Articles with dog care

Dog Symptoms: Recognition, Acknowledgement, And Denial

A symptom n. an abnormality caused by a disease that is observable in a sick animal. Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-speak Deciphered for the Non-veterinarian The above definition points out two important things. A symptom is an abnormality, and it can be observed. Note: Technically–as it was pointed out to me by my book editor–the more accurate term is signs,…

by Jana Rade

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: The Big Picture

Any changes in your dog’s appearance, behavior, activity, eating, drinking, and elimination habits are a reflection of your dog’s state of health–physical or emotional. Some things stand out–such as vomiting or diarrhea–and some things are not as straightforward. You are not expected to diagnose your dog, nor should you try. You should, however, be able to tell when and how…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Dog Adrenal Hormones: What is the Difference between Adrenaline and Cortisol?

Adrenaline and cortisol are produced by your dog’s adrenal glands. Both of these hormones play a role during stress but their functions are different. Recently I read a veterinary article about elevated liver enzymes in [senior] dogs. The author wrote it from the perspective of clinical experience. Among other things, the article explained how liver enzyme elevation can be a…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

SDMA Kidney Function Test: Veterinarian Share Opinions and Experience With The New Way Of Monitoring Kidney Health In Dogs

SDMA kidney function test is the newest test for evaluating kidney health in dogs. It has been around for a while now so I figured it’s time to ask veterinarians how they feel about it. Have you been using the new kidney function blood test [SDMA]? How would you rate its usefulness? Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the…

by Jana Rade

Canine Kidney Function Screening: Checking Your Dog’s Kidney Function

Everything in your dog’s body has a distinct job. The kidneys perform several vital tasks, including filtration of waste and toxins and essential regulatory functions. Kidney function is assessed based on values that reflect how the kidneys are able to do their job. Measuring blood levels of nitrogenous wastes and compounds (azotemia) The two familiar values that belong in this…

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 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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