Get Your Pets Ready for Summer with Our Summer Collection!

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With Memorial Day weekend quickly approaching, it’s time to get your four legged friends ready for some fun in the sun – the safe way!

Did you know that dogs need summer gear just like us humans do? It’s true! In fact, sunscreen is very important for pups when out enjoying some sun. Planning a float trip or time on the boat? We’ve got you covered. Here are some great summertime essentials you can pick up or order online from the Barkery now:

Solis Stretchy UV Coverup for Dogs UPF 40+

Keep your best friend safe from the sun with this UV Coverup! With a UPF of 40+ you’ll both be able to let your dog enjoy outdoor summer actiivites with you.

Tidal Life Vest Life Jacket for Dogs

If your canine companion loves water activities, it’s important to keep water safety at the forefront of your mind. The Tidal Life Vest is highly visible and ergonomic, keeping your pup safe and comfortable in and out of the water.

Zephyr Cooling Vest for Dogs

Keep your pooch comfortable on the hottest days of the season! The lightweight material uses evaporative cooling to keep your dog’s temperature safe. The Zephyr Cooling Vest remains lightweight even when wet, allowing your dog to enjoy their summer activities.

Epi-Pet Sun Protector Spray for Dogs

Protect your pup from harmful UV rays. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays can cause your dog’s skin to burn, even through his coat. Be sure to pick this up for longer days out in the sun!

Check out our full line of summertime essentials and stock up before you head outside! 

Keep Your Dog Safe During Summer Yard Work

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Getting ready to do some yard work this summer? Before getting started, it’s important to be informed of the potential dangers that can poison your dog. From fertilizers to mulch the Barkery is here, with information from Dr. Justine A. Lee, to help you ensure your furry family member is safe during your summer yard work.

Fertilizers

The majority of lawn fertilizers contain natural elements that are generally non-toxic (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), so if your dog eats grass that you’ve applied fertilizer to, it rarely leads to serious poisoning. Although, if your dog ingests fertilizer directly from the bag it can result in more serious problems including seizures and tremors, so it’s important to store them safely.

When selecting a fertilizer for your lawn, it’s important to read all the ingredients in the fertilizer you’re selecting. Some fertilizers may contain iron, carbamates or organophosphates – which can result in more serious, life-threatening symptoms when ingested. Thankfully, these more dangerous types of fertilizer are rarely seen on the market nowadays, but it is better to be safe than sorry!

Organic Fertilizers

Surprisingly, organic fertilizers or “meals” are the most dangerous type of fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are typically “natural” fertilizers that are leftover byproducts including bone meal, blood meal, feather meal and fish meal. When ingested these “meals” can result in vomiting, diarrhea, foreign body obstruction or even severe pancreatitis.

Mulch

As most people know, chocolate is toxic to dogs. Similarly, cocoa mulch – made out of shells or hulls from the cocoa bean – also contains the toxin, theobromine. Cocoa mulch is very fragrant which makes dogs tempted to ingest it. When ingested, theobromine can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and can lead to death in extreme cases. Cedar mulch is a good alternative to cocoa mulch, as it is not toxic to your furry friend.

Keep your dog safe this summer by keeping these poisons out of your yard! If you suspect your dog may have been exposed to poison, contact your veterinarian immediately or, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Source: http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-toxins-poisons/fertilizer-and-mulch-dangers-dogs

Something Special for the Dog Mom in Your Life

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Are you close with the World’s Best Dog or Cat Mom?

Show her your appreciation this Mother’s Day with a World’s Best Dog or Cat Mom gift box from Brookside Barkery & Bath.

The box includes a beautifully scented Pet House Odor Eliminating Candle, WHIP Body Butter (that just so happens to be great for your skin AND your dog’s skin and coat), and a mini Hari Om CBD Bath Bomb from Brookside Holistic Solutions.

Plus – it’s perfectly packaged and ready to present to the special mom in your life! She’s sure to enjoy this small token of appreciation for all of her hard work and dedication to her furry children.

Order online or visit us in-store to pick up your gift box before they’re all gone!

Calm Your Pet’s Storm Anxiety with CBD

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It’s spring storm season. You see the first flash of lightning, hear the first boom of thunder and you instantly know – your faithful, furry friend is going to be terrified. Not only is watching your best friend in terror heartbreaking, giving your dog a “safe” space and rewarding calm behavior with treats can only go so far. Luckily, The Barkery is here to help – with CBD!

Storm anxiety – along with separation anxiety – is one of the most common anxieties found in dogs. Dogs are often more in tune with their environment than us humans are. Because of this, the barometric changes that happen prior to a storm combined with threatening dark skies, booming thunder and even the smell of a storm can lead to extreme anxiety.

There is a big difference between a dog being caught off guard and startled by a thunderclap and a dog suffering from storm anxiety. If you notice your furry family member displaying one or all of the following behaviors during a storm, there is a good chance they are suffering from anxiety:

  • Shaking
  • Whimpering
  • Pacing
  • Panting
  • Hiding
  • Clinging
  • Howling
  • Destructive behavior
  • Loss of appetite

Now that we’ve determined if your dog has storm anxiety or not, you’re probably asking yourself: how does CBD help? CBD blocks the absorption of serotonin in the brain. During this time block, CBD helps produce an elevated level of serotonin in the brain. Ultimately, this leads to reduced fear/anxiety, a calm mind/body and helps your pup function in a normal manner during a storm.

Ready to improve your dog’s quality of life this storm season? Come by either Brookside or Lee’s Summit Barkery location today! A member of our knowledgeable staff will help you select the best CBD product for your pet and have them back to their normal self in no time!

May Special -Tucker’s Raw Frozen

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Tucker’s believes a simple carnivore diet offers maximum absorption, so the formulas are extremely simple and limited with 95% meat, bone and organ and only 5% pumpkin. Plus – Tucker’s Raw dog & cat food uses meats that are sourced Human Grade, Human Edible and Federally Inspected, 100% sourced in the USA. Individual vacuum sealed patties offer optimal freshness and ease of handling, taking the “ick factor” out of raw feeding. May is a great time to try Tucker’s Raw Diets from Brookside Barkery, with:

  • $5 off 6lb dog frozen
  • $3 off 3lb dog frozen
  • $3  off 24oz cat frozen
  • $2 off 8oz cat frozen
  • $1 off all raw bones

This promotion only lasts through the end of May! Stop in & talk to a nutrition specialist to see what benefits Tucker’s can have for your pet.

Double Coated Dogs – To Shave or Not to Shave?

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Now that the weather is warming up and summer is approaching, you may be wondering – should I be getting my dog shaved? If you own a double coated dog breed like an Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Australian Shepherd or Pomeranian – the answer is NO. Unless it is medically necessary, it is not recommended to shave a dog with a double coat and the Brookside Barkery Groomers are here to tell you why.

Certain breeds were created with the double coat in order for them to better deal with the surrounding climate. The fur on a double coated dog acts as a thermal regulator that both slows down the process of heat absorption in hot weather and insulates the body to protect them from cold weather. Shaving a dog with a double coat not only exposes their skin to harmful UV rays which can cause serious burns, but can also cause overheating.

A double coated dog’s top layer of fur is called their guard hairs. The guard hairs are there to deflect the sun. When you shave a double coated dog, you are removing their guard hairs giving the sun rays direct access to your dog’s skin.

Your dog will naturally get rid of unwanted undercoat hairs during spring shedding, leaving only guard hairs remaining. As annoying as this unwanted shedding can be to us dog owners, once the undercoat has been shed, air can circulate through the guard hairs. This cools your dog’s skin while also protecting them from harmful UV rays.

So next time someone asks you if you’re going to shave your dog to cool them down for summer, educate them and explain that shaving will do the exact opposite!

Do you have more questions for the Brookside Barkery Professional Groomers? Stop by either Brookside or Lee’s Summit location today!

DIY Cat Toys

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As most cat owners know, cats will play with just about anything that entertains them.

So why pay for cat toys when you can easily create some of your own with everyday items found around the house? Check out these fun DIY cat toy ideas from The Honest Kitchen and get to creating!


Sock Cat Toys

The next time you start seeing holes in your socks, don’t throw them out. Instead, easily turn them into cat toys. Take one of the socks and roll it up inside the other. Add crinkly paper and some catnip in there before tying the open end of the outer sock into a knot. Give it to your cat or throw it for him to chase.

Toilet Paper Roll Toys

Cat owners know how easily a feline can be entertained—for a time—with the right kind of toy. It can be as simple as a rolled up piece of paper destined for the garbage that didn’t make it into the bin. But after 20 minutes of intense play, that “toy” may easily be forgotten—which is why it is a good idea to have a variety of options. One common household item that lends itself well to this is the toilet paper roll. There are several toys you can make out of these rolls, including balls. It can also be as simple as just giving your cat the roll that he can unwind. When you make the toys, avoid using anything on the rolls that would make them unsafe or toxic, including staples.

Newspaper Toys

All you need is a single sheet of newspaper to create a crumpled-up ball, thick strands torn from the sheet and a loop cut from the edges. Recycle when used and start from scratch (pun intended) with a new sheet.

Straw Toys

Offer your cat a couple plastic drinking straws for batting, chewing, chasing and pounce action. Keep an eye out for the cat chewing pieces of the straw up, though. Replace the straws as needed.

DIY Whack-a-Mole Toy

Have an extra soda or cardboard box laying around? Turn it into a whack-a-mole game for your cat! Cut holes in one side and use your sock toy (or anything else that will work) for hours of DIY cat enrichment.

What cat toys have YOU created that we should add to the list? Have fun playing with your furry friends!

 

What Exactly Is Prescription Pet Food?

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If your furry friend has ever had a chronic illness or food sensitivity, chances are you’ve gone to the vet and may have been told to start feeding your pet prescription food. According to Dog’s Naturally Magazine, the main difference between over the counter pet food and prescription pet food is how expensive they are.  To put it simply, your dog doesn’t need prescription food.

According to Dana Scott, CEO of Dogs Naturally Magazine, the top 5 ingredients in store bought prescription food and prescription food are the same:

  • Chicken by-product meal
  • Corn meal
  • Sorghum
  • Barley
  • Chicken

So, there’s no reason for the foods to require a prescription, since they contain no drug or other ingredient not commonly found in non-prescription pet diets. There is no reason for veterinarians to hand a written “prescription” for dog food that is taken elsewhere to purchase the food.

Now, you might be thinking this is because the prescription diet was formulated and tested with a specific condition in mind. This is completely false. While an over-the-counter food with a health claim (such as controls weight) is subject to FDA regulations and enforcement, the FDA practices “enforcement discretion” when it comes to veterinary diets.

Put another way, this means the FDA has not reviewed or verified the health claims on any veterinary diet. So, if your vet claims your dog needs to be eating a prescription diet, ask to review the ingredient list. Then ask for hard evidence the foods in the prescription diet are any better than those in regular diets.

The Brookside Barkery’s mission is providing “better health through better nutrition” and we’re dedicated to educating our customers so that they can make better decisions. If you think your pet may require a special diet, top by Brookside Barkery today and let our pet nutrition experts guide you and your four-legged best friend to a healthy and happy life!

Source: Dog’s Naturally Magazine 

Brookside Barkery fetches new delivery services

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Thanks to Thinking Bigger for this amazing feature about our new online store. We are so excited to offer free local delivery to our 4-legged friends in the Kansas City Metro!

We’re proud to offer free product delivery within a 10-mile radius with a minimum spending requirement of $50.

“As a small, brick-and-mortar business, our concerns of competing with retail giants have been on the horizon for quite some time. Brookside Barkery’s advantage has always existed in the value of the pet products we carry and our incredibly knowledgeable staff,” marketing coordinator Courtney Klitzke said.

“Pet owners come to the Barkery looking for answers and trust our advice, which cannot be replicated by online retailers,” she continued. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing stopping those pet owners from taking our advice, choosing the right products for their pets and then simply putting those items on an automatic delivery schedule through one of many online stores.”

“We believe pet owners shouldn’t have to choose between quality and convenience,” Klitzke said.“Instead, we’ve created a positive, accessible, multi-channel shopping experience for our customers so that whether they’re in-store or shopping from home, the clear choice when shopping for their pets’ favorites is the Barkery.”

Read the full article here. 

April Sale – Lotus Pet Foods

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Lotus Natural Food for Pets is a unique line of holistic, oven-baked dry foods, canned stews and raw foods, all created for the long, happy life of your favorite dog or cat.

We’re talking high-quality animal proteins like lamb and poultry, whole fruits and veggies, a unique oil blend bursting with omega-3s and 6s, and energy giving carbs like barley and potatoes, all gently baked into tasty little cookies and savory stews that will have your pet smiling from ear to floppy ear.

Check out what Lotus is offering this month, only at the Barkery:

  • Dog & Cat Cans: $1 Off!
  • NEW Soft Baked Dog Treats: $2 Off!
  • $10 Off Large Bags of Dog Kibble
  • $6 Off Medium Bags of Dog & Cat Kibble
  • $4 Off Small Bags of Dog & Cat Kibble