Second opinions

Canine Diagnosis Confusion: Suki Doesn’t Have A Tumor And She Doesn’t Have Cushing’s—Suki’s Story

When we receive a serious diagnosis for ourselves or a family member, we look for a second opinion or visit a specialist. We want to get as much information as we can before pursuing treatment. Why are we hesitant to do the same for our fur babies, especially since they can’t speak for themselves? Thank you, Stacey Snyder, for sharing…

by Jana Rade

Lacking Diagnosis Frustration: What Doesn’t Kill Her Will Make Her Stronger? Koda’s Story

If you need a quick second opinion, start with VetLive. JJ is my dear friend. Her dog, Koda, is almost two years old, adorable Australian Shepherd girl. Koda has already had more struggles with her health than most old dogs ever will. Since a very young age, Koda had pee problems. Koda’s story When trying to get to the bottom…

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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