My Dog's Symptoms : Page 150 of 176 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Canine IVDD Back Brace: How Is WiggleLess® Helping to Provide Support for Dogs Suffering from or Prone to IVDD?

Canine intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common orthopedic problem affecting the spine. Injuries and diseases that affect the spine are quite dramatic and disabling. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the problem. The affected breeds include Dachshunds, Beagles, Basset Hounds and Shih Tzus. Further information: Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) in Dogs Thank you, Lisa Luckenbach, for sharing your story.…

by Jana Rade

Change In Your Dog’s Behavior? Pay Attention: Kenzo’s Story

Brewing medical issues don’t always come marching in with a huge nobody-can-miss banner. Often the signs can be very subtle, such as a change in your dog’s behavior or routine. Kenzo’s story In Kenzo’s case, the only sign that something has changed was the fact that his housemate started bullying him. Not really that surprising as she is young and…

by Jana Rade

What Is That Bump on My Dog: Canine Lumps, Bumps, and Growths

One of the most common things dog parents ask online is the identification of a lump or bump they found on their dog. With rare exceptions, identifying the bump on your dog is impossible, even if you include photos or videos, It’s not just hard, it’s impossible. Nobody, not a veterinarian, not even a veterinary oncologist can look at a…

by Jana Rade

Ruby’s Journey with Hip Dysplasia

Lots of people think hip dysplasia is a tight, sore, arthritic hip. However, it is really a hip that is too loose and lacks stability. Thank you, Ron Rutherford , for sharing Ruby’s story. Ruby’s journey with hip dysplasia Ruby was a purebred German Shepherd. She was the sweetest canine companion I’ve ever known. Capable of being fierce, she was…

by Jana Rade

Veterinary Highlights: New Way To Diagnose Kidney Disease Early – redirect

The standard tests to diagnose kidney disease are urinalysis and complete blood profile. Dogs with chronic kidney failure may have anemia, abnormal electrolyte levels, and elevated blood pressure. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels in the blood are evaluated to assess kidney function. BUN is rather ambiguous and can be elevated for a number of reasons. It is not…

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.

View Full Profile →