Symptoms

Two Dogs Sick at the Same Time: Rosie and Ruby’s Story

When two dogs in the same household get sick at the same time, what is the first thing you suspect? Did they get into something they shouldn’t? Did they catch an infection? Rosie and Ruby are housemates. Rosie is 5-years-old and Ruby is 7 months. They are happy, healthy Labrador Retrievers. One night, right after supper Rosie started drooling excessively and stagger…

by Jana Rade

Persistent Vomiting and Pica in Dogs: Bridget’s Stomach Upsets. What Would You Do If It Was Your Dog?

What if your dog kept getting sick and try to eat everything in sight? What came first? Eating inedible things or the stomach upsets? It can be a hard thing to figure out. Eating the wrong things can cause vomiting and diarrhea. On the other hand, an upset belly can cause your dog to try and eat things. Potential causes…

by Jana Rade

Causes of Teeth Chattering in Dogs: Hunter’s Teeth Chattering: What Caused It?

Hunter is a sweet, 8-year-old Golden Lab mix. He’s always been healthy and happy. Until something started bothering him a great deal. Out of the blue, one day Hunter started chattering his teeth, licking his lips, yawning and looking downright miserable. He held his head low, and the look in his eyes was saying, “help me.” Apart from these episodes,…

by Jana Rade

Canine Wax And Wane Arthritis: Molly’s Arthritis Acting Up? What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog?

If your dog has arthritis, they can have good days and bad days. The amount and type of activity, even the weather can influence how your dog feels. However, things are not always what they seem. What should you make of it when your dog has some dramatically bad days when they have a hard time getting up? Molly was…

by Jana Rade

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: The Big Picture

Any changes in your dog’s appearance, behavior, activity, eating, drinking, and elimination habits are a reflection of your dog’s state of health–physical or emotional. Some things stand out–such as vomiting or diarrhea–and some things are not as straightforward. You are not expected to diagnose your dog, nor should you try. You should, however, be able to tell when and how…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

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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