My Dog's Symptoms : Page 41 of 176 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Oral Ulcer in a Dog: Penny’s Foul Breath (Halitosis)

Dental issues are the most common cause of bad breath in dogs. But what if there is something else going on? Potential causes of bad breath in dogs include: gum or periodontal disease tooth abscess foreign bodies systemic issues such as GI, metabolic, respiratory or autoimmune disease poisoning In any case, foul breath alerts you to a problem that can…

by Jana Rade

Chronic Nasal Swelling in a Dog: Diagnosing Biscuit’s Swollen Nose

What could be behind your dog’s swollen nose? In case of acute swelling, you might suspect insect stings or bites, a snake bite, perhaps an infection. But what if the swelling is chronic? With cute swelling of your dog’s nose, you need to be careful because the situation could progress and lead to difficulty breathing. When in doubt, see a…

by Jana Rade

Canine Collie Nose: Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE) In Dogs

In spite of its name, the canine collie nose is not limited to Collies. What is lupus? Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that a dog’s immune system attacks their own tissues. There are two types of lupus in dogs: systemic and discoid. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is fortunately relatively rare in dogs. The immune system of dogs suffering…

by Jana Rade

Do Dogs Grieve: Kaypo’s Mourning The Loss of Her Mother

Do you think that dogs experience grief? Yes, dogs can mourn the loss of a companion, human or canine. In my experience, the level of grief is individual and depends on the depth of the bond. Some dogs are more independent, while others form deep relationships with their housemates or canine friends. Three times our dogs experienced the loss of…

by Jana Rade

Is Inability to Urinate an Emergency?

If your dog cannot empty their bladder, it is an emergency. See a veterinarian asap. What can cause the inability to urinate? The causes break down into two groups – urinary obstruction and urinary retention. In any case, though, your dog needs to see a veterinarian immediately. Urinary obstruction Your dog can suffer urinary tract obstruction, either due to a…

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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