My Dog's Symptoms : Page 157 of 176 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Acute Pancreatitis in a Dog: The Project That Is Cookie—Pancreatitis Up Close And Personal

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. One of the jobs the pancreas has is the production of enzymes essential for food digestion. When these enzymes go rogue, they begin digesting the pancreas itself. Further information: Pancreatitis in Dogs Cookie’s story Vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Combination of symptoms that sent us to the vet, yet again. I had dogs vomit…

by Jana Rade

A Primer On Lipomas

A lipoma is a soft, round, moveable lump or bump of fatty tissue under the skin. Lipomas are very common benign masses in dogs. Because the dog tolerates the mass, they’re usually identified at a checkup or spotted by owners when petting or grooming their dogs. However, each new lump requires examination to ensure that it is a lipoma and…

by Dr. Rae Worden

Lymph Node Enlargement in a Dog: Is Cookie Going To Be Another Medical Challenge Or Are We Looking Too Closely?

Enlarged lymph nodes can be a scary finding. Lymph nodes are small nodules within the lymphatic system that play a role in the function of the immune system. Their function includes: filtration of the lymph fluid trapping infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria The most common cause of lymph node enlargement is an infection. It can, however, be due…

by Jana Rade

What Veterinarians Wish For? Veterinarians Answer What They Would Wish For If They Could Be Granted One Wish

What would veterinarians wish for if they could be granted one wish? I asked my veterinary friends, what their one wish would be. I would wish that every single person could see the beauty and spirit in every living being. Every animal has the ability to love, care for, and provide companionship. My wish would be for humans to look…

by Jana Rade

Sticking with Trupanion: Cookie Too Is Insured With Trupanion

We’ve gone through the pet health insurance company selection process with JD. Trupanion was the most no-nonsense insurance we could find. We enrolled Cookie, as soon as we were able to have her checked out by our vet. Time is wasting. Why wait and risk getting a pre-existing condition in a health record simply by procrastinating? I would have happened…

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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