Question: My 7 year old Russian Blue, Suzi, has sneezing fits that really knock her for a loop. This has been going on for about 6 months or so…we had her to the vets and he gave her clavamox for a URI. She seemed better for a while and it started all over. I use to use a corn based litter and changed to a clay base…thought that may have something to do with it, so I have now gone back to the corn based litter. She is having smaller episodes…but when she does have them…she will have white “snots” that come out from her nose. Last night when I was holding her I could hear that she was “stuffy”…but she didn’t have any sneezing fits. Could she be asthmatic?

Answer: Sorry to hear that Suzi is so congested. What you are describing (congestion, snots, sneezing) are not signs of asthma, but of rhinitis. Rhinitis is inflammation in the nasal passages and can be caused by many things: allergies, infection (cryptococcus, viruses, etc), benign polyps, cancer (lymphoma) are the most common things. Antibiotics often appear to work for a short time because the nose is filled with bacteria and the medication cuts the numbers, however, rarely is the real problem a true bacterial infection. The most common (and most frustrating) is allergic rhinitis (which is similar to hayfever or other nasal allergies in people) and is a problem cats often have to deal with periodically throughout the year. A thorough workup includes checking Suzi for the things I listed above and doing a nasal scope with biopsy. Ask your veterinarian what the next steps would be for Suzi.

Good luck.
Dr. Donna Spector

Eco Chic, a leading web site “where style and sustainability go hand in hand” focuses on products that are carbon neutral, community based, custom or tailor-made, Fair Trade, organic, recycled, sustainable, vegan and vintage. We’re honored that the Eco Chic “Alpha-Dog” Tammy Preast chose to feature Halo.

She begins her story by getting right to the heart of the matter, asking “Do you know what goes into your pet?”

Then they responding using the words from Halo’s own web site, saying:

“You are what you eat” is true for animals as well as for people. Read the ingredients. Can you identify them? Are there inferior by-products, “meals” or chemicals?

At Halo Pet Foods, they are purely focused on your pet’s well-being. Halo holistic natural dog food and natural cat food are made from real foods you can recognize. Safe, never recalled and NO chicken meal or other rendered meats. 100%Guaranteed.

Click over to our News page for the whole story.

Question: I read the e-mail (blog) about spots stew… and can’t help but keep thinking about fleas and chemicals, and their side effects on everyone around them..

I’ve been wondering for some time how food could be a way to help prevent fleas on my cats.. what food, how much.. and why it works.. I’ve tried several things so far. with little success.. a few of the cats enjoy the spicy foods strangely.. what should I be looking for? how do I prepare it? I would love to not have to use chemicals.. it’s hard enough to get them a bath in just water and mild soaps.. but as soon as they smell the flea treatments.. its one heck of a fight…they don’t like it, and i don’t want to feel forced to put it on them..the fatigue and loss of appetite afterwards also concerns me…

Answer: You may find several references about the addition of Brewer’s Yeast or garlic into pet’s food to naturally repel fleas and insects….but these things do not consistently work for every pet.

The safest adult flea control for your cats is daily flea combing. Look into environmental treatment options that include borate powder as a more “natural” alternative to pesticides.

Also boosting your cat’s natural immunity with the use of a high-quality natural diet and daily vitamin-mineral supplement is recommended. Consider a product like Halo’s Herbal Dip as a natural alternative to chemical dips –you can apply it on their collars or use it as a spray on bedding or even in their shampoo.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Donna Spector

Imagine having no money but a very hungry dog or cat to feed. Unfortunately, this sad scenario is happening all over the country, with many heartbreaks for both our four-legged friends and their owners. “Since the economy took a turn for the worse, we’ve seen a lot more animal surrenders,” says Tricia Sebes, volunteer and rescue coordinator for the McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “The reason is definitely increasing that people can’t afford to feed their pets.”

We needed to help. Earlier this month, with the help of Freekibble.com, Halo donated almost 6,000 cans of Spot’s Stew to McKamey and two other shelters and rescues in Tennessee, which have been distributing the food to pet owners in need.

“We are absolutely thrilled to do it,” says Lisa Reeves of the Nashville Humane Association, which gives out their Halo Spot’s Stew every Sunday and Wednesday. “If we have (the food) and we can help someone, we will. We try not to turn anyone away.”

In addition to the food, all three organizations (the third is A New Leash on Life in Lebanon) received a variety of other Halo products, including Herbal Healing Salve and X-tra C, an instant vitamin C powder.

“It makes me feel great to know that this food is getting to people who really need help feeding their animals,” says Mimi Ausland, the 13-year-old founder of Freekibble.com. “I know that because of this, people will be able to keep their pets and feed them a really good food.”

The Nashville Humane Association first started distributing food in November, 2008, and since then have helped some 500 families keep their pets. “I think it’s hard for some of these people to come in,”
says Reeves. “You have families who never had to ask for help, and now they do.

“People have been in tears, they’ve said, ‘I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here,’” Reeves continues. “It’s sad, i think pride gets in the way of some people but they have to come in and do it.”

On November 5th, Freekibble.com had a Hi-5 promotion: for every trivia question someone answered about a dog or cat, 50 pieces of of kibble would be donated by Halo. That day, some 60,000 people played Freekibble.com, raising 5 million pieces of kibble, or the equivalent of 20,000 Meals of Halo. And the need to help these financially-strapped pet owners continues to grow.

At McKamey Animal Center, there has not been the usual post-holiday slowdown in animal surrenders, says Sebes, noting that the 26,000-square-foot shelter now has 288 dogs and puppies, 455 animals in all. McKamey has shared the donation with two local food banks to reach more pet parents in need. “They’re very grateful we have this a service to them,” says Sebes. “People come to us for help with their animals and it’s great we can provide for them.”

Short-dated products are on the Halo web site at half price. Of course, these usually sell out extremely quickly, so grab what you can use. Currently available: Daily Greens-100 Tabs, Liv-a-Littles treats, Herbal Healing Salve, and other grooming and supplements items. Take a look, and check back often!

Please remember, while these products are wonderful, they are not the same as what you can buy at the store. You’ll find earlier formulas, old labels, or short-dating. Short-dating means that the product will reach its “Best if Used By” date within 1-2 months of purchase.