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

Q: What to do when our cat bites a lot?

A: Aggressive behavior toward people is very common in cats. Biting is usually play-motivated or part of a “don’t pet me anymore” behavior complex. Cat owners whose cats have “playful” aggression describe their cats as turning vicious during the act of play. Play often resembles predator activity with stalking, pouncing, hit-and-run attacks, etc. It is common for these cats to exhibit aggression when the owner gets out of bed, comes around a corner or is playing with the cat when suddenly a bite will be directed toward a hand rather than a toy. This can usually be easily dealt with by providing opportunities for your cat to stalk, pounce, carry objects in its mouth, bat and swat with appropriate toys. NEVER allow playful behavior (batting, swatting, etc) directed toward hands or any other body parts. If the behavior is already established, you may need to learn more about “time outs” or even a squirt of water to discourage inappropriate play aggression. You may have to consult a behavior specialist if the problem is more severe.

The other form of aggression to watch for is the “don’t pet me anymore” aggression. This usually occurs when the cat is being pet and suddenly turns and bites. If this sounds like your cat, you have to learn to read your cats cues. Most cats give some warning like ear flicking, tail swishing or thumping, skin rippling or quick head movements that are indicators that they do not wish to be pet anymore. Learning to read their body language can avoid most of these attacks.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Donna Spector

“Empty calories” and “fillers” are big buzzwords in human and pet nutrition these days. Click here to learn why it is important to avoid these ingredients and how to make better choices for your loved ones.

Back in 1986, Halo’s philosophy of using all-natural ingredients you can recognize and understand, well, it just seemed fringe in the pet world. Now, in Nutrition Business Journal’s Animal Nutrition Industry Overview, the coverage of Halo and our philosophy is pretty extensive!

The publication talks about Halo part owner Ellen DeGeneres on QVC, where “the comedian even convinced QVC host Caroline Gracie to eat some of the Halo food, which is made with human-grade meat and other ingredients.” Further, it notes that “DeGeneres, who has said publicly that she invested in Halo in 2008 because she believes it is the best-quality pet food on the market, also talks the brand up on her popular show…”

The journal covers “Smart treating” as a major trend with pets, quoting yours truly, “’Just as with humans, we can’t forget that the snacks between meals count, and that if we’re eating empty calories we’re not serving our overall health,’ Yaskulka added. ‘We’re definitely seeing customers start to understand the same concept with pets and how smart treating can fit into overall nutrition programs.’ In May 2009, Halo unveiled its new Liv-A-Little’s Healthsome line of functional dog and cat treats. Halo’s new Antioxidant Liv-A-Little product is made with cranberries, yogurt, pumpkin and green tea, while the Skin and Coat version features Halo’s Dream Coat natural food supplement, which contains essential fatty acids.”

Our own Dr. Spector also addresses pet obesity in the issue, saying, “’Obesity is tied to many conditions, especially in cats and some dogs,’ said Donna Spector, DVM, a veterinary advisor for Halo Purely for Pets. Commercial pet food is one culprit for the added weight, Spector added. ‘Many foods use corn and rice as fillers. It is less expensive, but it has a high glycemic index and turns rapidly into sugar. It is very similar for humans.’ To help address this issue, pet nutrition companies are offering foods made with no corn or rice.”

Click here for complete coverage of Halo in Nutrition Business Journal.

Early this year, Halo teamed up with Bideawee, a New York-based rescue organization, for its biggest loser competition between eight fat cats awaiting adoption. After an initial weigh-in, the cats began their diet on February 2nd eating proper portions of the $32,000 worth of canned Spots Stew that Halo donated for the weight loss challenge, and for Bideawee’s other residents. Dr. Donna Spector, Halo’s vet, supervised the contestants, and she reports on final weigh-ins:

The Bideawee-Halo Feline Weight Loss Challenge has come to an end! The weight loss competition transformed seven flabby felines into sleeker shinier kitties. For these cats, weight loss means they are at less risk for the development of diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and other obesity-related problems.

The Feline Weight Loss Challenge program began February 2 with Domino and Missy in Westhampton; Jack, Dixie, Violet and Suki in Wantagh; and Emily and Minky in Manhattan. (Emily dropped out shortly thereafter because of a medical condition.)

The cats had a one week food transition period prior to the start of the study to insure they were slowly adapted and eating the food well. At the onset of the challenge, the cats were weighed and examined by a Bideawee resident veterinarian. Their ideal weight was determined and Halo’s veterinarian, Dr. Donna Spector, created an individual Halo diet plan for each cat. The cats were fed and monitored closely twice daily. Once each week the cats were examined and re-weighed by the same veterinarian at each facility. The cats all ate the diet well and experienced no digestive or other disturbances.

The Challenge was a success…

· All cats were considered obese at the start of the study. On average they were 28% overweight (20-39%). This is like an extra 42 pounds on a 150 pound woman! Alarming when you think of it that way!!

· Six of the seven cats achieved the projected weight loss of 1 to 2% each week on the Halo feeding program. The remaining cat lost 0.75% each week. Cats shouldn’t lose weight quicker than this due to the possible development of a fatal liver condition, called hepatic lipidosis.

· On average the cats lost 6.1% body weight during the four week competition. The range of weight loss was from 3% up to 9.4% during the four week period.

· We also noted a marked improvement in the skin and haircoat of several of the participant cats. Although unrelated to weight loss, it was an amazing benefit of the Halo feeding program!

For healthy weight loss, it would take an average of 14-28 weeks to get these cats to their goal weights. Just like people, it is best that pets lose weight slowly but surely. We have encouraged the new adoptive owners to continue with calorie restriction and increased exercise in order to maximize the health of their new family members.