Articles with working with a veterinarian

Lost Mobility in a Dog: Diagnostic Tests Are Only As Good As Their Interpretation—R.G.’s Hind End Lameness

How often do you think veterinarians misdiagnose their patients? Diagnosis is a process, and sometimes it is not easy to peel the onion. However, sometimes a bad diagnosis is just that—a bad diagnosis due to a cock-up. The most common veterinary mistakes involve: surgical mistakes drug-related mistakes diagnostic errors Both graduate vets and experienced practitioners can cock-up the diagnosis, whether…

by Jana Rade

Making Tough Medical Decisions For Your Dog—Lily’s Story

Figuring out what is ailing your dog is sometimes only the first step. Often the optimal treatment is straightforward. But there are times when figuring out what is best for your dog is far from easy. This story is an excerpt from Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life by Dr.…

by Jana Rade

Searching for a Vet: Finding Dr. Wonderful And Your Mutt’s Mayo Clinic⁠—Getting Started

How do you go about finding the ideal family veterinarian who works in a great clinic? This story is an excerpt from Speaking for Spot: by Dr. Nancy Kay. I chose this story because it particularly touched me, as it is quite similar to our challenge. Did you get the book yet? Go get the book! Get the book! Get…

by Jana Rade

What Is the Diagnosis: Medical Terms That Sound Like A Diagnosis But Really Are Not

According to Merriam-Webster, a diagnosis is the act of differentiating disease from its signs and symptoms. Did you notice that most medical terminology is more likely to describe a problem instead of explaining it? How does that translate into a successful treatment? What is and isn’t a diagnosis A diagnosis that offers neither a solutionor an explanation is not a…

by Jana Rade

Veterinary Reasonable Expectations: The Ability to Discuss Your Internet Research With Your Vet

Does your veterinarian welcome or frown upon your internet research? This is the sixth part of an ongoing series describing what you should expect regarding veterinary care for their dogs. You can find parts one through five at http://www.speakingforspot.com. Take your time with this one. There is a great deal to say about this worthwhile topic! Introduction When your dog…

by Dr. Nancy Kay

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of American and an award-winning author. 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 in 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 how to 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 save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners . What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

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