Happy Tails Canine Spa Review and Giveaway Link Party!

Welcome to Happy Tails Spa Giveaway Event hosted by Two Little Cavaliers, and sponsored by Happy Tails Spa! This event begins on May 15, 2012 at 12:01am EST and will end on May 29, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.

Over 65 bloggers have come together to bring you some amazing natural spa products for your dogs. Each blog is offering one or more fantastic Problem Solving Products for the Modern Dog. All of the products offered by Happy Tails Spa are Eco-Friendly, All Natural, and Cruelty Free.

Be sure to hop along to each of the participating blogs for an even bigger chance to win all of the products that you feel your dog would benefit from.

You can also sign up for a newsletter from Happy Tails Canine Spa, which will include discounts, articles, and helpful information about dogs.



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A while ago, I signed up over at Two Little Cavaliers to participate in a product review and giveaway blog event. Shortly after signing up, I received a package in the mail with two products from Happy Tails Canine Spa: Ear Wipes and Ear Clear.



If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that Pallo has some ear issues. When I adopted him, he had ear infections in both ears, evidence of long-term infections that had gone without treatment, and even permanent lumps in his ears from hematomas, likely from shaking his head so hard, so often, and for so long due to the ear infections. When Pallo came home with me, he was neutered, given his vaccines, and was treated for his ear infections, which, let me tell you, was an adventure. Understandably, Pallo was very uncomfortable with his ears being touched. He would squirm away, roll onto his back, and even snap or bite to get his ears left alone. Ear treatment for those first few weeks included twice daily rounds of muzzling and then wrestling him down for the treatment. I always tried to make it as pleasant as possible for him, but the fact was he needed the meds in there, even if it caused stress.



Once his ears were cleared up, I set to work on the long path of allowing Pallo to be handled. He was also jumpy and snappy about his feet, tail, or rear being handled as well as his ears. Through the use of gradual petting, treats, careful handling, and even formal conformation classes, Pallo is now comfortable being handled by anyone, in almost any way. Snapping is a thing of the past. But, he still dislikes his ears being handled much, and, like many dogs even without his past, dislikes his ears being cleaned.

While Pallo has occasionally had full blown ear infections since clearing up those first ones he came home with, he tends to suffer from permanently dirty ears even when the ear is not actually infected. His right ear is much worse than the left, and needs cleaning much more often.



All this is simply a lead up to the products I was sent to review. I thought the history of Pallo's ears is pretty important here, to explain why these products were something I wanted to try with him, and to explain his miserable looks in the photos. While he doesn't enjoy getting his ears cleaned, he willingly allows me to do so, and we always follow it up with a game of fetch.

The Ear Wipes are a pretty neat product. They are round, pre-moistened pads that come in a round little container. It is super simple to take out a wipe and use it to clean out a dirty ear. It is was easier to use these than to use cotton pads that you have to apply solution to for ear cleaning, and way more convenient for when you are traveling or simply in a hurry.



They also manage to get a TON of gunk out of the ear quickly and easily.



Pallo is less than impressed with the amount of gunk that comes out of his ears.



When Pallo's ears are this gross, I follow up the ear wipes with some of the Ear Clear solution. This is basically a serum of natural ingredients that helps prevent gunky ears from becoming infected and helps loosen up and remove any gunk actually in the ear.



I flip up Pallo's ear flap, put in a little of the solution, hold his ear up so the solution will get into the ear, then I rub, rub, rub his ear really good. He seems to very much enjoy the rubbing part.







Then, I stand back and let him know we're done. Pallo always will give his head a big shake, then run around a little, rub the side of his face on the grass or carpet (I try not to do his ears indoors unless the weather is nasty), and then he grabs a toy and asks for the game he knows comes after ear cleaning time.



I always end up looking at his ear again. Sometimes, the serum and rubbing will release a lot of gunk that was deep in the ear into the outer ear, where it can be easily wiped away.

Overall, both of these products have worked great. I've noticed that Pallo's ears seem to be staying cleaner (though the pollen levels in the air have a big effect on his level of ear gunk, I've noticed). The Ear Wipes are part of the traveling kit I always put together when we go away for a weekend. The only down side I found to these products is that for a dog with sensitive skin, like Koira has, the wipes need to be used super gently, otherwise they can cause some irritation in the ear. As long as I am careful to be gentle with them on her, she does just fine. Pallo has never had any problems with irritaiton from the Wipes or the Ear Clear serum.

For a chance to win one of these products to try out yourself, please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. If the form doesn't show up, please click on the blog post title.

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Disclaimer: Please note that the Happy Tails Spa Host and participating bloggers are not responsible for prizes that do not get shipped on time, get lost in the mail, or that are never claimed. We have represented the sponsor with the expectation that they will fulfill all of the prizes in a timely manner. While we are not responsible, we will make an effort to assist the winner in obtaining their prize.