My goal is to teach people to see what their dog is telling them and how to think about what they’re seeing. I offer experience and information to help other dog parents to arrive at the questions they should be asking. Because you cannot get the right answers without asking the right questions.
Professional affiliations
Jana is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America
Dog Writers Association of America is the most recognized professional writing association devoted to dogs.
Awards and recognition
- 2017 Morris Animal Foundation Canine Health Award for the best science-based book about canine health issues.
- 2017 Maxwell Award from the Dog Writers Association of America for a book on health, behavior, or general care.
Event speaker
A featured speaker for the Dog Health Secrets Summit 2020. Topic: How to Be Proactive and Stay Ahead of Potential Health Problems by Knowing What Symptoms to Look for.
- common symptoms your dog might show to indicate that something is wrong
- signs that may indicate your pet is having a medical emergency
- a dog’s normal vital signs
I am honored and humbled to appear in the line-up that features veterinarians I admire, such as Dr. Angela Crudgington, Dr. Marty Becker, Dr. Ava Frick, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Dr. Jennifer Summerfield, and other amazing people.
Magazine contributions
Jana is a contributing author for Barkers Bazaar magazine. Her column, Feeling Pawly, provides bite-sized, easy-to-read dog health advocacy tips.
Barker’s Bazaar is a quarterly downloadable magazine for the urban pooch. It features seasonal fashion, interviews, dog-friendly destinations, lip-smacking recipes and, of course, Jana’s dog health column.
Related blogs contributions
That Mutt
How to Make A Dog Throw Up Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Small Dog Place
Syringomyelia in Small Dogs: Chiari Malformation—The Cost of the Adorable Appearance
Spot Speaks
Walk with Your Dog
What veterinary professionals say about Jana’s work
I have worked with Jana over many years. Our discussions have ranged from cruciate disease to dog nutrition to oncology and everything in between. Jana’s dedication to dog health is extraordinary. Furthermore, her determination to thoroughly research a topic, check the information with reputable experts in the field and then adjust the information she offers until everything is just right and perfectly pitched to the dog owner is unparalleled. I couldn’t recommend Jana more highly and I thank her for everything she has given to the dog-loving community.
Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc
The experiences of a dog owner who has been through many health issues with their dogs can help guide others towards getting appropriate care for their dogs. An average dog owner may only have 1, 2 or 3 dogs in their entire lives. Knowing what is normal and abnormal can take exposure to hundreds of dogs. Jana’s work helps fill in that missing experience.
Dr. Rae Worden, Fergus Veterinary Hospital, Aka Jasmine’s Vet
Jana’s publications provide a valuable resource to owners looking for information about the health and well being of their dogs. They serve as a wonderful bridge between veterinarian and dog owner being written in a concise but easy to read style. Her information is well researched, providing comprehensive reviews of the topic at hand. I have used them as an educational tool with my own clients on many occasions. Her passion for her work is evident in her writing making it a joy to read.
Dr. Carolyn Lariviere DVM, Walden Animal Hospital, Cookie’s Vet
Sometimes you don’t have all the answers, sometimes you want to reach out to someone that has done the research because she cared enough about her dog to find out more information. Jana has done the research and has developed a site that contains a wealth of information for dog owners. I myself have reached out to her when my best boy was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, I knew she would have information on surgery, medications, and chemotherapy that would help me understand and make an educated decision. I look to her blog when I am looking for specific information and when I just want to see what she will write about next. She always has great information, it is laid out in an easy to read manner and she is always an advocate for your dog’s health.
Laurel Dutrisac, Registered Veterinary Technician, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, Touch Animal Rehabilitation
The knowledge Jana Rade has acquired through her years of owning dogs and communicating with dog owners on social media has given her unique insight as to what dog owners worry about. Her work can help you to not only figure out when to seek out treatment but also how to choose a veterinarian who will communicate with you in a way that makes you feel comfortable, and that addresses your concerns.
Kristi Hauta, Former Veterinary Technician and Practice Manager
In her book, Jana Rade has created an excellent resource for all dog lovers. Not only does she cover what to watch for that could signal a trip to the vet, but she also discusses other ways you can advocate for your pups and help your vet get the information they need to best help you keep your pups healthy and enjoying life. Nice work, Jana!
Dr. Jason Nicholas, Preventive Vet
Jana is a passionate dog mom. Her passion for her dogs has turned her dog parenting into a quest to understand and assist them at every turn of their ever-evolving medical needs. Jana has become a learned student of dog nutrition, orthopedics, training, behavior, and all things dog. Consequently, her no-frills, straight-talk advice is easy to read, dog parent-friendly and simplifies the often overly superfluous scientific jargon that is difficult to process into accessible, meaningful and helpful dog health information. It is through her years of research, personal experience and dedication to her Rottie kids that the rest of the dog parents around the world will benefit.
Dr. Krista Magnifico, Founder And Chief Creative Officer At Pawbly And Owner At Jarrettsville Vet Center
Related certification
Certificate in Canine Nutrition
Building Better Bodies Through Nutrition online course
by Dr. Ava Frick, DVM
An advanced course in clinical animal nutrition that addresses canine organ and body system nutrition using observational and diagnostic tools to help identify deficiency or toxic indicators and give suggestions on how to address the nutrient needs of dogs.
Subjects covered by the course included
- genetic effects of nutrition
- whole food vitamin complexes
- assessing the nutritional health status of a dog
- impact of nutrition on dog behavior
- nutrition for specific organ systems
- nutrition for the immune system
- nutrition for the nervous system
Blog contributing authors
Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM
Dr. Jennifer has been writing and editing content related to veterinary medicine for over 15 years. Her clients include petMD, Colorado State University, PennFoster College, Pet360 Media, VetDepot, Veterinary Team Brief, practitioners, and independent writers.
She is also the author of Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian.
Learn more about Dr. Jennifer
Dr. Lorie Huston, DVM
Dr. Lorie was a wonderful veterinarian and a friend. She was a certified veterinary journalist, pet health/pet care expert, author/freelance writer/blogger, and blogging/SM/SEO consultant. It was a big loss for the pet world when she passed away in September 2015.
It is my honor that her contributions to my blog can be part of her legacy.
Susan E. Davis PT
Susan E. Davis (Sue) is a licensed Physical Therapist. She has been providing PT services to dogs and other animals since 2008.
For more information, see her website www.joycareonsite.com, or follow her on Twitter.
Sue is also the author of fantastic books on animal physical therapy.
Dr. Laci Schaible, DVM
Dr. Laci is a US-trained and licensed veterinarian with over 15 years of experience in small animal medicine and surgery.
Dr. Laci is the co-founder of VetLIVE.com and a freelance veterinary author.
VetLIVE provides dog owners 24/7 veterinary advice, live chat with licensed veterinarians, nutritional consults, and second opinions.
Dr. Daniel Beatty, DVM
Dr. Daniel Beatty, DVM is a veterinarian, and animal chiropractor and acupuncturist.
He now specializes in animal chiropractic services for horses and dogs.
Dr. Dan runs two blogs and the social network associated with dog and horse health for his main site evetclinic.com.
Blog contributing editor
Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc
Dr. Jo is a practicing small animal veterinarian based in Melbourne, Australia. She is an associate veterinarian at Croydon Pet Hospital.
We have worked together on past projects and Dr. Jo has been so kind as to review and edit my medical articles. Creature Clinic is the wonderful sponsor of this blog.
So who is Jana Rade, and what is she doing writing a dog blog?
I am a graphic designer. That’s how I make my living. I am not a vet or a veterinary technician.
So what do I know about dog health issues?
More than I’d like.
The medical challenges which I’ve gone through with my dogs, and the desire to save others from having to learn the hard way as I did, are the driving force behind my writing.
Some of my veterinary friends use the term “a vet’s dog.” A vet’s dog is a dog plagued with so many health challenges only a veterinarian can take on.
As it turns out, you don’t need to be a vet to get a dog like that.
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. How much of Jasmine’s snowballed health challenges stemmed from that and what role played her vets’ failure to diagnose her, we will never know.
I loved Jasmine with all my heart–I still do even after her passing.
Certainly, Jasmine didn’t ask to be a medical project and, likewise, I was not ready for one.
Countless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine’s health care in my own hands. As a result, I learned the hard way that merely seeing a vet is not always enough.
It was frustrating and heartbreaking.
I was determined to help Jasmine to get well, but I didn’t know what else to do. We kept taking her to a vet–what else is there? We tried different vets, second opinions. It seemed like getting answers was impossible. Certainly, that couldn’t be true? I was not ready to accept that.
So I had to find a way to take charge of Jasmine’s health.
As it turns out, 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.
Jasmine’s health challenges became my crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Above all, I had to learn and I had to learn fast.
So I did.
Consequently, we found answers and diagnoses in order to give Jasmine the life she deserved. Even though it was an ongoing effort, Jasmine enjoyed a full life. Well, with the exception of some unforeseen medical disasters that got thrown into the mix.
How different things could have been if I knew then what I know how?
Possibly quite different. It seems like Jasmine’s inflammatory bowel disease was what started the domino effect, While I never believed that, I couldn’t get a better diagnosis out of anyone. It took five years to confirm that Jasmine didn’t just have “a sensitive system” after all and stick a conclusive diagnosis to it.
Unfortunately, I see stories like that unfold often enough.
Indeed, a diagnosis is a process. But it shouldn’t take five years to arrive to one.
The two main steps in advocating for a dog’s health are
- recognizing that something is wrong
- finding a way to getting answers and solutions
While that sounds straightforward, it often is not.
Therefore 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. And that is why I blog.
Related articles:
The Dogs Behind the Blog
Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog