When you adopt an older dog, you get a lot of love. But sometimes there are a few health problems that might concern you. That was the case with Skippy, my Dachshund who was already 15 years old when we took him in. Unfortunately, Skippy is blind. It didn’t seem to be much of a problem for him for a long time. He took things slowly, feeling out his surroundings and gently touching his nose to the walls and furniture to find his way. But the more comfortable he got with his new home, the faster he felt like moving. Before long, he was crashing into things at a running speed and yelping as he bonked his head. I couldn’t let my little buddy keep getting hurt, so I contacted Silvie Bordeaux to see if she could help.
Enter Muffin’s Halo
Silvie invented Muffin’s Halo after her own dog, Muffin, started to go blind. I had seen testimonials and videos online of the product, and I thought it looked like something that might work for my Skippy. Silvie was extremely helpful. I gave her Skippy’s measurements and she sent over a blue Halo for him to try out. The Halo itself is incredible. It’s lightweight, easy to put together, and very durable and well-manufactured. They may seem pricey, but when you see how well-made the Muffin’s Halo is, you know you’re getting your money’s worth. I have no doubt that the Halo would last a lifetime, even if your blind dog is just a puppy.
Skippy Puts On His Halo
Skippy donned his new wings, and I must say he’s never looked more adorable. The ring that forms the actual halo is adjustable, and we found that Skippy did a little better when we tilted it downward, as we have some low steps and furniture in the house. He’s still able to eat and drink from his bowls with the halo on, and he can even lie down. He did have some trouble getting back up on his own, but he’s getting old and sometimes struggles with that, even without the halo. The wings stay attached to the harness with velcro, so when Skippy’s not in the mood to run around, we take them off, as they’re so easy to detach and reattach.
Did It Work?
As for how the Muffin’s Halo actually worked, it does exactly what it is supposed to. Skippy no longer takes things at full charge. In fact, he’s a little bit calmer simply wearing the Muffin’s Halo. He did need some time to adjust, and I still don’t think he fully understands what’s going on. Sometimes he’ll bump into something with the Halo and just stop moving entirely.
My theory is that he thinks he’s about to be picked up, as the pressure on the harness mimics the feeling of our hands when we scoop him up. But given a bit more time, I know he’d become an expert, and a younger dog would pick it up very quickly. I’m confident that there is no better product out there to help stop Skippy from bumping into things. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone with a blind dog who could use a little assistance.
Furthermore, Silvie was absolutely delightful. She was available to answer all of my questions and make sure Skippy had as good of an experience as possible. She genuinely cares about blind dogs, and she hopes that people will donate their Muffin’s Halos to shelters so that blind dogs stand out to people looking to adopt. Blind dogs have trouble finding homes, and Silvie wants to change that.
Don’t Forget About Noah!
You can also check out our piece about Blind Rockstar Dog Noah, who wears a Muffin’s Halo and tries to spread a message of anti-bullying to schools.
If you have a blind dog and you’re interested in getting a Muffin’s Halo, you can buy them here!
What product should our doggy reviewers check out next? Let us know in the comments below!
