As part of a PETCO promotion, Hotchner does a fabulous job educating the audience on the benefits of natural pet food.

Click over to our News page for the clip!

Click here to read more (and to find a sneak-preview of the ad).

Here’s a recent conversation I really enjoyed.

Nightline — yes, the TV show — asked its Twitter followers, “What is the craziest thing you’ve seen for sale on QVC?”

Juaus4me (a woman named Jennifer Ann who follows Nightline on Twitter) responded, “craziest thing on QVC Ellen D selling Halo food and her co host was eating it ….OH YUMMIE.”

If you didn’t catch that on QVC, it made for great television! You can see a clip of QVC host Carolyn Gracie eating Halo here. This was a bit controversial when it happened – until QVC watchers started defending Carolyn because, in fact, she didn’t eat anything they wouldn’t eat!

I couldn’t help but join the conversation. So my Tweet was, “Hey @juaus4me and @Nightline – eating Halo’s not all that crazy; Read the ingredients (vs. human soup) http://www.halopets.com/soupwars.”

Next, Zissy4PetTalez sent my message to her 848 followers (know as a “re-Tweet” or “RT”).

FurandFeathers, an animal lover named Sue Giannosa, chimed in saying, “Crazy, no way. My dogs love that food. They lick the spoon when I put the Dream coat on their food also. Ingred. Are all natural.”

Rachelle Caruso, Twitter ID rlcaruso, responded, “my dogs LOVE Halo! I think they eat better than Me! Halo stew is way better than anything in the human aisle based on ingredients.”

If you’re reading this, you probably sacrifice to make sure your pet is well taken care of, and know where Rachelle is coming from!

Also, her pets play favorite: their poodle Mable loves Portia, their other dog, Wolf, loves them both, and one of the cats loves Ellen best. Or at least she likes to think that, Ellen says.

Check out the interivew.

By Dr. Donna Spector
What is really in pet food? The pictures presented on cans and bags of pet food conjure up images of a chef cooking divine meals of wholesome cuts of meat and vegetables for our beloved pets. Although this is a lovely idea, it is rarely the case. When animals are slaughtered for food production, the lean muscle is cut off for human consumption.

The remaining carcass (bones, some organs, beaks, feathers, etc) is what goes into pet food, commonly known as “by-products”, “meat meal”, “bone meal”, or the like.

Read on if you are not faint of heart.

“Leftovers” from the human food industry (restaurant grease, out-of-date supermarket meat, etc) also makes its way into pet food through a process called rendering. Rendering involves placing these carcasses and “leftovers” into huge vats, grinding it up and cooking it at very high temperatures for about an hour to kill off harmful bacteria.

Once cool, the grease is skimmed off the top and this is called “animal fat” that goes into pet food (for example, chicken fat, beef fat, etc). The rest is pressed and dried to make either meat meal or bone meal. Read on for your pet’s sake.

- Cantaloupe balls
- Cottage cheese
- Yogurt mixed with a few blueberries
- Sardines
- Organic cheese on a salt-free cracker

If you’d like to make some treats with a few more ingredients, be sure to check out the recipe for Voyko’s Paw-Lickin’ Liver Treats, along with all the other homemade pet food recipes at HaloPets.com!

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We’ve all had days where the dogs just don’t seem to want to eat. You set that can of food out and receive a look that says, “This again?’ You can’t say you blame them; I mean, really — you know you get tired of the same old, same old too. So, why not check out a homemade dog food recipe to give the pups a new treat that, with a few tweaks, you can share as well? Being a fan of chicken salad, as well as the owner of two finicky dachshunds, I’ve found that this one satisfies the whole family.

For the dog (serving size 1/2 cup):
1 cup deboned organic chicken, cooked and cooled
1 cup mixed salad greens
2 tablespoons red clover sprouts
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
In a small bowl, toss and combine the chicken, salad greens, sprouts and olive oil. Transfer to serving dishes and top with the yogurt before serving.

Once you’ve finished serving the dogs, add these ingredients to make a tasty treat for yourself:
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup apples, cut in chunks
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch of ground pepper
You may also want to add a bit more yogurt for your serving. Mix all ingredients well, sit back and enjoy your lunch with the pup!

Be sure to check out more dog food recipes at Halo Pets!

“Tis the season for your dog to get into trouble with the local wildlife!

If Rover noses around in the bushes, be prepared that he may turn up smelling like a skunk. Many grooming products will temporarily cover the smell but the faint odor of skunk can linger for weeks. This homemade recipe actually lifts the skunk spray oils out of your dog’s fur and rids them of the smell permanently…or at least until the next time!

Mix the following ingredients in a plastic bucket:

1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (open a fresh bottle)

¼ cup of Baking Soda1-2 teaspoons of Liquid Soap (Softsoap and Ivory are recommended)

Note: for large dogs, the recipe can be doubled or you can add one quart of lukewarm water to ensure complete body coverage.

Directions:

1. Apply the solution to the entire coat and work it deeply into the fur.
2. Leave on for at least 5 minutes or until the odor is gone.
3. Rinse your pet thoroughly with lukewarm water.
4. Smell your pet! If he still reeks of skunk, repeat steps 1-3!
5. Pour any remaining solution down the drain with running water.

NEVER store the solution in a closed bottle as pressure can build up and cause the container to explode.

Note: The solution will sting if it gets into your dog’s eyes. If your dog’s face is heavily soiled, use a toothbrush soaked in solution to clean the hair around the eyes.

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.

It’s just as important to ensure food safety for your pet as it is for your family, so keep the meat and veggies in the refrigerator until you’re ready to add them it to the pot. Refrigeration assures bacteria, which multiply rapidly at room temperature, won’t get a head start during the first hour of slow cooking. Always defrost meat or poultry completely in the refrigerator before using it.

Why Low – Slow Cooking?

True for humans and pets: Studies have shown that the more that something is cooked, the less nutritional value it has. The higher the temperature food is cooked at, the greater the breakdown of enzymes, which makes food less digestible or less useful to the system. This makes it harder for the body to absorb the nutrients and for them to function at a cellular level (where they need to work).  When the nutrients cannot function in the cells, the cells can become deficient or toxic, which can lead to deficiency or toxicity of the entire body. Our low-temperature, slow-cooking stew provides the healthiest combined bang for your buck.

For a few great recipes that you can make yourself at home for your dog or cat, visit www.halopets.com.

Mother’s Little Helpers: Treats as Bribes – If your pet is reluctant to make the switch to its new diet, sometimes a little something extra will coax them to the food bowl. Think of these bribes as tasty condiments to add some zing to their meal! The functional foods listed below can entice your pet, but most of them are also healthful and serve as supplements, providing extra vitamins, proteins, or other nutrients. A heartier cat will love the meats, eggs, and cheeses, while a cat under the weather will greatly appreciate the eggs, olive oil, or yogurt.

Meat slivers (chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, or fish; avoid ham, pork, and tuna products)
A few small pieces of cooked organic liver
A few drops of natural tamari
A few shakes of natural Parmesan cheese
A dollop of tomato sauce
A teaspoon of organic plain yogurt
A spoonful of oil from a jar of olives
A finely chopped olive
A dollop of cottage cheese
A dollop of meat-based baby food
Raw or soft-boiled egg

Try mixing a bit of any of the above bribe foods into the new food or sprinkling it on top. Sometimes an irresistible condiment is all it takes to get a reluctant pet revved up and excited about the new fare. If there’s something you know your cat is wild about, get creative and use just a little bit to get it going. Dogs don’t usually need any coaxing to try the new meals, but any of the bribe foods can be used for dogs, as well.