Symptoms

Shifting Lameness in Dogs: Is It Always Lyme Disease?

We all know this one, right? The cause of shifting lameness, quick, anybody? Yes, intermittent or shifting lameness is a common symptom of Lyme disease. So that’s it? Case closed? Not so fast. Yes, shifting lameness, stiff walk, and sensitivity to touch can signal Lyme disease. However, it likely wouldn’t be the only symptom you’d see. You can observe any other…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Swelling (Edema) in Dogs: What is the Swelling on My Dog?

Last time, we covered potential swelling causes that are so major that it might appear as sudden weight gain. Typically, though, when talking about swelling, you’d imagine something much more localized, whether on the face, limbs, or anywhere else on the body. An example that most likely comes to mind is swelling due to a bug bite or sting. Insect…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Summer Dangers to Dogs: Cookie Gets Stung by a Bald-faced Hornet

c That summer, the insects were nasty, starting with black flies and mosquitoes and ending with deer flies. There were days we couldn’t really go outside at all unless we wanted the dogs to get exsanguinated. The season of the bloodsuckers was almost over, but other bugs have cropped up. On our walk into the woods, we found one bald-faced…

by Jana Rade

Why Is My Dog Vomiting? Reasons Dogs Throw Up

How much should you worry about your dog’s vomiting and when to see a vet? Nothing gets an owner moving faster than the sound of their dog heaving. If you’re lucky, you manage to let your dog out in time. Or you might come home from work to a puddle of vomit by the door. Dogs are built to vomit…

by Jana Rade

Intestinal Obstructions in Dogs: Chance’s Upset Belly—The Case Of The Well-Hidden Obstruction

Gastrointestinal obstruction is the partial or full blockage of the digestive tract. It can occur in the stomach or in the intestine. It can be life-threatening. Symptoms might include vomiting diarrhea loss of appetite straining to poop pain lethargy Thank you, Dawn Munger, for sharing Chance’s story. Chance’s story Chance was a four y/o American Bulldog mix. I volunteer at…

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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