My Dog's Symptoms : Page 24 of 176 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

A Primer on Anesthesia in Dogs: What Do You Need To Know About Anesthesia?

When your dog‘s medical procedure requires anesthesia, it’s normal to be nervous. In addition to concerns about the procedure itself, dog owners usually have many questions about anesthesia: What kind of anesthesia will you use? What are the side effects? How do you administer it? Will my dog feel any pain at all? Can you perform the procedure with a…

by Dr. John A. Bukowski, DVM, and Dr. Susan E. Aiello, DVM

Myos Canine Muscle Formula: Can It Help My Dog?

Is there help for dogs suffering from age-related muscle atrophy? Muscle atrophy is the gradual loss/wasting of the dog’s muscle tissue. It is, unfortunately, common in senior dogs. Age-related muscle atrophy affects especially the hind legs. In fact, any weakness issue shows up in the hind end first. Non-age-related causes of muscle atrophy include: injuries surgery illness and disease reduced…

by Jana Rade

IMHA in Dogs: Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde—Razzle’s Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

Who doesn’t know the story of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde? How does the story relate to autoimmune disease? What happens during the disease Your dog’s body was designed to maintain health, and it has a fantastic guard against disease—the immune system. His immune system protects your dog against disease by identifying and killing invaders, foreign (infections), and domestic (tumor…

by Jana Rade

A Primer On Congestive Heart Failure

In congestive heart failure (CHF), the heart does not contract as well as it used to. As a result, it cannot pump the blood well enough to keep up with the needs of the dog’s body. The heart and circulatory system transport oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your dog’s body. The heart has four chambers: a right atrium…

by Dr. John A. Bukowski, DVM, and Dr. Susan E. Aiello, DVM

Veterinary Communication with Clients: Breaking The Bad News When It Could Be Something Else—Penny Does Not Have Cancer

Is there a good way of breaking bad news to dog parents? That is a hard one. But what if there is a lack of certainty? How would you like your veterinarian to discuss such news with you? Penny Recently I received a distressed email from a friend regarding her dog. I wanted to reach out to you and tell…

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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