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Brookside Barkery

3 Ways to Treat Your Dog’s Arthritis Naturally

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Just like humans, dogs change as they age. As pet owners, we’re responsible to help them age gracefully. Here at Brookside Barkery we’re dedicated to educating our customers because we know that informed customers make better informed decisions. Arthritis is common in senior dogs and it can be challenging to keep your arthritic furry friend active and comfortable. Here are 3 ways to treat your dog’s arthritis naturally!

1. Fix Leaky Gut. Your dog’s gut lining contains millions of tiny little holes that allow digested foods and proteins to enter the body to be used as fuel. The tiny holes prevent larger, undigested proteins and toxins from entering the body and wreaking havoc with the immune system. These little wholes can stretch if your dog’s gut is damaged. This allows proteins, harmful bacteria and undigested food particles to enter the body – causing an immune reaction. Leaky guts can be caused by poor diet, drugs and other toxins, and over-vaccination. Step one is to eliminate processed foods, drugs, toxins, and vaccines as much as possible.

2. Fix the Fats. Fats are one of the most important ingredients in your dog’s diet … they affect every cell in his body … if he doesn’t get enough fat or gets the wrong balance of fats, things can go very wrong. Most dog food today is high in omega-6 fatty acids and low in omega-3 fatty acids. This causes chronic inflammation which makes arthritis worse. To reduce inflammation, your dog should be eating grass-fed animals. Not factory-farmed or grain-fed animals. If this isn’t possible, just be sure that you’re adding in omega-3 fats to balance out the different types of fats he’s eating.

3. Add Antioxidants. Free radicals are atoms that can damage cells and cause them to die. Antioxidants can prevent cell damage that free radicals cause. They also have anti-aging effects, help prevent cancer, heart disease, eye problems, and immune issues.

*Thank you dogsnaturallymagazine.com for these great tips!

Brookside Barkery

Vaccine Advice from the Barkery!

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We are typically told, as pet owners, how often to have our pets vaccinated by our vets. We naturally assume this is what’s best for our pet to keep it safe and healthy. But is it? Some of the common Brookside Barkeryvaccinations can actually be doing your pet more harm than good.

Many vets recommend both puppies and kittens get their “core vaccines” at ages 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks, 14
weeks, and 16 weeks. Then they get boosters at one year and annually thereafter. Have you ever wondered why your Chihuahua gets the same size vaccine as your Great Dane, and at the same frequency?

Giving your pet a vaccine when your pet is already immune doesn’t increase its immunity, but does increase unnecessary risk to your animal and can cause a variety of health risks and fatal diseases. Click here to read more about the risks involved in over-vaccinating your pet and Brookside Barkery’s vaccination recommendations!

 

Brookside Barkery

Last Minute Pet Gifts – Open Until 3PM Christmas Eve!

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Brookside BarkeryThe clock is ticking, and time is running out to get your last minute shopping done! The Brookside Barkery is your one stop shop to get everything you need, whether it’s for your pet or for the pet lover in your life!

Our Brookside and Lee’s Summit locations will be open until 3:00PM on Christmas Eve for your shopping convenience!

Still need gifts for your sweet fur babies? Stop by the Barkery where you’ll find everything that’s on your pet’s holiday wish list! Does Buddy need a plush, comfy new dog bed? We’ve got ’em! How about a snazzy new collar and leash? We have many styles and colors to choose from! Max could also use a new toy and bone to keep him entertained and happy for hours on end!

Not sure what they really want? We still have you covered. Pick up a gift card and watch their face light up when you give them the gift to choose exactly what they want from the Barkery!

Brookside Barkery

That Growling Sound (In Your Pet’s Stomach) Explained

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Just like humans, some dogs can have louder stomachs than others. If you’ve heard your dog’s digestive tract at work, you probably didn’t think much of it. While most of the time a noisy digestive tract is normal, in some cases, it can be problematic.

Borborygmi is the medical term for stomach noise. The noise is caused by gas moving throughout the digestive tract. Of course, some amount of gas is normal. A soft gurgling with periods of silence in between is a sign of normal digestive tract.

A digestive sound that is abnormal will typically contain larger amounts of gas, peristalsis is increased, or both. There are many things that cause loud stomach gurgling – some are harmless and some can be much more serious.

A great way to keep your pet healthy is to keep them on a healthy diet. At Brookside Barkery, our mission is to provide better health through better nutrition. We’re dedicated to providing only the best food for your pet’s diet – that’s why we provide all-natural food, treats and everything you’ll need to keep your furry friend healthy! Read on to find out more about normal stomach sounds for your pet, and signs that it could mean trouble.

Causes of harmless stomach noise

  • Normal digestion and hunger. If your dog has just eaten a meal and his stomach gurgles a bit, it means their stomach is working to digest the meal. When your dog is hungry, their stomach and intestines have little to work with, what’s left is gas. If you start hearing their stomach around meal time, the gurgling is normal.
  • Swallowing air. If your dog scarfs down meals or breathes heavily during exercise, the oxygen they swallow can create stomach noise and is totally normal.Brookside Barkery
  • Dietary indiscretion. Dogs are known for snacking on everything from pieces of paper to going through the trash. If this happens, your dog’s GI tract will work overtime to try to break down foreign objects, which causes loud stomach noises. These stomach noises can be anywhere from mild to life-threatening. If you are concerned, be sure to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Causes of stomach noises that could be serious

  • Intestinal parasites. Gross little creatures that take up space in your dog’s GI tract and cause digestive issues.
  • Foreign bodies in the GI tract. Some foreign objects like string, a toy, a leash, a sock or many other non-food items can cause severe damage to your dog’s digestive tract.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease. A condition in which the intestines are inflamed, causing high numbers of inflammatory cells present in the lining of the digestive tract. The inflammation interferes with the body’s ability to break down and absorb nutrients from food.
  • Dysbosis (leaky gut syndrome). When levels of good and bad bacteria are off, that can cause inflammation of the membranes of the intestine. This can result in the condition known as dysbiosis or leaky gut. Causes of leaky gut in dogs include antibiotics, corticosteroids, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), processed pet food, stress, toxin ingestion, vaccines and parasite infections. Stop by the Barkery and talk to one of our associates about switching your dog to an all-natural diet. We’re passionate about helping our customers provide the very best for their furry friends.

If your dog has occasional temporary stomach gurgling, there’s probably no need for concern. For example, if it’s first thing in the morning and he seems normal except for the gurgling, feed him his A.M. meal. If he eats with no problem and the noises stop, he’s probably fine.

However, if your dog’s digestive activity is easy to hear on a regular basis, as in, several times a week, or if there are other symptoms along with the tummy noises, such as a change in appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, lethargy or signs of abdominal pain, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.

*Thank you healthypets.mercola.com for these tips!

5 Reasons to Use a Pet Sitter this Holiday Season

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Here at Brookside Barkery, we love the holiday season. It’s the best time of the year, but it also can be the busiest! Many are traveling to see family and sadly, our pets can’t always come with us. Although your pets can stay at a boarding facility while you’re away, some cats and dogs really prefer to be at home. Getting someone you trust to look after your pets can have a number of advantages, both for you and your furry family.

So what are the benefits of having a pet sitter?

  • Some pets are happiest at home. Although there are dogs and cats who enjoy going on their own little holiday, some pets can get a bit anxious being taken out of their familiar environment. These pets tend to be happier at home when their owners are away, adapting much better to a new person than to a new environment.
  • Routine, Routine, Routine. Our pets are creatures of habit and their routines are incredibly important. From their feeding plan to regular walks. A house sitter can keep the day-to-day consistent causing minimal disruption to Brookside Barkery
    our pet’s lifestyle.
  • Peace of Mind. Knowing that your pet is safely at home being looked after by a trusted house sitter can help you relax and enjoy your holiday without feeling guilty.
  • Security. Your house sitter can bring in the mail, look after the garden and generally make the house look lived in while you are away. You can’t beat the security of actually having someone live in your home.
  • Cost. Sometimes boarding your pets can cost more than your own holiday, so if you have multiple animals, house sitting can be a great deal. The rate tends to be negotiated privately between you and your sitter and may depend on how much work is involved in caring for your house and pets and whether your home is in a sought after location. In some cases, you can find a house sitter that just needs a rent-free place to stay in exchange for looking after your pets.

If you’re thinking about getting a pet sitter during your holiday travels, your best bet is to ask your family and friends if they’d like to or if they know anyone that might be available. It’s best to consider someone who lives close to you, and of course loves pets. And as you gear up for the holidays, don’t forget to stop by the Barkery to up those holiday presents for your favorite four-legged friends!

*Thank you to lovethatpet.com for these great tips!

Costume Contest Winners + Photo Gallery!

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Congratulations to our costume contest winners!

1st place: Daisy the Pope in her Popemobile
2nd place: Wallace the Crab

Thank you to EVERYONE who participated!

Check out our adorable photo gallery below!

 

Brookside Barkery

Caring for Your Cat – The Basics!

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Bringing a new cat or kitten into your home can be exciting. Whether you’re a first-time pet owner, or you’re thinking about welcoming another animal into your home, there are many things to consider before adopting or purchasing a feline companion. Brookside Barkery has found an article that breaks down everything you should consider before adopting a new companion!

“Before adopting or purchasing a cat, you should consider the time and financial commitment of pet ownership,” said Dr. Sarah Griffin, lecturer at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “Additionally, you should determine if your lifestyle is suitable for responsible pet ownership.”

For example, if you are thinking about adopting a kitten, you should be able to provide the kitten with at least three
wellness visits to a veterinarian for vaccines and deworming, Griffin said. Additionally, Griffin recommended kittens be spayed or neutered when they are six to nine months of age and given monthly flea, intestinal parasite, and heartworm prevention, whether the kitten lives primarily indoors or outdoors.

Brookside Barkery Another important factor to consider before purchasing or adopting a cat is diet. Providing a well-balanced and nutritious diet plays a key role in your feline’s health. “I recommend feeding cats high-quality dry and canned food,” Griffin stated. “It’s important to introduce both types of food to kittens in case they require a special diet when they get older. Look for The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) label on food before purchasing it to ensure quality.” Brookside Barkery has a wide variety of superb all-natural pet food, both dry and canned food. We are dedicated to being a leader in customer service, so our retail associates can help you choose the perfect food for your new furry friend!

If you are considering bringing a cat into your home, you should also be prepared for their natural behaviors, such as scratching. Scratching may not be conducive to an indoor domesticated lifestyle, so cat owners should give their cat an outlet for this behavior, such as through a scratching post. Other options for cat owners include declawing their cat. However, declawing should only be done after failed attempts to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its claws present a health risk to the owner, Griffin said. Some possible ways to stop destructive scratching include trimming the claws weekly, giving the cat plenty of scratching posts or other items made for cats to scratch, or placing temporary synthetic nail caps on the claws, Griffin said.

Another factor to consider for potential cat owners is the responsibility of cleaning litter boxes. Litter boxes should be cleaned daily and fresh litter should be used weekly to every other week, Griffin said. “I recommend having one more litter box than cat in the home. For example, if you have two cats, you should have three litter boxes,” she said.

Barkery

Brookside Barkery’s store cat, Willow.

Cats should naturally use a clean litter box that is in a quiet part of the home and is well separated from the cat’s food and water. If inappropriate urination occurs, or the cat is not using the litter box, this could be a sign of a medical or behavioral condition. Talk to your veterinarian to determine the best solution to this problem.

Whether you are an experienced pet owner or beginning a new journey in the world of pet ownership, be sure to review and understand the responsibilities of a kitten or a cat. Pets fully depend on their owners for food, love, and care, so it is important to be completely committed before adopting or purchasing a new furry friend.


Follow our store cat, Willow on Twitter! All of our scratching posts, toys, and food are Willow approved, and she’s not easily impressed! Be sure to stop by Brookside Barkery in Lee’s Summit or Brookside for all the new essentials you’ll need for you and your feline friend!

*Thanks to vetmed.tamu.edu for the great tips!

Brookside Barkery

The Baths of Brookside are Remodeled and Ready!

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When it comes to giving your favorite four-legged friend a bath, we know it can be a real challenge – especially the cleaning up part! Brookside Barkery understands the struggle – and that’s why we’ve recently upgraded our self-serve bathing station with brand new, state of the art bathing equipment, new floor tile and even a fresh coat of paint!

Barkery groomingGone are the days of lifting a heavy, wet dog in and out of the tub. Yep, we’ve got brand new step ladders for your furry friend to climb right on in and then right on out – fresh as a daisy in spring! Bathe your best pal at the Barkery and you can forget about a house filled with the eye-watering aroma known to all as the dreaded, “wet dog” smell.

The Barkery also has brand new drying equipment with powerful warm (not hot) air dryers so there’s no chance of burning your pet’s skin! Our self-serve baths also include access to clean towels, silicone-free shampoos, and sanitized grooming tools.

With winter weather around the corner, also be sure to try our own Barkery paw balm to soothe paws that may become cracked from the cold, dry weather.

Click here to see Bath pricing, or better yet – stop by our Brookside location and check out our sparkling new bathing station for yourself! Your pet will leave looking and feeling like a Westminster Best in Show champ!

Brookside Barkery

4 Signs Your Cat Totally Loves You

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4 Signs Your Cat Totally Loves You

Signs of feline affection can be subtle or downright hard to read. At Brookside Barkery, we know how important it is to our customers that your pets are happy, so we’ve built a list of some behaviors that might just mean that love is in the air! Look for the following feline behaviors for confirmation of true love and adoration between you and your furry companion.

Following You Around (Everywhere)

You hear the th-thud-thud of four paws hitting the floor when you stand up from the couch. You nearly take a tumble while carrying a large pot of water over to the sink because someone is underfoot. You haven’t used the bathroom alone in years. All of these are signs that you are lucky enough to have a cat that doesn’t want to leave your side. This one is pretty clear-cut, but if your buddy is always following you around, you can bet he loves you a whole bunch. Consider bringing him to your work, school, or other social functions—a built in conversation piece and amazing lifestyle choice all in one!

Offering a Slow BlinkBarkery Bath

Cats do a lot of talking with their eyes and one very special way they say “I love you” is through the slow blink. When a cat is happy and content with you, she may just look over and slowly close and reopen her eyes. In this they are saying, “Hey friend, I love you, and I feel comfortable enough around you to let my guard down.” This is basically a marriage proposal from a cat and the best response is a reciprocated slow blink accompanied by the warm feeling in your heart from the certainty that your cat loves you. (Helpful tip: The slow blink is also a great way to introduce yourself in a non-threatening way to a new cat to show that you mean no harm.)

 Kneading or “Making Biscuits”

There are competing theories about why exactly cats knead. One theory holds that adult cats forever associate kneading with the comfort of nursing (kittens knead to stimulate their mother’s milk production), so when a cat kneads near her human, it shows she is relaxed and comfortable with her family. If that’s not love, what is? And when that kneading happens on your lap and is accompanied by purring and an intense, searching gaze, you know you have one content cat on your hands!

The Tail Has It

Cats often greet people they like with a question-mark-shaped tail. Pay attention to your cat’s tail to judge how happy she is to see you.

There you have it, four cat behaviors that are sure signs of true love (or at least true like!). If none of these behaviors seem familiar to you, Brookside Barkery has plenty of treats, toys, and cozy perches for your cat to enjoy – who says you can’t buy love?! Stop by the Barkery in Brookside or Lee’s Summit and pick up a special treat for your favorite feline friend today!

*Thank you IheartCats.com for the tips!

Help! My Cat Brought Me a Mouse!

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Anyone who has owned a cat for an extended period of time knows the reality of this scenario! Your sweet harmless kitten could, without any notice, turn into a deadly hunter on the prowl! And it’s really not your sweet cat’s fault. He is just following his instincts as a natural born hunter. Cats have an innate desire to catch things and hunt. It’s all part of the thrill of the chase. But why does your cat present you with the catch, as if thoughtfully leaving you a special gift to find!

WHY?!- Whether you enjoy gross mouse surprises or not, your cat thinks that you will. A mother cat will thoughtfully catch prey and bring it to her kittens to eat. Her gesture of leaving this dead mouse on your doorstep, at your feet, or Brookside Barkery even possibly in your bed, is actually an act of kindness. She considers you part of her family and would rather offer you her killing than consume it on her own. While this is sweet, you may not actually appreciate this gesture of kindness.

PREVENTION- Keep your cat from being a natural born hunter by keeping him inside. If this is not an option, try attaching a bell to his collar. Brookside Barkery and Bath provides a wide selection of collars and accessories for your cat. Stop in today to find one perfectly suited for your feline’s comfort and style. Adding a bell to the collar serves as a warning to mice and birds and helps to scare off potential prey by thwarting their ability to stealthily sneak up on it. This way, your cat can indulge his hunting instincts, but you are reducing the likelihood he’ll be successful and leave a present on your doorstep.

DISTRACTION- It can also be helpful to play with your cat in a way that satisfies her cat-and-mouse chase desires. You can do this by making or buying any type of interactive pet toy that simulates a sneaking prey. Look for the type of toy that you can move in front of your cat’s face, like a streamer or a ball on a string. Stop by Brookside Barkery and Bath to pick up some exciting and interactive toys. Your cat will enjoy the tease and want to take down the object, which is much better than taking down a live animal (or your feet as you come around the corner). Your cat can let out his pent up hunting energy on something safe and satisfying, as opposed to injuring a human or animal. Instinct is tough to overcome, so channel it in a way that is efficient, entertaining, and safe for the entire family.

*Special thanks to Litter Robot for these helpful tips!