Articles with dog symptoms

Difficulty Defecating in Dogs: Causes of Straining to Poop, Symptoms and When It’s an Emergency

If your dog is straining to defecate, it’s merely constipation, isn’t it? Not so fast. Constipation does make evacuating stool difficult, but it is far from the only reason that can make your dog strain to defecate. Don’t jump to conclusions if your dog straining to poop is the only clue Your dog could be constipated, sure, but it might…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Mucus in Dog Stool: What Is The Slime in My Dog’s Poop?

What does mucus in the stool mean? Of course, the answer people are really looking for is an easy remedy. But things rarely work that way. What is mucus? Mucus is a slimy substance normally produced by the lining of body cavities and passageways. It has essential jobs: That includes the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Mucosal surfaces in the gut are…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Blood in Dog Vomit: Why Is There Blood in My Dog’s Puke?

Vomiting is a natural mechanism of your dog’s body purging things the stomach is not happy with. It is, however, not normal for it to contain blood. With most dogs, their stomachs get plenty of reasons to complain. In general, when my dog throws up once, I don’t panic. However, regardless of the cause, profuse or persistent vomiting—with or without…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Coffee Grounds in a Dog’s Vomit: What Is That Dark Grit in My Dog’s Vomit?

When you hear blood in vomit, you probably imagine bright red streaks. But blood doesn’t always look like that. With exposure to stomach acid, it turns dark, grainy, and clumpy—in your dog’s vomit, it will look exactly like used coffee grounds. Could it be actual coffee grounds? Couldn’t a dog get into the garbage and eat some actual coffee grounds?…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Bulging Eyes in Dogs: When Your Dog’s Bulging Eyes Are Not Normal, And You Should Be Concerned

As with everything, consider bulging eyes in your dog in context. Is that how they’ve always looked—or has something changed? Does your dog show any signs of discomfort or distress? My daughter’s Chi had eyes so large they looked like they’d pop out of her face at any minute. Every time I was around her, I worried about her eyes…

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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