Outward Hound Portable Water Sling with Bowl

Sold at PetSmart

When I spotted this kit at PetSmart, I thought it was a fantastic idea. The blue sling holds a standard 20-ounce water bottle. The khaki water bowl is tucked away in the little pouch on the front of the sling. You unfold the bowl, give your pet a drink, and then store it once again in its little pouch. So convenient, right?

Unfortunately, the water bowl is not quite waterproof. The material is not as thick as it needs to be. Gracie prefers to sip a little water and have more later. By the second stop, the bowl begins to sweat. By the third, you are left with a little ring of water on the ground where you place the bowl. Subsequent stops lead to a soggy bowl.

The material on the blue sling part is thin too. The water bottle of course will have moisture beading on the sides. The water eventually soaks through the fabric and moistens your clothing. For me personally, it is not a big deal, since I am usually covered in white dog hair at that point. All vanity is gone. Regardless of that, the product should be made with a thicker material. As an added benefit, the water would probably stay cooler longer.

After I bought the Outward Hound model, I found that another company makes a better version. This product is so annoying that I am going to buy the other model. Look for the review in the future.

Follow-Up to NOT FIT FOR A DOG Book Review

Upon reading my review again, I realized I omitted something I wanted to share with you. The authors were critical of prescription diets, stating that, in some cases, they exacerbated the pet’s problems.

Gracie had irritated skin when she joined our family. Skin allergies and irritation are common in terriers. Also, she probably did not enjoy the best diet either in her previous family situation or at the shelter.

It was difficult to determine exactly what caused the problem – environment, diet, both? We gave her a little Benadryl each day. We tried a two nationally-recognized brands’ sensitive skin diets. We did not see an improvement in her skin’s condition. She was not a huge fan of the food. She also seemed to eat grass quite a bit, which made me wonder if the food gave her tummy troubles too.

This book helped me better understand the ingredients in pet food. After doing more research about various brands, I finally found something that works. Gracie eats Castor & Pollux Organix dog food. It does not contain corn or wheat, two ingredients known to cause issues with sensitive skin. She loves the food. Her skin looks great. She nibbles occasionally on grass but in a quantity and at a frequency that is typical for the average dog.

My cats are both on prescription diets. I plan to do research about their food too. I would like to switch them to an organic blend that might address their weight issues. If I find something that works, I will let you know. If you have found something, please comment below.

It is up to us to educate ourselves about the foods we give our pets. On the point of prescription diets, I can wholeheartedly agree with the authors. Sometimes, the “cure” is worse than the disease.

Puppia Dog Harness

Sold in pet boutiques


Paid around $22 for medium size

We had large dogs before Gracie came into our lives. As a result, all of my “equipment” was way too big for her. One of the first pieces of essential equipment I bought was a harness.

I purchased a basic, nylon harness. It worked fine and was made well. Gracie tends to pull on the lead, though, especially during the first part of the walk. I did not like the way it seemed to chafe underneath her front legs.

While browsing around the local Three Dog Bakery, I found the Puppia harness. I LOVE it!! It is the best harness.

The harness is made from a mesh material that seems to be very breathable. It has enough thickness to be sturdy yet not overheat the dog. The clips are plastic; however, it is tough, thick, durable plastic. Gracie has used Puppia harnesses for over a year now, and I have not experienced any issues with breakage. I have noticed slight stretching, but nothing that would force me to toss the harness in the trash.

I have since seen the Puppia harness at other pet boutiques. I have yet to find the Puppia brand in a national pet chain store. Perhaps they cater to the boutique crowd?

You can find a similar (and sometimes cheaper) style at national chain stores, including Wal-Mart. The imitation harnesses do not seem to be made as well as the Puppia harness. In one case, the fabric felt very stiff which would lead to chafing. In another, the fabric was too thin. I could easily see Gracie ripping it on the first walk.

Yes, it is a bit more expensive than a basic harness. I do not mind paying more, though, for quality, and that is what you get with a Puppia harness.



Note: Gracie weighs about 19 pounds. I purchased a size medium harness for her. It would be a good idea to know your dog’s measurements before you shop for any harnesses or collars. I speak from experience - it is hard to wrestle a wiggling Jack Russell into a harness when you are in the pet store.

Book Review: Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food.

Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food. Michael W. Fox, B. Vet. Med., Ph.d, D.SC., M.R.C.V.S.; Elizabeth Hodgkins, D.V.M.; and Marion E. Smart, D.V.M., Ph.d. (2009)

I lost two dogs to cancer in a 1.5 year period. During that time, I heard stories from other pet owners whose companion was either going through the same thing or who had lost pets to cancer. Why is cancer so prevalent now in our pets? Is it simply a case of better diagnosis since we Americans spend millions on pet care? Is it the result of greater exposure to a toxic soup of chemicals from food and environment?

I hoped to find some answers in this book. In the introduction, it states the book (among other things) will teach you “how to read pet food labels and what you need to avoid for your pets’ sake.” It was exactly what I wanted. At just 178 pages, I figured it would be a quick, yet informative, read.

In reality, the book is an extended diatribe against the commercial pet food industry. Its ultimate advice is to avoid commercial pet food (except for some canned cat foods) and prepare a homemade, raw food diet designed by Dr. Fox. Recipes appear in the appendix.

At times, the book is downright insulting. The two worst statements are:

But the mere convenience of commercial pet foods is no valid reason for informed consumers to continue to feed them to their pets in all good conscience. (page 42)

If people are capable of properly feeding their own families, they are certainly capable of feeding their own pets without resorting to opening a bag or can of processed food to do it. (page 114)

Clearly, the authors are in need of a reality check. Perhaps they should have suggested that, unless you earn an upper six-figure salary, pet ownership is not for you.

I want to emphasize the copyright on the book – 2009. We are in the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in decades. People are not able to properly feed their own families. Pets are surrendered daily because their owners cannot afford them. In fact, as I write this, one of those abandoned pets is sleeping in my lap.

I can appreciate the authors’ passionate beliefs. I agree that pet food industry has tremendous problems – as does the human food industry. This book should have included more information for people who may not have a choice and must feed their pet a commercial pet food. For example, the section about ingredients could have contained some recommendations such as “avoid this food if the top five ingredients are these.”

In the end, I was left with a very bad taste in mouth. If I find a book that offers better information, I will review it here. In the meantime, here is some advice from a longtime pet parent. Avoid the cheap store brands; the money you save now will be spent later at the vet’s office. Buy the best food you can afford. Take your pet to the vet regularly. Give your furry companion plenty of water, exercise, and, most importantly, love.

Rescue Mommy

Help! Heartworm and Flea Meds are Draining my Wallet!!

Routine medicines like heartworm and flea preventatives are expensive. Here are some ways I save money on these medicines.

With the flea medicine, I do not apply the medicine year-round. In our area, the peak season seems to be the most critical time. Ticks are a bigger problem than fleas.

I only apply flea medicine to Gracie. The cats are strictly indoor and do not need it. As long as Gracie’s flea and tick issues are under control, the cats have been protected. You may not be so lucky. It is just something to consider.

I also buy a good quality flea medicine. Years ago, I tried the cheaper brands. They were not effective with my pets. If the product does not work for your pet, you are not saving money.

With heartworm medicine, I asked my vet if he would match the price offered by Doctors Foster and Smith. He did. The savings paid for a few extra months of medicine.

Speaking of Doctors Foster and Smith, they offer free shipping on all healthcare items such as flea, heartworm, and other medicines. Their prices seem to be competitive. They do require a prescription for some of the medicines. Details about their requirements can be found in their catalog or on their website, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/

I am sure other websites are out there too. I just like this particular site because they ship items quickly and have good prices. No, they did not offer me an endorsement deal…but we are open to it. Hey, as I said, the meds drain the wallet!

Rescue Mommy

Dog Toy: Toy Shoppe, Migrator Series, Medium Pheasant

Sold at PetSmart

The large version of this toy was our beloved Dino’s last toy. Gracie inherited it. The large version was too big for her to grab the middle. Had she been able to do it, she would have heard a deep, honking noise meant to resemble some sort of water fowl. She preferred to grasp it by the tail and shake vigorously. She had also succeeded in removing one of its flippers.

On a recent trip to PetSmart, we discovered the smaller version of the same toy. Gracie was thrilled. As you can see from these pictures, she gives the toy two paws up. It makes the same honking noise as the large version. It is sized perfectly for her smaller mouth.

We would recommend this toy for light, supervised play. It contains stuffing, which could be an issue if ingested. As previously mentioned, a strong chewer can remove the flippers with a bit of work. The device that renders the honking sound is a plastic tube with a plastic bag at the end – more stuff you do not want your dog to ingest. Play on!

Rescue Mommy & Daddy

Welcome to Rescue Pets Review

This week, we are reviewing the book, Not Fit for a Dog.  Gracie also does a little product research with a new dog toy.  Stay tuned!