My Dog's Symptoms : Page 7 of 176 : Dog care, symptoms, health issues, and dog health advocacy from an owner's perspective. In loving memory of Jasmine.

Dog Splenic Tumors: From a Broken Toenail to Splenectomy

Splenic tumors in dogs are one of the trickier issues to catch early. Cookie’s story illustrates how a complicated health saga saved her life. This was the second time that horrible things seemed to have to happen to save our dog’s life. If the story played out any other way, would we have discovered Cookie’s splenic tumor on time? Why…

by Jana Rade

Seeking a Second Opinion for Your Dog

Choosing the right veterinarian and knowing when to seek a second opinion can be the difference between sickness and health, and sometimes the life and death of your dog. If there is a single take-home point of my blog, it is this—your dog’s health is ultimately in your hands. Making the right decisions for your dog is your responsibility, and…

by Jana Rade

New Release! Decoding Dog Health Speak

Practical. Accessible. Story-driven. From the award-winning author of Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog—recipient of the Maxwell Award from the Dog Writers Association of America and the Morris Animal Foundation Canine Health Award—comes the second volume in the Owner-to-Owner Dog Health Care series: Decoding Dog Health Speak: How to See and Think About Your Dog’s Symptoms—Illustrated by Real-Life Stories…

by Jana Rade

Idiopathic Vestibular Disease in Dogs: Phoenix’s Story

A few things are as scary as watching your dog unable to walk or even stand. Some terrible conditions can be behind your dog ending up in such a sorry state. One potential reason looks just as horrifying but not dangerous to your dog–vestibular disease. Ataxia caused by idiopathic vestibular disease is due to a disturbance in the balance center. But,…

by Jana Rade

A Primer on False Pregnancy in Dogs

False pregnancy is a common problem in dogs. During the estrus or “heat” cycle: in an intact female dog The hormone changes ensure willingness to accept a male for breeding. Toward the end of the heat cycle, progesterone levels increase, preparing the uterus for an anticipated pregnancy. Even though they didn’t mate, female dogs sometimes act like they’re pregnant even…

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

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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