Does your dog have a smile that could light up a room? Maybe your pup has eyes that could melt hearts or a coat so silky that Hollywood actresses could only dream of having such lovely hair. Or perhaps he’s just got the biggest ears known to dog-kind. Whatever your pup’s claim to fame, there’s likely to be a category that fits him in Dog Channel.com’s Virtual Dog Show. Sponsored by Halo Pets, this is one dog show that your pooch doesn’t need to be a purebred to enter. With unique categories like “longest tongue” and “best ‘feed me’ look,” there’s sure to be a place for every dog. And the best part is the prizes: Winning dogs will receive a year’s worth of Halo natural dog food!

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Dog Channel to submit your pup’s photo in the Virtual Dog Show. And if you don’t have a dog to enter, you can still check out all the adorable nominees and vote for your favorites.

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Q: My dog is a 10 year old English Bulldog. He was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease. Currently he is taking Lysodren and we are changing his diet. Can you recommend anything we should do to help him get better?

A: Cushing’s Disease is a complex hormonal disorder that affects many body systems. Often these dogs are obese and this complicates their condition. Have your veterinarian tell you how many calories your dog requires each day in order to lose excess weight. Then choose a natural dog food with high quality proteins that will help promote a lean body. Exercise is also important for dogs with Cushing’s Disease, and as they are often overweight or intolerant to warm temperatures, swimming is an excellent form of exercise to promote weight loss and good health.

Dogs with Cushing’s Disease frequently have problems regulating their blood sugar (what we call insulin resistance). It is best to feed them a natural dog food that has limited grains (carbohydrates) in order to keep blood sugar levels lower. Exercise also helps keep their blood sugar levels in check.

If your dog with Cushing’s Disease has high blood pressure (hypertension), you should minimize the amount of salt (sodium) he eats by feeding a high quality natural dog food as well as avoiding high sodium treats (packaged treats, lunch meat, cheese and dairy products, etc).

With proper medication and appropriate diet changes, your dog with Cushing’s Disease can live a healthier and happier life.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

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Q: My 13 year old beagle/terrier mix (34lbs) has diabetes and was also diagnosed six months ago with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I struggle every single day when trying to feed him in order for him to get his proper dosage of insulin on time. He LOVES chicken, but my vet believes that he is now allergic to that protein source. He turns his nose up at almost everything I put down for him unless it’s junk dog food or human food. I was watching ELLEN and decided to try the Spot’s Stew. Well, Mickey ate the whole 13 oz can and I was able to administer his medication (Metranidazole and Pepcid), along with this insulin on time (YEAH!)

My question: Is Spot’s Stew appropriate to feed Mickey? I keep calling Mickey’s Internist, but even they have run out of options. It’s such a delicate balance!!! Any help or suggestions with food and treats would be so welcome.

A: I appreciate how difficult it can be to manage both of Mickey’s conditions. Now the good news: Spot’s Stew can be fed successfully to a diabetic dog with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Halo natural dog food products have low numbers of grains which means they have limited amounts of carbohydrates. The whole grains we use in our natural dog food are also “low glycemic index” and are not highly processed. What this means for Mickey is lower blood sugars throughout the day. Commercial dog foods (even premium brands) often contain large amounts of rice and corn and these are “high glycemic-index” foods; meaning that they often create large blood sugar spikes.

Diabetic dogs often benefit from a slightly higher fiber diet to help keep their blood sugar levels controlled throughout the day. Dogs with IBD frequently have improved intestinal functions with the addition of fiber to their diet. You should consider a fiber supplement in addition to Halo natural dog food for Mickey. There are many types of fiber available (e.g. psyllium, pumpkin, Metamucil, etc) and you should ask your veterinarian what would be the best supplement for Mickey. If Mickey may be allergic to chicken, the Salmon, Lamb or Turkey based Spot’s Stew would be a better choice to help manage his Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Hope this helps….good luck with Mickey!

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

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A story from one of our Halo customers:

I had my dog, Lucky, on a premium brand dry dog food since I adopted him as a puppy. He seemed to like the taste and never gave me a problem with eating. However, after reading about the dangers of artificial coloring and by-products, I decided to switch him to holistic dog food and purchased Spot’s Stew Dry Formula.

Lucky has always been a creature of habit, and I knew making the change would not be easy. I was worried he wouldn’t accept the new food because he had grown so accustomed to the other. A friend suggested mixing the new food with the old to start and gradually reducing the old food over time. It worked like a charm, and now Lucky eats only natural dog food. He seems to love the taste just as much, and I’ve noticed that since making the switch, his coat has been better and he’s more active. Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks?

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Just wanted to take a moment to introduce you to Sandy, my beautiful five-year-old dog. She just celebrated her birthday – a miracle considering that her meager beginnings made it uncertain she would see age two.

I adopted Sandy four years ago from a shelter. I saw her picture on the group’s website and immediately fell in love with the barely one-year-old girl. I was very excited to bring home the new addition to my family and couldn’t wait to get her settled.

All was not well with Sandy, however. She was malnourished, and her coat was horrible. I did the best I could with her, and after numerous vet visits, I was finally able to get some weight on her, and she began to improve. Her coat was a mess for the longest time though; nothing I did seemed to help.

One day our vet asked if I had ever tried natural dog food and pet supplements like those offered by Halo. At the time, I hadn’t heard of the company, and I really didn’t know much about holistic dog food. I was already buying Sandy what I thought were the best pet foods, so I didn’t see how this would help. I was willing to give it shot, though, and I started Sandy on Spot’s Stew Adult Dog dry food, as well as the Dream Coat pet supplement.

Turns out she loved the food (Particularly the wholesome chicken flavor!), and I actually started to see a difference. Within a month, her coat was definitely improving, and after some time she had beautiful, shiny fur. Now I think she gives any show dog a run for their money – it’s hard to believe this girl started as a shelter refugee. Thanks Halo from me and Sandy!

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