Halo Free Trial Offer

The great folks at Halo saw my post about their company and want all my readers to try their products. They have set up a special offer just for Good Dogkeeping: www.halopets.com/gooddogkeeping

I encourage you to take advantage of the offer and start feeding your dog the high quality nutrition they deserve.

Note: when introducing any new food to your dog, you must do it gradually. Start adding the new food slowly and decreasing the old food over time. Also, if your pet snubs the new food, you have to give it time. They have eaten the same thing for their entire life and, not unlike people, some dogs don't accept change as easily as others, even when it is good for them. It also takes time for their digestive system to get used to different foods so be patient with their poop.

Anal Glands

I probably wouldn’t even know the story on anal glands, but Bailey had an impacted anal gland when he was a puppy. The poor thing had to be sedated (because of the pain) and have his impacted anal gland expressed and flushed with antibiotics. After that we had been on a bi-monthly visit to the vet to get his anal glands expressed. About a year later we moved to quarterly and have continued on a regular basis.

Anal gland issues are very common so it is important to understand what’s going on. Here is a great explanation of anal glands by Dr. Dan in Ohio.


What are the anal sacs and what is their purpose?
The archaic anal sacs are an organ of the past and have no purpose in modern pets. The anal sacs are paired organs located beneath the skin and anal sphincter muscles at about the five and seven o'clock positions surrounding the rectum (See the first image below). Tiny ducts lead to the tissue just inside the rectum. The secretion that comes from these glands is brown in color and about the consistency of water or oil. The secretion has a very disagreeable odor to humans. As the pet defecates, the anal sphincter squeezes the sacs against the hard passing feces and causes the anal secretion to discharge onto the fecal mass. In olden times, this was used to mark a unique scent on the BM. It was like a sign-post used to communicate with the other dogs and cats.

Why so many problems?
You will notice in the above description that the anal sphincter must squeeze the sac against hard feces to express the contents. My idea of why modern pets have so many problems is that the feces are just not hard enough. In ancient times, dogs and cats ate large quantities of meat and bone making their feces the consistency of concrete. Now, we feed diets with vegetable protein as the main ingredient. This produces a much softer stool so there is nothing for the glands to be squeezed against. The secretions build up and the pet has problems.

The degree of problems.
When the fluid begins building up and the animal scoots to try to relieve the pressure we have signs of an impaction. Treatment at this point will save the pet from more serious problems later on. This is why the anal sacs should always be checked by the veterinarian or groomer whenever working with the pet. If the secretion stays in the sacs for very long it begins to thicken and become like peanut butter in consistency. At this point it is very difficult to be expressed and subject to bacterial invasion and abscessation. Once an abscess forms and there is no route of escape for the secretion and pus it may rupture through the skin causing an unsightly mess and lots of pain for the pet (See the second image below). This is a situation we want to avoid.

Expressing the anal glands.
Normally the anal sacs are about the size of a kidney bean and difficult to feel beneath the skin surrounding the rectum. As they become impacted they increase in size until they feel like grapes or walnuts beneath the skin. It is at this stage that they should be expressed. Since the secretion smells so bad, it is a good idea to do this at bath time. To express the normal glands you just put a finger on each side of the rectum on the outside edges of the anal sacs. You then press towards the rectum, up and inward to trap the sacs. If a fluid is not expressed then you need assistance from your veterinarian. The secretion may have thickened or you haven't mastered the technique. (I would like to interject here. Bailey’s vets use the rectal method of expression. Donning glove and lube they, well, put their finger in his butt. If your dog has ever had a problem with their anal glands, this method may be preferred so any inflammation, thickness or rupture may be discovered right away.)

If the secretion is inspisated (thickened) your veterinarian may need to give a sedative and pass a catheter into the duct of the gland. The anal sac is filled with water and worked until the secretion can be removed. Often times the sacs are then filled with an antibiotic ointment to kill the infection. If the gland has abscessed and broken out to the skin surface the wound must be debrided and flushed with an antiseptic solution daily until the wound heals from the inside out. This is painful, costly and dangerous. Systemic antibiotics must also be used when the glands have abscessed.

Removal of the anal sacs.
If your pet has recurring problems with its' anal sacs the best treatment is the surgical removal of the gland. This is accomplished by first given a general anesthetic and then filling the gland with a synthetic gel which makes them easier to find. Incissions are made and the glands are removed. The surgical incisions are closed with suture material.

Parting words...
If your pet is scooting there has to be a reason. Look for feces stuck to the hair or the evidence of tapeworms or roundworms. If you find neither then it's time to have your veterinarian check the anal sacs. Anal sac problems are extremely common and can cause tremendous pain for your pet. Early treatment can save lots of money for and spare your pet of much discomfort.

Now that you know all about anal glands, feel like expressing them yourself? It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you are up for the challenge, here is a step by step instructional video for you to follow.

How to Express a Dog's Anal Gland -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Hmmmmmmmm, I’m leaving it up to the professionals.

Kujo's Story

Voiceless victoms of the economy.....dogs (and cats).

There are many resources for pet owners who find themselves unable to feed or provide medical care for their pets. Please reach out to your community for assistance. Food banks offer pet food, there are pet specific food banks popping up and many shelters/rescue organizations can help you with medical care. They can even help find a temporary foster home to get you through the tough times and keep your pet safe until you can care for them again.


Please contact your local no-kill shelter for assistance. If you know someone going through a difficult financial or health related time, please put them in touch with a no-kill shelter or help them find a good home for their pets.

People in dire straights generally do not ask for help, be proactive!

Halo Purely for Pets

I cook for my dog Bailey but before I realized I could actually cook for him, (without harming him), I was looking for a dog food that was made like human food with none of the nasty stuff or chemicals. I researched for months.

One of the dog food companies that topped my list was Halo Purely For Pets. At the time they only had canned varieties and I was still brainwashed to think that dogs need dried kibble. Anyway, I called the company to ask a few questions and was shocked that a real person answered the phone and she could actually answer my questions, I didn't have to be transferred or put on hold. Then I bought a few cans to sample. To my surprise, when I opened the can, the food looked unlike any canned dog food I have ever seen, more like the filling of a chicken pot pie than dog food. And it smelled different too, actually good.
The real test was would Bailey eat it. He loved it. I was impressed and while soon after my Halo dog food test I started cooking my own dog food, I keep a few cans of Halo on hand as back up for when I'm in a pinch. I have to admit that I've had to break into my back up stash of Halo on a few occassions. Initially I was concerned that Bailey would snubb the Halo food because he is used to my delicious home cooking. Not the case, he eats it right up and why wouldn't he, Halo is real food.

I still keep up with the Halo company news and saw that Ellen Degeneres purchased a stake in the the company and they expended their product offering to dry kibble in addition to new packaging. I also saw that QVC is now offering Halo's entire product range both on their TV shopping channel and their website. Most recently I saw this great video about the Halo ingredients:

I believe fresh food is the best thing you can do for your dog (or cat) however, I realize that everyone can't do it. So, if you are unwilling or unable to cook choose a food that contains the highest quality ingredients and is as close to home cooked as possible. I think the Halo Purely for Pets product range is a great way to go. Also check out their treats, nutritional supplements, eye and ear care as well as shampoos. (Their Liv-a-Littles freeze dried treats and Herbal Healing Salve continuously receive high marks from all the holistic/natural/organic in-the-know dog community.) This company does it right and I think you will immediately see a difference in your dogs coat, health and attitude.

I've seen Halo at Petco, Whole Foods, QVC and Sunset Foods.

P.S. Halo was NOT part of the 2007 nationwide dog food recall and is made in the USA of all USA ingredients!

Puppy Mill Legislation Proposed in IL

I was thrilled to learn that IL is targeting Puppy Mills. All I could think is FINALLY!

It was announced at PAWS Chicago, a no-kill animal shelter, that State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) and State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Mount Prospect) have proposed a law that would regulate large-scale dog breeders and pet stores with the goal of cracking down on abusive puppy mills. The Law named Chloe's Bill after a dog rescued from a puppy mill in downstate Macon County, is designed to allow potential guardians to distinguish between puppies who come from caring breeders and those reared in puppy mills.

Backed by the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Fritchey said, "This isn't something that should be considered radical, it's decent."Fritchey said opposition to the bill may be inevitable, but that he would have concerns about any dog breeder who opposed the law. Puppy mills take a factory-like approach to animal breeding: maximum puppy output with minimal cost and care, Fritchey said. He noted that's in contrast to many reliable breeders, who take loving care of animals and only breed a few dogs at a time.

If passed, the bill would specifically:

1) Create a Dog Breeder License Act, which would prevent breeders from having more than 20 unaltered (not neutered or not spayed) dogs.

2) Deny dog-breeding licenses to people that have been convicted of a felony animal-cruelty crime, including dog fighting.

3) Require dog breeders to keep dogs in buildings without wire flooring. Humane Society officials said Sunday that many puppy mills they've uncovered have dogs in crates stacked high on top of each other, with the wire flooring of the crates destroying the animals' paws.

4) Require breeders to maintain a certain level of heating, cooling, and ventilation.

5) Require pet stores and breeders to provide potential pet buyers with the dog's full medical history, information of spaying and neutering and information about any prior medical care. Humane Society officials said many dogs from puppy mills end up having substantial medical problems because of interbreeding and exposure to disease in cramped environments.

Penalties for violation of these tenets would begin with fines and progress to seizure of the animals and complete closing of breeding operations.

Chloe, the only surviving member of her litter at the puppy mill, is now 6 months old. She attended the news conference wearing a collar with a large bow. Chloe affectionately snuggled into the arms of her adoptive dad, Roy Austin, who heads animal control in Macon County.

The young spaniel, with her giant eyes, floppy ears and a shiny black coat, may have fetched $200 to $400 at a pet store in Illinois and $800 or more if she had been shipped to an upscale pet store in New York state, said Cori Menkin, ASPCA's senior director of legislative initiatives.

Menkin listed the many ailments Chloe suffered from in the puppy mill: The animals were covered with feces and fleas, and they had internal parasites, matted coats and damaged paws from standing 24 hours a day in urine-soaked wires cages."We've seen less enforcement by the USDA [United States Department of Agriculture] and state departments of agriculture than we'd like," Menkin said. "This bill will change many of these horrific conditions."

Article

Sojos

We’re back from an extra long holiday break. Christmas was wonderful and as usual Bailey received many puppy gifts. By now my family and friends know that Bailey is on a restricted diet so buying him treat gifts gets difficult. There are very few companies that make treats that meet his restricted diet and if they do, they have to make it past me….a short ingredient list of all natural real food made in the USA. Honestly, most of Bailey’s treats are fresh fruits and vegetables I pull right out of the refrigerator so I rarely buy him treats. However, one of our new favorite treat gifts is from Sojos, Good Dog Apple Dumpling Treats.

Good Dog Apple Dumpling Treats are tiny bones, which makes them great training treats and they are easy to break in half for small dogs. Plus they smell great, just like apple pie. This line of treats is wheat and corn free and packed with all good things. They are available in other flavors and Sojos offers several different lines of treats to fit your dogs’ needs. Some are even grain free.

If you’re not familiar with Soujourner Farms, you should really check them out. The company was started in 1985 by a vet making healthy real pet food for his own dogs and expanded from there. Their recipe is Sojos + your meat + water = a healthy homemade meal for your dog. This is about as simple as feeding homemade and raw as you are going to get.

In addition to their wonderful food and treats their website is full of great information about dog health, care and feeding. One of my favorite articles is Pet Mythbusters: 5 Pet Food Myths.

Bailey gives Sojos Good dog Apple Dumpling Treats four paws and so do I.