Articles with dental disease

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

Dental Health in Dogs: Talking Teeth

Is your dog’s bad breath sabotaging your cuddle time? Is your kitty drooling while nibbling her kibble? If so, your four-legged family member likely has dental disease. Banfield Pet Hospital’s 770-hospital network study identified dental disease as the most common malady among pets. It affects 68% of cats and 78% of dogs over three years of age. What causes dental…

by Dr. Nancy Kay

Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning: Does It Work?

It’s natural to have concerns about general anesthesia, whether for ourselves or for our beloved dogs. After all, no matter how young and healthy the patient, there is always some associated risk. For this reason, anesthesia-free dental cleaning for dogs has become more and more popular. As well as the lower cost of cleaning Fido’s or Fluffy’s teeth without anesthesia…

by Dr. Nancy Kay

Bad Breath in Dogs: When Bad Breath Can Kill!

Fortunately, lately, there is an increased awareness of the importance of taking care of our dog’s teeth. I will not get into a controversial debate on raw versus commercial food here, nor am I going to try to settle what is the best way to keep your dog’s teeth healthy. Let’s leave that for another time. I’m trying to get…

by Jana Rade

Swelling under a Dog Eye: Holly’s Strange Bump

What do you think is the most common cause of facial swelling in dogs? What if it is asymmetrical in the form of a bump? If you suspect an insect sting, spider, or snake bite, you could be right; such things do happen. Speed of onset might help narrow things down. A swelling for one of these reasons may or…

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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