Articles with obesity

Obesity in Dogs: Veterinarians Talk About The Biggest Toll Our Dogs Pay For Obesity

Do you think that obesity in dogs is a problem? 56 percent of American dogs are obese! That is more than every other dog. When our vet saw three dogs in a row who were at an ideal weight, he was so excited he had to blog about it! So I asked my veterinary friends what they consider the most…

by Jana Rade

Breaching the Subject of Canine Obesity: No TV Tonight!

Obesity is a problem for both dogs and their parents. Yet, the most important thing you can do for your dog to keep them healthy, happy, and living longer is to keep them at an optimal weight. With all else being equal, a life-long reduction in caloric intake can extend your dog’s life by almost two years on average. In…

by Jana Rade

The Antidote to Canine Cancer: You Will Never Look At Fat The Same Way Again

Adipose tissue (fat) is the biggest endocrine organ that produces hormones and cytokines that create a constant state of chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a recipe for disaster. Obesity predisposes dogs to many serious diseases such as cruciate ligament ruptures intervertebral disk disease osteoarthritis congestive heart failure Cushing’s disease skin disorders and some types of cancer Introduction What if I…

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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