Articles with dog health advocacy

The Antidote to Canine Cancer: You Will Never Look At Fat The Same Way Again

Adipose tissue (fat) is the biggest endocrine organ that produces hormones and cytokines that create a constant state of chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a recipe for disaster. Obesity predisposes dogs to many serious diseases such as cruciate ligament ruptures intervertebral disk disease osteoarthritis congestive heart failure Cushing’s disease skin disorders and some types of cancer Introduction What if I…

by Jana Rade

Canine Spay and Neuter: To Neuter Or Not To Neuter… That Is The Question

Do you know the risks and benefits of neutering or not neutering your dog? Apologizes to William Shakespeare, but the decision of whether or not to spay or neuter a dog is a big one for owners. Just like any medical procedure, there are pros and cons, risks and benefits. You should understand these before making a final decision. Unfortunately,…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

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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