Articles with alternative treatments

Understanding Canine Gait: Significance of Analyzing Your Dog’s Gait

The manner, in which a dog ambulates or walks, is called “gait”. When a dog moves around the show ring, it is called “gaiting”. Gait is a complex topic and one that fascinates dog owners who value their pet’s mobility. Elements of canine gait analysis A physical therapist analyzes gait by breaking it down into the following elements: Level of…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Regenerative Therapy to Treat IVDD: Bailee’s IVDD

Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) can be a devastating diagnosis for your dog. The condition can be extremely painful and lead to various degree of impaired mobility including paralysis. Never underestimate the degree of pain your dog might suffer even if they don’t show it. IVDD is a degenerative process in the intevertebral discs that leads to disc displacement, swelling, or…

by Jana Rade

Potential Treatment of Ivermectin Toxicity: IV Lipid Emulsion (ILE)

Intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) is a preparation of microscopic drops of oil that are infused into a patient’s bloodstream. It can work as an antidote to some fat-soluble poisons. The first time I came across this therapy was way back in 2012. At that time, it was a new idea with pending safety studies. Often, though, new ideas come and…

by Jana Rade

All Hands On Dog: Benefits of Physical Contact

The health of your dog’s nervous system is critical to their mental and physical well-being. Touch and other mechanical means of providing sensory input help maintain and improve the condition of many neural connections throughout the body. Why is it so important? A dog relies on nerves to interpret the world throughout their lifespan. But the most critical times are…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Regenerative Medicine and CCL Tears: My Two Cents on Regenerative Approach to Treating Cruciate Ligament Tears in Dogs

Are surgery or conservative management the only options for the treatment of CCL tears in dogs? Your dog has injured their cruciate ligament; now what? Invasive surgery is scary and conservative management can be daunting and has a questionable chance of success. Are there any other treatment possibilities? Could regenerative medicine work? Maybe. What is veterinary regenerative medicine? Regenerative medicine…

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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