ASK-THE-VET: MY DOG LIKES TO EAT GRASS

July 26th, 2010 by Dr. Donna Spector

dogeatinggrassQuestion: My dog likes to eat grass. Is this okay for him to do?

Answer: Pets that eat potted plants or grass may not be getting enough greens in their diet. In the wild, animals would consume fresh prey that could have eaten herbs, plants or berries.

Your dog is a good candidate for VitaGlo Daily Greens. This product provides him with healthy phytonutrients which should satisfy his green food nutritional needs.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Donna Spector

Answers provided to pet owners by Dr. Donna Spector should be considered information and not specific advice. Answers are to be used for general information purposes only and not as a substitute for in-person evaluation or specific professional advice from your veterinarian. Communications on this site are very limited and should never be used in possible cases of emergency. Halo, Purely for Pets will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any information or content contained in a blog or article post.

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ASK-THE-VET: CAUSES OF DIARRHEA IN DOGS

July 12th, 2010 by Dr. Donna Spector

BullDogQuestion: I need help my dog only eats your dry dog food but now all of a sudden she has diarrhea what can I do?

Answer: Thanks for writing in. There are many causes of diarrhea in dogs. If a dog gets changed to a new food (even a high quality food like Halo) abruptly, they can develop diarrhea. Read my article “How do I transition my dog or cat to a new food?”.

This is also a time of year when we see a lot of parasites (whipworms, roundworms, tapeworms and Giardia) or bacterial overgrowth—even in healthy dogs—and I would recommend that you take a fresh fecal sample into your vet to have it analyzed.

Some dogs develop diarrhea because they actually require more fiber in their diet or sometimes it is a sign of a more serious intestinal disorder. Talk to your vet about what might be happening in your dog.

Hope that helps.
Dr. Donna J. Spector

Answers provided to pet owners by Dr. Donna Spector should be considered information and not specific advice. Answers are to be used for general information purposes only and not as a substitute for in-person evaluation or specific professional advice from your veterinarian. Communications on this site are very limited and should never be used in possible cases of emergency. Halo, Purely for Pets will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any information or content contained in a blog or article post.

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TRACIE HOTCHNER – DIABETES IN DOGS: WHY THEY GET IT, HOW TO MANAGE IT

May 20th, 2010 by Tracie Hotchner

tracieanddogs2I have been getting quite a few questions about diabetes in dogs, even though it is a fairly rare occurrence (not like cats, where type 2 diabetes is at epidemic levels).

I turned for assistance in answering this question thoroughly to my newest professional colleague on the website and on my radio shows — Dr. Donna Spector from Chicago has graciously agreed to be both my new Official Veterinary Nutrition Consultant and the Official 2nd Opinion Vet on the show since she has it all: she is a board certified Internist, a member of the veterinary holistic doctors organization (AVHMA) and has a broad range of knowledge and talents.

Click over to my original blog on “Diabetes in Dogs: Why they Get It, How to Manage it” for the whole story!

Tracie Hotchner, author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible, guest blogs here every Thursday on healthy, natural choices for pets.

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ADOPTING A SHELTER PET 101: THE BASICS

May 14th, 2010 by Dr. Donna Spector

adoption_animals12 year old Keith Webster will tell anyone that Ned, his adopted Jack Russell Terrier, is the center of his world–”I play with Ned every day of my life because I care about him so much.”

Freekibble.com’s Kibble Krusader Kontest winner, Keith’s heartfelt essay won $1,000 of Halo Dinner Party which was donated to the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County in Alderton, WA where he adopted Ned (read about Halo’s donation to the shelter here).

Animal shelters recognize the very special relationship between adopted pets and their new families and maintain a structured adoption process that allows them to make the best match for both parties–the goal is always to find a pet a lifelong home.

In addition to actually choosing a new pet, the adoption process usually involves filling out an application, an interview, a waiting period, a contract, fees and often a trial period. readarticle

Click here to read more about the adoption process.

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CARING FOR AN ADOPTED SHELTER PET

May 11th, 2010 by Dr. Donna Spector

caringforapetMany adopted pets will have had poor nutrition and medical care in their previous homes and are in need of a complete health “overhaul”.

In addition to getting a checkup with your veterinarian and slowly transitioning to a high quality natural diet like Halo; this article highlights other special needs of new adoptees.

Click here to read more about “Caring For An Adopted Shelter Pet”.

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