My Dog's Symptoms : Page 2 of 168 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Canine Leptospirosis: Your Dog and Leptospirosis Infection

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection. The Leptospira bacteria that is present worldwide. It can infect many types of animals, both wild and domestic, including: dogs rats, and other rodents raccoons skunks deer, and many others Because leptospirosis can also infect people, it makes the disease even more troublesome. On the other hand, infection in cats is rare. What causes leptospirosis?…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Canine Papilloma Virus: Ralf’s Itchy Legs and Skin Lesions

Papillomas are benign, wart-like grows caused by a virus. They are prevalent in puppies or dogs with declined immune function. Often, papillomas have a unique cauliflower appearance. However, never assume what a growth is strictly by its look—papillomas can be smooth bumps too. In puppies, papillomas typically develop in and around the mouth or eyes. While oral papilloma is the…

by Jana Rade

Really Angry Vet on Seizures: Winston’s First Seizure

A wonderful client of mine brought her 12-year-old Boxer to see me. Last night, Winston had his first seizure. Because it was after hours, the owners found themselves at a local 24-hour veterinary facility. They came in today to discuss what had happened last night. They wanted me to examine their dog and get my opinion about the next step…

by Dr. Robert Foley

Canine Hip And Elbow Dysplasia: Are They The Same Thing?

Hip and elbow dysplasia are a common cause of lameness in dogs. They sound like they should be the same thing, just involving different legs. Are they, though? Definition The word dysplasia has a rather broad meaning. It is from Greek, and it stands for malformation. In the context of veterinary medicine, dysplasia means abnormal development or growth. Both hip…

by Jana Rade

Follicular Cysts in a Dog: Sasha’s Naughty Recurring Skin Growths

Cysts are enclosed sacs with liquid or solid non-infectious content. The different types of cysts include true cysts sebaceous cysts follicular cysts dermoid cysts false cysts Further information: Cysts Follicular cysts are large bumps on a dog’s skin. They form in hair follicles and can be filled with thick white, yellow, or brown material. As they grow, they might ooze,…

by Jana Rade

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of American and an award-winning author. 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 in 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 how to 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 save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners . What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

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