Articles with limping

Uneven Stance in a Dog: You Don’t Always Have to See a Limp—Cookie’s Physio Update

Since the beginning, Cookie has had her share of musculoskeletal issues, even though the first major lameness had nothing to do with any of those things. We thought she had busted her knee ligament; that’s how bad she looked. As it turned out, all that was caused by nothing more than a fragment of a porcupine quill in her foot.…

by Jana Rade

Is Limping an Emergency?

Limping is usually not an emergency unless … A limping dog should get veterinary help immediately if there were a significant trauma fracture or dislocation bleeding severe swelling hot limbs or dragging of limbs Limping is an emergency when accompanied by severe pain. What causes limping Limping always indicates pain or dysfunction of some kind. Whether or not it is…

by Jana Rade

Another Note on Canine Lameness: It’s Like a Murder Mystery

As much as one would consider canine lameness to be one of the symptoms the cause of which can be easily identified, many times it’s nothing short of a mystery. A long time ago I have already learned that what you think you see is not always what you got. It was that way with Jasmine, it has been that…

by Jana Rade

Iliopsoas Injury Symptoms: What Did Cookie’s Iliopsoas Injury Look Like

If you have a dog with a difficult, can’t put your finger on it, lameness have your vet check the iliopsoas muscle. Iliopsoas injuries can not only be hard to treat but also hard to diagnose and detect. Signs can be as subtle as a male dog no longer lifting a leg to pee. Cookie’s story After all the medical…

by Jana Rade

Limited Exercise Fallout: Downside of Exercise Restrictions

Strict rest or restricted exercise is essential to injury recovery. But limiting activity comes at a price. With limited use, muscle strength dwindles and strong muscles help stabilize and protect joints. As your dog is recovering from one injury, it can make them more susceptible to a new one. Cookie’s story Cookie’s recovery from iliopsoas injury was going well. She…

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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