A letter from one of our readers…

Dear Editor:

I discovered Halo products via the Ellen show several months ago, and I’ve been following the blog for several weeks now. After spending the weekend in Toronto, I decided to write in and see how people are feeling about dangerous dog legislation.

Ontario enacted a dangerous dog bill on March 1, 2005, and as of that day forward, you could no longer bring a pit bull into the province, and all pit bulls currently in the province, had to be sterilized. You can’t even drive through Ontario with a pit bull in your car. This, of course, generates a great deal of discussion between all of us dog lovers. I hate the idea of the ban; it’s so draconian, but admittedly, I cringe every time the neighbor’s pit bull goes crazy at the fence when I’m walking by.

I personally approach this discussion from several different angles. My best friend in the world has two Pit Bulls that I would trust with my children’s lives, whereas my Golden Retriever almost died because a woman couldn’t control her Cane Corso. On top of that, my heart was broken several years ago when my one-eyed Shitzu, who we rescued from the pound, had to be put down because he bit a child.

When you wrap all this together, I understand that every dog is its own person, but when something does go wrong, it can be devastating, and something can go wrong when you least expect it.

So what do we do? (more…)

YES!

The pet insurance industry has grown and improved greatly in the last several years. There are now several pet insurance providers; each offering a range of competitively priced policies that can be tailored to an individual pet’s needs.

Before selecting an insurance plan, it is important for pet owners to research policy coverage and know specifically what medical claims are or are not covered. Coverage can vary depending on the presence of “pre-existing” medical conditions, hereditary diseases or breed problems. Understanding exactly what to expect from a pet insurance policy helps owners avoid frustration and assures a pet owner is financially prepared for both routine medical check-ups and emergencies.

Click here to read more about pet insurance for your dog or cat.

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

“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.