Some pets are just too cute for words. Well, they really all are. Writing “A picture of a healthy Halo pet dog is worth a thousand words, thanks for making such wonderful products,” Bonnie Catalano sent us this picture of her Pomeranian mix Tinker-Belle. We couldn’t resist sharing it. I think she’s answering the timeless holiday question and saying, “Treat, please!”

Mimi Ausland, the tween rescue star and founder of Freekibble.com wrote about the wonderful Halo-sponsored Kibble Krusader Kontest on Petco’s blog.

Get the Scoop here (you have to read 12-year-old Keith Webster’s winning entry, one of five to win $1,000 worth of Halo Dinner Party for their favorite animal shelter).

OK! Weekly magazine gives readers a glimpse into Life on the A-List, this time featuring Drew Barrymore. Drew’s secret to pampering her pooch? “She rewards her dog Flossie, a yellow Lab-chow mix,” with “all-natural Halo Liv-a-Littles. The dog treats have no chemicals or artificial flavors or preservatives.”

The inside scoop is that Halo co-owner Ellen DeGeneres sent Drew a personal note and some Halo Healthsome Treats to try. The rest is history!

Click over to our News page for a link to the full article.

Halloween is a fun-filled holiday for children and adults; however, the scary creatures, silly costumes, decorations and treats can be frightening and even dangerous for dogs and cats.

Click here for guidelines on keeping your pet safe and stress-free this Halloween!

Read complete article Halloween Safety Tips for Pets.

Q: I have a miniature Dachshund that has several issues:

1. He is overweight and I am hoping to help him lose weight. He is on a “weight control” dry food now and has been for some time. I actually feed him less than the recommended amount for him to lose weight and he hasn’t lost an ounce. Please advise.

2. This summer he has really had issues with his skin breaking out in hot spots in the “armpit” and groin regions. What could be causing this?

3. Even though he is short-haired, he sheds terribly bad. I use an oil supplement now but he still sheds excessively. Why?

Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing your suggestions on what items Halo has that may help with these issues.

A: Thanks for your questions!

1. I am so happy to hear you are making a plan to get the excess weight off your dog. The health risks of obesity are real and he will feel so much better at a more trim weight! Although you are “feeding less than the recommended amount for him to lose weight”, he needs a weight loss plan specifically tailored to him:

• The first thing you must do is determine his IDEAL body weight. Your veterinarian can help you with this determination if you aren’t sure. Be warned, most people over-estimate how much their pet should weigh…you may be surprised by the number of pounds he needs to lose. In general (breed standard) Dachshunds should weigh less than 16 pounds. Remember, there are also medical conditions that can contribute to obesity (such as hypothyroidism and Cushings Disease–both very common in this breed) and your pet should be fully evaluated before beginning a weight loss program.

• Once the ideal weight has been established, the best weight loss plan is one that provides approximately 75%-80% of the calories your pet would require at that ideal weight. For example, if your dog should weigh 15 pounds (6.82kg), his daily needs to lose that weight are approximately 275 calories (although it can range from 205 to 300 calories depending on his metabolism).

• In general, he should lose about 1 to 2% of his body weight each week. You should weigh him at least every two weeks for adequate monitoring. If he is losing too quickly or not quickly enough, the daily calories must be adjusted. When the goal weight is achieved, a new plan for food intake must be made with your vet.

2. The skin condition you are describing sounds like pyoderma–a skin infection which commonly occurs in the skin fold areas. Obesity definitely contributes to this problem. The skin folds are warm and moist environments ideal for bacterial growth. Once the actual infection is taken care of your veterinarian may be able to recommend some basic maintenance tips for keeping the skin folds clean and dry as possible. There are some baby wipes or medicated wipes which can prevent the terrible breakouts.

3. As far as the shedding, make sure the oil supplement you are using is “broad-spectrum”. Don’t just include fish oils…there are many essential oils that have been proven to be beneficial for hair and skin health. Halo Dream Coat is a blend of 6 virgin oils which provides multiple essential oils (including fish oils). Again, the Dachshund breed is also very prone to endocrine problems which manifest themselves as shedding/hair loss, obesity, etc. These include hypothyroidism, Cushings disease and others. Given your dogs issues with the skin and obesity, make sure you get a vet visit to ensure he is not dealing with something like that.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Donna J. Spector