A Product that Offers Help for Blind Dogs: Muffins Halo

Muffin in his Muffin’s Halo

Muffin is changing lives. He’s an adorable white toy poodle, who just turned 14. He’s also blind. Like most blind dogs when they’re first afflicted, Muffin’s world changed drastically, and coping was very tough. He would bump into things and feel constantly disoriented. This made the once feisty little man retreat into himself, feeling insecure about his surroundings. Heartbroken that her baby was having such a hard time, mom Silvie Bordeaux made it her mission to find something to alleviate his suffering. But there was nothing on the market fit the bill. So, Silvie set out to create her own, and ended up making Muffin’s Halo, a wonderful product that would help blind dogs everywhere.

Meadow in her Muffin’s Halo

Muffin is a worthy trailblazer. Given to Silvie at eight weeks of age by an ex-significant other, he was always a curious, mischievous and very adventurous little boy. He would go to work with Bordeaux, who owned a PR agency in the sports and fitness field. He learned quickly how to use his charm to work the girls in the office, presenting his cute self outside of each office door with an I’m here! bark, to collect his daily (probably several times daily) treat. He traveled the world with Silvie, making friends at New York City hotels, collecting more treats from the smitten hotel staff. When his vision started to fade at age 11, Silvie started exploring ways to help him. Cataract surgery wasn’t a good option because Muffin had a heart murmur. “Cataracts are like a sunset; it’s a gradual fading until the lights go out,” Silvie aptly described. “I remember when Muffin’s lights went out. He walked into the wall in the backyard and fell down the stairs.” Alarmed, she took him to an ophthalmologist and her vet. Blood work revealed that Muffin also had a mass in his spleen, a discovery that would mark the beginning of a terrible nightmare that very nearly killed the dog.

Sochi beside turtle in his Halo

The Accident That Nearly Killed Muffin

Silvie took Muffin to an internist, who shall remain nameless. He confirmed the mass and was very pushy to opt for exploratory surgery and a biopsy, even though Muffin, based on his age and condition, could hemorrhage to death. Bordeaux decided on a much less invasive aspirate of the spleen tissue, which is 80% accurate in determining malignancy. The results were benign, and Silvie gave a sigh of relief. Muffin was already eating a good diet, but Silvie set out to go the extra mile making it even healthier, adding the proper supplements and consulting professionals. After 30 days, Muffin was doing great! He had renewed energy and seemed happy.

She took Muffin back to the vet for a recheck, thinking the mass might be gone because Muffin seemed so healthy. He, again, pushed for surgery, but Silvie insisted that another aspirate in a different part of the spleen would be sufficient. If it came back benign again, it would be enough for her and she’d let things be. During this time, Silvie had created a prototype of what would become Muffin’s Halo, that was set to be delivered the very next day.

The vet took a peppy, happy Muffin in the back room to perform the procedure, and a short time later, came out as white as a sheet, every pet parent’s worst nightmare. “He said to me, ‘Something went horribly wrong,’,” Silvie recalls. “He told me he accidently lacerated Muffin inside,  and my dog was bleeding out on the table!” The vet told Silvie he was going to do an immediate transfusion, and she should brace herself for the worst; it was very possible Muffin wouldn’t survive. For Bordeaux, who was pushed to do exploratory surgery, her hand was now forced; they had to go in. If this wasn’t horrible enough, wait until you hear how this practice dealt with their mistake.

Muffin under oxygen during his ordeal

As the vet was telling Silvie the urgency of the situation, the office informed her she needed to pay them close to $8,000.00, or they were going to put Muffin down. Yes, you’re reading this correctly, as incredulous as it sounds! They would not move forward treating Muffin, until Silvie gave them her credit card. Over a barrel, she complied.

As she hovered over her gravely ill dog, Silvie made a pact with Muffin. “I told him to fight, we’re going to fight this together,” Bordeaux recalls. ” I said, I know with the blindness you’ve been depressed, but mommy has something I’ve been working on and it’s coming tomorrow for you! We’re going to get you through this. You’ll get better, and your life will have a purpose. We’re going to be an advocate for blind dogs. This will be your heritage before you leave this planet. Please, Muffin, fight!”  At this point in my interview with Silvie, I needed the Kleenex. What a powerful bond we have with our pets. I do believe Muffin, lying on the table being given oxygen, heard her.

Bordeaux went home that day and gathered Muffin’s belongings around her. She dropped to her knees, and prayed to God to give them a second chance. After a very rough night, Muffin pulled through. He came home from the hospital a couple of days later, and in three weeks, he’d healed.  In surgery, they had to remove his entire spleen where the laceration and mass were located, and he never even had cancer; it was benign. In some divine way, Silvie believes it all happened for a reason and was instrumental in bringing them to where they are.

Silvie, with Muffin, Chloe & Muffin’s Halo friends

Muffin’s Halo is Born

The prototype arrived and was tweaked for improvements. She added angel’s wings to the halo-like bumper design to represent blind dogs being guided by their angels. The first time Silvie put Muffin’s Halo on Muffin, it was just a few short weeks after his surgery. He adapted almost immediately. Each time he walked into a hard surface, the Halo would protect him and signal going the other way. “I saw how he was going back and forth, maneuvering with the Halo and wagging his tail, so happy,” Bordeaux relayed. “It’s the blind dogs who taught me how to make this,” she adds. “I went to parks, tried it on different sized dogs. To this day, when blind dogs come  over to get their Halos, they’re very timid, they don’t walk around much or their owners are holding them. Once they have the harness on, it’s unbelievable to watch them transition and come to life.” It’s a beautiful thing. Here’s a video of Muffin navigating his aunt Debbie’s house, a new location for him, using his Muffin’s Halo.

Silvie introduced Muffin’s Halo two years ago at SuperZoo, a big pet industry conference, and was voted Best New Product and Best New Meaningful Product. Muffin’s Halo is now all over the world, in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Israel, Vienna, Philippines, France, Italy, Switzerland, Malta, Poland and Mexico. Wow! Recently, one of the UK’s largest papers, the Daily Mail, ran a front page story on an abandoned, blind dog named Basil, who was rescued and given a Muffin’s Halo. Sylvie and Muffin have their own small factory in California, where the Halos are made.

Muffin’s Halo is for big dogs, too!

And, if you think Muffin went through a lot, this little dog that could has also overcome Cushing’s Disease and seizures over the past two years,  all via diet, natural supplements and remedies. Muffin and his mom are stars!

Muffin’s Birthday Wish Plea

It’s a miracle Muffin has made it to his 14th birthday. In honor of it, Muffin has only one wish…to give Muffin’s Halos to 14 blind shelter dogs. Through he and his mom’s non-profit, Second Chances for Blind Dogs (remember Silvie’s prayer to God to give Muffin and her a second chance?), they are having a fundraiser through August 12th to raise enough money to do this. We can help Muffin realize his birthday wish! Can you donate $14 to this beautiful cause? If not, donate anything you can. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K6ZUQTWTT757E 

Silvie and Muffin will post pictures and information about the 14 dogs they’ve helped and their transformation stories on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Muffins-Halo-For-Blind-Dogs/268183153293867

Muffin’s Halo is Fashionable, Too!

Muffin’s Halo comes in three colors of angel’s wings – white, red and blue, in colorful butterfly wings and, for football fans, the quarterback halo. Coming next, green or pink camouflage, with the message Proud to be an American Blind Dog. I’m sure they’ll be super cute! But, more important than cute, is the incredible empowerment this product is providing blind dogs around the world. Please share this with any parents of blind dogs or shelters in your neighborhood. What a blessing to give a blind dog a new lease on life!

Muffin’s Halo Quarterback wings

Important Info on Blindness in Dogs

The following information was provided by the ASPCA.

How Can You Tell if Your Dog is Going Blind?

• Misjudging heights and bumping into walls, furniture or other objects
• Confusion in new surroundings
• Reluctance to move from one spot
• Not being able to find food and water bowls
• General clumsiness and disorientation
• Easily startled
• Eye rubbing or squinting
• Cloudy, discolored, inflamed or tearing eyes and a large pupil

What Breeds are most Prone?

Progressive retinal atrophy is most common in cocker spaniels, collies, Irish setters, Norwegian elkhounds, schnauzers and poodles, but can affect any breed. Collie eye anomaly usually affects collie breeds and retinal dysplasia is commonly seen in beagles and Labrador retrievers. Breeds that are predisposed to glaucoma include American cocker spaniels, basset hounds, Chow Chows and Labrador retrievers.

Creating a Safe, Loving Environment for Your Blind Dog

• Give extra attention and TLC, especially for elderly pets.
• Avoid moving the furniture.
• Don’t leave boxes, toys or other objects in walking paths.
• Cover sharp corners and objects with soft insulation.
• Speak to your dog when you enter the room and before petting or touching him.
• Let him smell visitors’ hands before they touch him.
• Mark different rooms with different scents so that your dog can use his sense of smell to recognize where he is.
• Mark the tops and bottoms of staircases with a bit of perfume.
• Use rugs to texture rooms, allowing your dog to use his sense of touch to get his bearings.
• Carry or lead your dog up and down stairs and block access to them when you’re not using them.
• Place barriers around hot tubs, pools and other dangerous and off-limits areas.
• Make sure she has her own safe place she can get to easily.
• Buy toys with sound and scent.
• Keep food and water bowls in the same place.
• Be very vocal and be aware of your different tones.
• Don’t baby or pity your dog—simply help him adjust.

Can Blind Dogs Get Their Vision Back?

Loss of vision in dogs can be reversible, depending on the cause. Cataracts, which cause mild to total vision loss, can be removed by surgery. Veterinary ophthalmologists commonly perform cataract removals and are able to restore vision in their canine patients.

Muffin and his sister, Chloe

Sylvie & her Muffin man

Do you have or know a blind dog? Tell me your story in the Comments. You never know how your share can help others!