Articles with conditions

An IMHA Survivor: Dylan’s Story of Survival

Thirty to seventy percent of dogs succumb to IMHA within the first couple of months after they are diagnosed. It is usually the complications associated with the disease that prove fatal. There are dogs, however, who survive. Thank you, Richard Ford, for sharing Dylan’s story. Dylan’s story Today is exactly one year from the day I thought my Dog Dylan…

by Jana Rade

Drug-Resistant Canine Hookworms: Superworms not Responding to Treatment?

Drug-resistant infections are one of the veterinarians’ and dog parents’ worst nightmares. Hookworms worms are true blood-suckers. These common, tiny small intestinal parasites anchor themselves in the intestinal lining, feeding on blood. Despite their size, hookworms can ingest a surprisingly large amount of blood. Consequently, hookworm infestation can lead to anemia as well as inflammation of the intestine. How does…

by Jana Rade

The Healing Power Of The Outdoors: Can Spending Time Outside Benefit a Dog’s Health?

Can something as simple as spending time outdoors promote your dog’s health and healing? (Of course, by outdoors I don’t mean a little, cramped yard at your city dwelling. Neither I mean tossing your dog out in the yard, regardless of the location, and leaving them out there.) If your dog is healthy and doing well, the difference will be…

by Jana Rade

Causes of Vomiting in Dogs: Why Is My Dog Throwing Up?

Vomiting is only a symptom, not a disease in itself. There are many different diseases and disease processes that can cause vomiting in dogs. When your dog is vomiting persistently or severely, successful treatment relies on finding the cause. Gastrointestinal causes of vomiting in dogs Many diseases affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can cause your dog to vomit. These diseases…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Understanding Chronic Inflammation In Dogs

Unpleasant as it might be, inflammation is a critical part of the body’s immune process. You get a paper cut, and within minutes you experience pain, redness, and swelling. Not very pleasant. However, you can thank your immune system for mounting the proper response to keep your body safe from harmful bacteria. Unpleasant as it might be, this physiological response…

by Jana Rade

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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