC 2019. After working in the Yukon, Manhattan should have been a breeze, but Dr. Oakley found it equally exciting and stimulating, not to mention the cold temps and snowy mix giving her a taste of home. Meeting Dr. Oakley…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Scratching and Restlessness in Dogs: Teddy’s Story. What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog?

Teddy is a sweet, 2-year-old Cavalier Springer Spaniel. Do you know what to make of excessive head scratching in this breed? Teddy’s story Cavalier Springer Spaniels are true love bugs. One look at them makes your heart melt. Teddy found his forever home when he was 19 months old. He was a gentle boy and a wonderful companion. First symptoms…

by Jana Rade

Unexplained Weight Loss in GSDs: Beaner’s Weight Loss. What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog?

Beaner was a 10-year-old German Shepherd mix. When Beaner started losing weight, her mom didn’t think much of it because she was trying to get Beaner a bit thinner–weight loss was what they were trying to accomplish. Weight loss, however, was soon followed by other symptoms. Beaner started shedding more than normal and her skin was becoming dry and flaky.…

by Jana Rade

Nosebleeds in a Dog: Buddy’s Nosebleeds. What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog?

Nosebleeds in dogs are not common. The dog’s nose won’t bleed as easily as a human one does. If your dog’s nose starts bleeding, it isn’t likely they just bumped it on something. There are many potential causes for canine nosebleeds but minor trauma isn’t one of them. Potential causes of nosebleeds in dogs include: serious trauma foreign bodies clotting…

by Jana Rade

143rd Westminster Dog Show: An Old Hound, A New Hound, and a ‘Coy-ker-I can’t-pronounce- it-hond’!

There is lots of canine love to be found in NYC at Piers 92-94 this week. The events Meet the Breeds (dogs and cats too!), Master’s Agility competitions have concluded and the Conformation ring shows plus Masters Obedience competition are going strong currently. This is the place to see your favorite breeds up close. You can learn more about the…

by Susan E. Davis PT

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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