Symptoms

A Dog Has a Lump under the Tail: What Was Whiskey’s Large Swelling?

The first rule of lumps is that you should not rely on your eyes to identify them. There are exceptions. For example, when it concerns lumps under the tail—by the rectum—the chances are that it is an anal gland abscess. Other signs of anal sac disease are quite telling and include: scooting licking and biting at the base of the…

by Jana Rade

Swollen Feet in Dogs: Why Are My Dog’s Feet Swollen?

The main criteria that indicate what the problem might be are whether the swelling affects one or more feet. The odds are that your dog will suffer from a foot problem at some time in their lives. Along with the swelling, your dog might also: limp/favor the affected leg lick or bite at their foor or feet Foot or nail…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Canine Leg Swelling: Jasmine’s Mysterious Swelling And Another Experience With Telemedicine

Peripheral edema can be the result of allergies, immune, or heart issues. Localized or single-limb edema may result from injury, such as from a car accident, burns, obstruction in an artery (due to a blood clot), contact with toxic agents, such as a snake bite or bee sting, abnormal tissue growth (known as neoplasia) in the lymphatic tissues of the body, or high pressure in…

by Jana Rade

My Dog Vomited … Why Examine Your Dog’s Vomit?

I get that nobody likes playing with puke. But if your dog does throw up, examining what came out can be quite useful. And for a fresh real-life example? Cookie’s leg had been sore off and on (more on that later), and our vet recommended giving Tylenol for the time being. I was not thrilled with the idea, but yesterday…

by Jana Rade

Dog Fecal Transplantation: Solution for Penny’s Chronic Diarrhea and Weight Loss

Severe or chronic GI disease can be challenging to treat. Dogs with severe chronic problems without a clear cause often don’t respond to treatment. The underlying factors can be genetic, environmental, immune, or involve the state of intestinal bacteria. In fact, the disruption in intestinal microbiota appears to be the key. Probiotic therapy can prove helpful. However, there is a…

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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