Articles with dog symptoms

Pain And Itch in Dogs: Are They Two Sides Of The Same Coin?

Are pain and itch just intensified versions of the sense of touch? Are Pain and Itch the Same—or Different? Pain and itch play an important protective role. They alert dogs to harmful stimuli and irritants. When these sensations become chronic, however, they cause suffering. For years, scientists have tried to determine how closely itch and pain are related. Historically, researchers…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Stinky Urine in Dogs: Why Does My Dog’s Pee Smell Bad?

In people, some foods, such as asparagus, can make urine smell quite weird. I don’t expect your dog eating a plate of asparagus for dinner? I am even not sure it would make their urine smell bad because Jasmine did get some asparagus in her meals and I don’t recall any noticeable changes in the smell of her pee. Of course,…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Canine Hematuria: Blood in Urine. Why Is There Blood in My Dog’s Pee? Causes, Symptoms, and When to See a Vet

By now, it should be your mantra—blood doesn’t belong outside the blood vessels. Urine is no exception. There should never be any visible blood in your dog’s pee. Frank blood When you see blood and recognize it as such, it is referred to as frank blood. In other words, it is the blood that is fresh, bright red, and looks…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Blood in Dog Stool: Why Is There Blood in My Dog’s Poop? Causes and When It’s an Emergency

If you’re the kind of person who freaks out at the sight of any blood in your dog’s stool, your dog is better off than if the opposite were true. Blood has no business being in the poop. Blood in your dog’s stool isn’t always the end of the world type of emergency, but you need to take it seriously.…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Polka Dot Stools in Dogs: What Are Those White Things in My Dog’s Poop? Intestinal Parasites and When to See a Vet

If your dog’s poop looks like somebody just had a birthday party in their belly, somebody did. Those polka dots on your dog’s poop are cooties… in other words, parasites! Unfortunately, your dog’s polka dot stool will not look as cute as in this illustration. How fresh is the poop? If the pie isn’t freshly baked, the worms might not…

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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