My Dog's Symptoms : Page 6 of 175 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Canine Anal Sac Infection: The Always-At-Hand Diagnostic Tool—Whoa, Girl Dogs Have Anal Glands Too!

Anal sacs in dogs can easily become impacted. An infection is fast to follow and can result in an abscess. The typical sign of anal gland problems is scooting–dragging the rear along the ground. Your dog might also lick or bite at the area at the base of the tail. Would it be possible to discover an anal sac infection…

by Jana Rade

Green Vomit in Dogs: What Made My Dog’s Puke Green?

How scary would it be to discover your dog vomiting green stuff? Quite frightening even though it typically doesn’t involve demons or extraterrestrial lifeforms. Now, bile/stomach juices can have a greenish tint to them. In theory, anyway; I’ve never seen bile vomit of that color. I’ve seen various shades of yellow and white, but not green. After eating enough grass,…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

A Primer On Cushing’s Disease: What is Cushing’s Disease in Dogs?

Cushing’s disease, named after the first physician who reported it, results from excess cortisol in the body. It is most common in middle-aged to older dogs. The most susceptible breeds include: Introduction Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone that controls metabolism and response to stress. It is produced by the adrenal glands, which are found on top of the upper part…

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

Persistent Vomiting in Dogs: Stacey’s Persistent Vomiting

When your dog throws up once, you may or may not need to be concerned, depending on how your dog is feeling. If it keeps happening, though, you need to take action. Goldens are known for their hearty appetite. They are predisposed to serious health issues as a breed, but a weak stomach isn’t one of them. Stacey started regularly…

by Jana Rade

Coffee Grounds in a Dog’s Vomit: What Is That Dark Grit in My Dog’s Vomit?

When talking about blood in vomit, I touched on the fact that blood doesn’t always look like blood, meaning doesn’t always have the typical bright red appearance. Fresh blood does; blood that has already been digested does not. So instead, in the vomit, it looks like coffee grounds. I include an illustration because I don’t want to freak anybody out…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

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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