Louis has always enjoyed bathtime. He has even been known to hop into the shower uninvited on occasion. Recently, he developed dry, flaky skin around his neck. In addition to adjustments we are making to his diet, we decided to try a shampoo and conditioner formulation specifically for dry and itchy skin. While on a recent excursion to pick up some beauty products for myself, I came across an Oatmeal dog shampoo and conditioner made by the super cute brand Harry Barker.

Created by a fashion model, Carol Perkins, this line is committed to being environmentally conscious (sustainable packaging, biodegradable materials, etc.) while maintaining the quality of the product. The brand also assists a range of fantastic charities benefiting pets and people.With all the above accolades and endorsements from publications like InStyle, it was a bit trying to wait for Louis to get dirty enough to warrant a bath. After a week of romps through mud puddles and messy meals, we decided to give it a go. Both products are concentrated and must be diluted before use, unlike the previous products we were using. It was helpful to use an empty bottle to mix the products with water. A bonus of diluting means that these 16 ounce bottles will last a long time. The shampoo had a great lather effect and rinsed easily, a major plus. The conditioner was thick and coated his fur with little effort.

Post bath, he smells fantastic, feels soft and his coat is shiny. His previously flake-ridden neck is clear and smooth. Even his rough paw pads are soft and smooth! All in all, another fantastic product.

Harry Barker Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner available at www.harrybarker.com or Brownes & Co., Miami Beach.

Bookmark It

Canine nutrition is one of my foremost interests. It was that topic that sparked the concept of my starting this blog. As such, I hope that it will be a regularly recurring topic and as I continue to read the many books and websites; and confer with experts in the field, I look forward to continuing to write on this topic.In light of the recent food recalls, there has been a great deal of debate on the topic of pet food and increased awareness amongst pet owners. There is a mass of conflicting information about what is ‘good’ dog food. Most dog owners have experienced their vet encouraging the use of certain brands of dog food. We feel if it is vet recommended, it must be safe. We must think outside of this rationalization. Try and imagine a responsible internist endorsing a a brand of food - it seems wrong.

Commercially prepared dog food is a modern invention for the sake of convenience. Prior to the advent of the pet food industry, our pets ate table scraps and other ‘human’ foods. In the 1950’s dry pet food was introduced and over the next decade advertisers packaged and commercialized the notion that commercially prepared foods were superior to freshly cooked meats and vegetables.

The pet food industry has done a wonderful job of convincing us that feeding our pup anything but commercially prepared dog foods is dangerous to his health. While commercially prepared foods are carefully formulated to the specific needs of our canine friends, while reading the ingredients, you often find meat by products, fillers and chemicals to provide a long shelf life.

If the over 5,000 pet foods that were recalled in 2007 are not enough to convince us that we need to reevaluate the trust we put into packaged food products, I highly recommend Ann Martin’s book, Food Pets Die For. Originally published in 1997, it was one of the first exposés on the pet food industry. She has updated her book and continues to call out the unethical practices that take place in the industry. The most shocking information was the assertion that euthanized animals are rendered into the mix.

The veterinary recommended brand we were feeding Louis was included in the pet food recall, although not his specific formula. It was still enough to make me rethink what I was feeding him. After reading Ms. Martin’s book, I committed to changing his diet drastically. We are in the process of making the change and are already seeing positive changes.

In addition to the new-found knowledge of the revolting processes the pet food industry utilizes, Ms. Martin makes helpful suggestions for revising your pet’s diet, offers recipes for feeding pets home cooked meals and advises on selecting commercially prepared foods made by ethical companies using human grade ingredients. Her book is gut-wrenching and I needed a few lengthy breaks in order to stomach its contents, however, for anyone who cares for a pet, it is necessary reading.

Bookmark It