Loss of appetite

Pale Gums in a Dog: Bailey’s Story—What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog?

Do you know what it means when your dog has pale mucous membranes, such as gums? Do you think it would be an emergency? Pale, gray or white mucous membranes can be a sign of anemia, shock, blood loss or, severe dehydration, and more. The first thing that would be on my mind is anemia, an insufficient amount of red…

by Jana Rade

Why Could a Dog Collapse? Valentino’s Story

What could cause your dog to quickly run out of energy during their favorite activity? Can you think of causes that would lead to loss of stamina and eventually a collapse? Things that can result in a collapse include: an electric shock severe reactions to snake or insect bites or stings poisoning respiratory disease heart disease blood disease endocrine disease…

by Jana Rade

Acute Kidney Failure in Dogs: Blitzen’s Tragic Story. What Would You Do If It Was Your Dog?

Many things can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Toxins are high on the list of potential causes. What constitutes a toxin, though? The well-known substances that cause injury to the kidneys include antifreeze grapes and raisins over-the-counter pain relievers Infections, such as leptospirosis are not far behind. This does not, however, constitute a complete list. Diagnosing kidney failure is…

by Jana Rade

Loss of Appetite in a Dog: What Would You Do If It Was Your Dog? Aspen Loses Appetite

When your dog suddenly seems under the weather and loses their appetite, it can be a sign of a medical emergency. It happened fast. One day, Aspen was wrestling with her housemate and having a good time. She was enjoying her day and nobody would suspect there could be anything wrong. The next day, Aspen didn’t finish her turkey wing.…

by Jana Rade

When Your Dog Stops Eating: Julie’s Story

When a Labrador stops eating and when a Border Collie becomes lethargic, even just a little bit, you know you ought to worry. Julie is a two-year-old Border Collie, and she did both. Stopped eating and had less energy than usual. Julie is a typical girl for her breed. Happy, active, spending a lot of time outdoors, living the perfect…

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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