My Dog's Symptoms : Page 156 of 176 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Sight Loss in a Dog: My Dog Can’t See, But She Isn’t Blind … To Our Love—Cleo’s Story

Most diabetic dogs develop cataracts and go blind. Normally, the lens of the eye absorbs glucose it need from fluids in the eye. Excess glucose in the fluid is converted to other forms. With too much sugar present, these converted forms draw water into the lens, disrupting clarity. Eventually the lens become opaque. More information: Cataracts in Diabetic Dogs Thank…

by Jana Rade

Veterinary Highlights: Canine Unicompartmental Elbow Resurfacing (CUE)

Osteoarthritis from elbow dysplasia may result in complete loss of cartilage on the medial (inner side) weight-bearing surfaces of the joint, (Medial Compartment Disease (MCD). At this stage, the part of the joint collapses, resulting in the grinding of bone on bone. Canine Unicompartmental Elbow (CUE) is a surgical treatment option to consider where other treatments are no longer effective.…

by Jana Rade

Urinary Incontinence in a Dog: Cookie’s Mysterious Leaks

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary voiding of urine. It is primarily a common problem in spayed female dogs as they age. It isn’t, however, always directly related by spay. Don’t fail to identify the actual cause. Other potential causes behind urinary incontinence in dogs include: an ectopic ureter urinary tract infections urinary stones neurological problems kidney disease other diseases that…

by Jana Rade

Severe Acute Pancreatitis in a Dog: Bandit’s Last Treat

The pancreas fulfills two essential functions. It produces digestive enzymes to help break down food and it makes insulin, which controls storage and delivery of insulin. Severe inflammation of the pancreas is not only extremely painful but it can be fatal. If enough of the pancreas is destroyed, it can compromise both of its functions. That can lead to malnutrition,…

by Jana Rade

Veterinary Highlights: Elbow Replacement

Did you know, that dogs now can have bad joints replaced? Your dog can get a total hip replacement, total knee replacement, and yes, even total elbow replacement. Dogs suffering from elbow dysplasia, who didn’t respond to other treatments, can get a spanking new elbow. The procedure has been performed on over 200 dogs with positive results. The recovery is…

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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