Emergencies

Is Dog Coughing an Emergency?

You should see a vet if your dog is coughing persistently. Most of the time, though, it doesn’t need immediate medical attention. However, depending on the overall circumstance I might see a vet the same day or early the next. Particularly if a cough seems bothersome to my dog. Such as with Jasmine who one day started coughing after a serious…

by Jana Rade

Is an Unresponsive Dog an Emergency?

Unresponsive dog is not a dog that is disobedient but a dog that doesn’t react to stimuli. Your dog’s body might be unable to react, or their brain function is compromised. They might be extremely weak, unconscious, in a state of stupor or in a coma. A dog so unwell that they are not responding is an emergency. Rufus’ story…

by Jana Rade

Are Pale Gums an Emergency?

Let’s cut to the chase. If you’re reading this because your dog’s gums are pale, yes, it is an emergency. Now, yes, different breeds have differently colored gums. My dogs’ gums are very dark, mostly black. Other breeds have gums that are straight pink. Become familiar with what your dog’s normal gum color is. Pale gums are gums that are…

by Jana Rade

Is Blood in Vomit an Emergency?

If your dog vomiting blood isn’t an emergency, what is? Vomiting itself signals a problem. Visible blood in the vomit takes it into another dimension. If a person was vomiting blood, they’d be scared and they’d be in pain. Is that different for a dog? How much blood is too much? Any kind of bleeding is an emergency in itself based…

by Jana Rade

Is Dog Bleeding an Emergency?

Severe or continuous bleeding is always an emergency. Substantial blood loss can lead to shock, collapse, and death. This is no laughing matter. The smaller the dog and the faster the blood loss, the more your dog’s life is at stake. There are, of course, situations when your dog might get a little nick or cut, where bleeding is minimal…

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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