My Dog's Symptoms : Page 2 of 174 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Parvovirus in Dogs: Tidus’ Recovery From Parvo

Canine parvovirus is an extremely contagious and potentially fatal viral infection. The only available treatment is supportive care. That’s why parvo is one of the core vaccines. Thank you, Shaws M. Finch, DVM, for sharing Tidus’ story. Tidus’s story Tidus is my nephew Travis’s Pit Bull puppy. I’ve never known a cuter and sweeter dog. Then Tidus stopped eating for…

by Jana Rade

Changes in Urination/Urinary Accidents: Why Is My Dog Peeing in the House?

If your dog starts having urinary accidents in the house, what is the first reason that comes to your mind? Dogs don’t pee in the house because they are absentminded, don’t care, or are trying to get back at you for leaving them alone, losing their favorite toy, or not giving more treats. Dogs don’t like soiling their dens, and…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Assessing Lameness in Dogs: Measuring Leg Circumference—Cookie’s PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate (CCL/ACL) Tear and Leg Circumference

Muscle mass measurements are a useful tool to evaluate the use of limbs. The following methods can estimate muscle mass: limb circumference measurements ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) Measuring leg circumference is an option that is readily available and affordable. Further information: Assessing and Measuring Rehabilitation Outcomes Jasmine’s vet always said that…

by Jana Rade

Dog Recovery Chemical Restraint: Our Use of Trazodone during Cookie’s Iliopsoas Injury Recovery

Strict rest at first, and limited activity thereafter are essential to successful recovery from injury or surgery. Keeping an active dog for re-injuring themselves during the recovery period is easier said than done. Cookie’s recovery from iliopsoas injury Poor Cookie was under house arrest to get her iliopsoas muscles to heal. Naturally, strict rest was the mainstay of her treatment.…

by Jana Rade

Dog Wounds and Manuka Honey: Our Experience Using Raw Manuka Honey for Wound Care

Honey is a bacteria-killing power house. Since ancient times, honey has been used to prevent wounds from getting infected. To learn more about the incredible powers of honey, check out the Honey: Bacteria’s Worst Enemy video. Honey Honey is a fluid that bees make from the flower nectar. Bees produce honey as a food source to maintain them through the…

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.

View Full Profile →