Articles with observation skills

Excessive Scratching in Springer Spaniels: Ella Has Allergies and an Ear Infection? What Would You Do If It Was Your Dog?

What if your Cavalier Springer Spaniel was scratching excessively but not show any evidence of a skin issue? Ella was a 4-year-old female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She was the love of her mom’s life. Those two were inseparable and deeply bonded. First symptoms When Ella was about 2-years-old, she started scratching herself more than usual. Nothing major, just enough…

by Jana Rade

Fatigue in Dogs: Razzle Goes Listless. What Would You Do If It Was Your Dog?

Lethargy, weakness, or fatigue in dogs are vague symptoms. However, they can mean that your dog is seriously ill. Dogs are normally bundles of energy and joy. Naturally, a day of fun can make your dog tired. But what if they become more listless and fatigued than is reasonable for the amount of activity? Potential causes of weakness and lethargy…

by Jana Rade

Canine Wax And Wane Arthritis: Molly’s Arthritis Acting Up? What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog?

If your dog has arthritis, they can have good days and bad days. The amount and type of activity, even the weather can influence how your dog feels. However, things are not always what they seem. What should you make of it when your dog has some dramatically bad days when they have a hard time getting up? Molly was…

by Jana Rade

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: The Big Picture

Any changes in your dog’s appearance, behavior, activity, eating, drinking, and elimination habits are a reflection of your dog’s state of health–physical or emotional. Some things stand out–such as vomiting or diarrhea–and some things are not as straightforward. You are not expected to diagnose your dog, nor should you try. You should, however, be able to tell when and how…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Ticks on Your Dog: It’s a Conversation if You’re Listening

It is well-known that ticks can harm your dog by the disease they carry. But can a tick bite itself hurt your dog? It might depend on where the tick attaches. It seemed to be the case with Sam whose foot became severely painful when a tick attached. Listening to your dog The only way to ever learn anything is…

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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