Articles with dog symptoms

Nasal Discharge in Dogs: What Is The Goop Running out of My Dog’s Nose?

Generally put, a dog should not be leaking anything from anywhere. Tell that to the parents of the droolers, right? Drooling, within what is normal for your dog, is an exception. A dog’s nose is usually moist–for a reason. Dog noses secrete a thin layer of mucus from membranes within the nose which helps to absorb scent chemicals. On top…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Why is My Dog Lethargic: Listless, Weak, Barely Responsive Dog

One of the most ambiguous and yet extremely important symptoms to watch for in dogs is lethargy. The quieter your dog gets, the more serious the situation is. lethargy [ˈleTHərjē] – lack of energy and enthusiasm; state of sleepiness or deep unresponsiveness and inactivity High urgency, low clarity Lethargy doesn’t tell you anything about the reason behind it. Anything that will…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Shifting Lameness in Dogs: Is It Always Lyme Disease?

We all know this one, right? The cause of shifting lameness, quick, anybody? Yes, intermittent or shifting lameness is a common symptom of Lyme disease. So that’s it? Case closed? Not so fast. Yes, shifting lameness, stiff walk, and sensitivity to touch can signal Lyme disease. However, it likely wouldn’t be the only symptom you’d see. You can observe any other…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Swelling (Edema) in Dogs: What is the Swelling on My Dog?

Last time, we covered potential swelling causes that are so major that it might appear as sudden weight gain. Typically, though, when talking about swelling, you’d imagine something much more localized, whether on the face, limbs, or anywhere else on the body. An example that most likely comes to mind is swelling due to a bug bite or sting. Insect…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Summer Dangers to Dogs: Cookie Gets Stung by a Bald-faced Hornet

c That summer, the insects were nasty, starting with black flies and mosquitoes and ending with deer flies. There were days we couldn’t really go outside at all unless we wanted the dogs to get exsanguinated. The season of the bloodsuckers was almost over, but other bugs have cropped up. On our walk into the woods, we found one bald-faced…

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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