Articles with dog health

Canine Weight Gain Misdiagnosis: What Is Wrong with Suki?

Unexplained weight gain can be just that–weight gain. Can a veterinarian misdiagnose weight gain in a dog? Suki was a 7 years old spayed female Labrador/Beagle Mix. Rescued dogs can teach us many valuable lessons but this one was unexpected. The first thing that stood out about Suki when she was adopted was a low-hanging belly. It was the first…

by Jana Rade

Eye Discharge in Dogs: What Is That Goop In My Dog’s Eyes?

Your dog’s eyes should receive just enough fluid to do its job and no visible discharge. What does it mean when you do notice excessive tearing or discharge from your dog’s eyes?…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Lameness and Lethargy in Dogs: Tosha’s Hind Leg Limp: What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog?

Could you list all potential cases of lameness in a dog? What if you threw lethargy into the mix? What possibilities would you consider? Tosha was a 5-year-old female Australian Shepherd. Aussies are loving, intelligent, high energy dogs. The worst thing you can do when your dog is showing a symptom of a problem is to jump to conclusions. What…

by Jana Rade

Retrobulbar Abscess in Dogs: Holly’s Bulging Eye

How fast a problem crops up can provide an important indication about its root. The speed of onset is one of the essential clues to how urgent it is to address. On top of that, when the eyes are involved, I wouldn’t wait anyway. Holly’s problem cropped up literally overnight. She was perfectly fine when she went to bed and…

by Jana Rade

Elevated Liver Values in Dogs: What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog? Viva’s Elevated Liver Values

What do elevated liver values in dogs mean? The liver has so many jobs–elevated liver enzymes are a common finding. Diagnosing the problem can be a challenge. Viva was adopted when she was 5 years old. She has battled with several health issues over time. In the care of her new family, she has improved remarkably. Just when her dad…

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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