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Why Do Cats Love Cardboard Boxes?

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No matter how extravagant the cat toy, it’s a known fact that cats are more interested in one thing – the cardboard box it came in. But, why is this? The cat lovers at Brookside Barkery have gotten to the bottom of why our feline friends are drawn to their cardboard castles.

Safety

For cats, boxes are a stress reducing safe zone. When hiding in their box, they can observe their environment while eliminating the option of a predator sneaking up on them. Us humans and other pets have to come directing into their field of vision – so no surprises are in store. When cats get spooked, their initial reaction is to run and hide. The perfect safe space? A cardboard box!

Insulation

Cardboard boxes make for great insulation! The combination of cardboard’s insulation and the small space of a box makes for the perfect area for your kitty to curl up and relax. Whether your home is hot or cold, the insulation of a cardboard box help regulate your cat’s body temperature – creating the perfect temperature for a cat nap.

Texture

Cardboard is the perfect texture for your cat to scratch and bite. Cats love the feeling of digging their claws into a cardboard box while stretching or simply just to play. Many cat owners find their cats have shredded their cardboard box to bits after all of their biting and scratching. To your kitty, a simple cardboard box is interesting enough to keep them entertained for days.

While all of these reasons make up why cats love cardboard boxes, they all seem to have one thing in common – cats love confined, enclosed spaces. So, the next time your kitty doesn’t acknowledge the fancy toy you bought them and goes straight for the box, remember they are safe, cozy and entertained.

The Benefits of Probiotics for Your Pet

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Probiotic supplements are everywhere – you may even be taking one yourself! Just like us humans, probiotics have many benefits for your pet as well.

Probiotics are nutritional supplements containing live microorganisms (bacteria and/or yeast) which aid digestion and regulate the immune system. When a probiotic is ingested by your pet, it boosts the number of “good” microorganisms present in the GI tract, which helps them to outnumber the “bad” ones.

Studies have also shown that probiotic supplementation can help treat infections outside of the GI tract, including allergic and inflammatory diseases. This isn’t too surprising, considering a large portion of the body’s immune system is associated with the gut.

Brookside Barkery’s Favorite Probiotic Products:

Note: We recommend rotating products to ensure a better balance in the gut.

Good bacteria are crucial for the health of your pet’s gut. They also support brain, digestion, assimilation of nutrients, and immune system. These reasons alone should be enough to start supplementing probiotics into your pet’s diet!

Want more information on the benefits of probiotic supplements for your pet? Come by either Brookside or Lee’s Summit Barkery location today! A member of our knowledgeable staff will help you select the best probiotic supplement for your pet to keep their health on track.

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!

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!

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 

Busy Schedule? Take Advantage of Barkery’s Food Delivery & Pick-Up/Drop-Off Grooming Services!

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Don’t let your busy schedule keep your pets from getting the grooming and quality pet food they need – take advantage of our convenient Barkery Pet Van and Delivery Services! Not only can we deliver the best pet food in Kansas City directly from our store to your front door, but we can also pick up your furry friend for their grooming appointment!

Here are some key things to know when using each service:

Food Delivery:

  • Available at both Brookside and Lee’s Summit locations.
  • Free delivery within 10-miles of our stores with a purchase of $50 or more.
  • All deliveries placed will be delivered by the next business day.
  • Place your order online or by calling your preferred store.
  • A Barkery associate will call to confirm payment and delivery.
  • A Barkery associate can even look up your order history!
  • Click here for more information.

Grooming:

  • Pick-up & Drop-off services are only available at the Brookside location to customers within a 10-mile radius of our Brookside store.
  • Pick-up & Drop-off service is currently available Monday-Friday for Grooming and Bathing appointments.
  • Pick-ups begin at 7 AM and run to 9 AM.
  • Drop-offs occur between 3 PM – 5 PM.
  • You must provide a carrier for dogs 30 lbs or less.
  • All customers must fill out a waiver form.
  • Click here to schedule your appointment.

What are you waiting for? Take advantage of Barkery’s convenient pet food delivery and grooming services today!

Support KC Pet Project and Save During Love Your Pet Week!

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Love Your Pet Day is February 20th and the Barkery is extending the celebration for an entire week – partnering up with Minsky’s Pizza and KC Pet Project!

From Monday, February 18th through Sunday, February 24th, adopt a pet from KC Pet Project and receive a coupon for a FREE Small Gourmet Minsky’s Pizza + a FREE self-service dog bath OR three cans of cat food from Brookside Barkery & Bath!

You heard that right! Not only will get the joy of rescuing a pet from KC Pet Project, but you’ll also get the joy of Kansas City’s best pizza – for free!

Plus, the first 100 customers to order online from the South Plaza Minsky’s Pizza location during Love Your Pet week using the code: KCPET will receive an extra special surprise from Brookside Barkery & Bath for your pooch!

What are you waiting for? Join the Barkery and Minsky’s Pizza in celebration of Love Your Pet week and help support our friends at KC Pet Project find forever homes for KC dogs and cats today!

Click here for more information.

Brookside Barkery

Brookside Barkery Pet Transformations of 2018 – Part 3

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As part 3 of our Pet Transformation of 2018 at Brookside Barkery, we got to know a little more about customer David G. and his experience with the Wellness Assessment Kit.

“I bought the Wellness Assessment Kit through Brookside Barkery for my dog who was having bad allergic reactions,” said David. “We quickly did the test and sent off the kit to get processed. Within a week, we had our results and found that we had been feeding our dog food that his body just couldn’t handle.”

With a Pet Wellness Assessment Kit from Brookside Barkery, you’ll be able to see up to 300 food and environmental factors that your dog may be sensitive to. This allows you to know EXACTLY what is causing your pet’s allergic reactions.

“Brookside Barkery helped us every step of the way and found the perfect brand of food that would fit our dog’s needs,” said David. “Sure enough, with time, our dog was happy and healthy again.”

The Pet Wellness Assessment Kit is easy and convenient. All you have to do is swab your pet’s saliva, collect a small hair sample, and mail it in. Best of all, you’ll get the results in only a wee or two! Once you test your pet, Brookside Barkery will provide a free Nutrition Consultation to work with you and with the results of the test, guiding your selections on food, treats, and supplements to make sure we’re giving your pet exactly what they need.

“I highly recommend the Wellness Assessment Kit,” said David.” Whether you see signs of allergies or not, you never know what could be affecting your dog internally. It’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s fast and it works!”

To read more testimonials about the Wellness Assessment Kit, click here.

Brookside Barkery’s Pet Transformations of 2018 – Part 2

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For part 2 of Barkery’s Pet Transformations of 2018, we took the time to get to know more about customer Thomas T. and his 13-year-old husky, Jack. Here’s what Thomas had to say about Jack’s experience using CBD oil.

“Jack has slowly been slipping into his sunset years. Being a relatively healthy dog his entire life, it was disconcerting when my wife and I noticed he was starting to lose control (muscle coordination and otherwise) from the waist down. Becoming increasingly concerned as his condition deteriorated, we decided to get x-rays. He was diagnosed with a compressed spinal column in several locations close to his hind quarters. According to our vet, the only treatment was to get a very expensive MRI and then an even more expensive surgery. Jack has been our best friend for many years but surgery on a 13-year-old dog seemed dangerous and futile.

Searching out alternative holistic solutions, my wife and I were recommended to Delena and Alex at Brookside Barkery. We discussed Jack’s problems with Delena and Alex, turns out they understood more than we could’ve have hoped as they have both experienced back pain as well. They explained to us the benefits of using a CBD holistic approach and how to implement the regimen.

We started using CBD oils (with Jack’s food) and treats to reinforce the treatment. Working with Brookside Barkery, we were able to get Jack’s dosage perfectly balanced after a month.

After a short time, we noticed Jack’s demeanor started improving (no more “grumpy grandpa Jack”). After a bit longer, we noticed his mobility starting to return. He is now keeping up with our Labradoodle and French Bulldog at the dog park. We’re not sure how surgery would’ve gone, however, I can’t imagine the results topping what we’ve experienced with Jack’s holistic treatment. We feel with Brookside Barkery’s holistic approach we were able to extend our time with Jack and more importantly keep him comfortable. While he is still a senior, he now has the demeanor, energy and playfulness reminiscent of when he was younger. Jack has been our best friend for a long time, and we want to be there for him as he has been there for us.

Choosing to take a holistic approach was absolutely the right decision. We expect to have much more love in our home for time to come.”

If your furry family member is in need of a natural way out of a medical condition – like Jack – stop in either Brookside Barkery location today! One of our nutrition specialists will help find the best CBD product for your pet.

Brookside Barkery & Bath

Brookside Barkery’s Pet Transformations of 2018 – Part 1

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Year after year, our mission at Brookside Barkery is better health through better nutrition, and 2018 was no different! This year, our knowledgeable employees have helped countless customers change their pets’ lives with dietary changes and supplements. As part 1 of our testimonial series, we wanted to share this story from our customer Amanda H. and her cat Ophelia.

“My husband and I adopted Ophelia June from KC Pet Project in the spring of 2017. She is an orange tabby that was the runt of the litter, so we refer to her as the “eternal kitten.” She was very happy to be adopted and in her new home. She is one of the sweetest, most affectionate kitties you’ll ever meet!

Unfortunately, she came to us with a breakout on her face and head. For a while, we couldn’t figure out what was causing the scaly bumps/scabs. We took her to a couple of different vets. They tried medications that never really worked before one suggested food allergies. He prescribed us hydrolyzed protein food, which did seem to help more than the medications, so we stuck with that. However, she would still have issues occasionally.

It wasn’t until we chatted with Alex at Brookside Barkery and Bath that we understood the serious problems that could occur due to feeding Ophelia the prescription food, which has very little protein and not nearly enough nutrients. Plus, the cost of the food was extremely expensive. Besides: why should you have to have a prescription for pet food? Humans don’t!

Alex recommended we start by adding a supplemental powder to her food with warm water: Glacier Peak Holistics Daily Defense. Amazingly, Ophelia had no problem eating it every day. After about a week, her coat was softer and fluffier than ever before. Her energy level also increased a bit.

After two weeks of using the powder, Alex had instructed us to start giving her small treats of duck/quail cat kibble. Very slowly we started adding a little more every few days to her food. We are now up to half and half: part quail/duck food from Fussie Cat and half the prescription food, with the end goal being getting rid of the prescription food completely. Ophelia has only had very minimal bumps pop up throughout the process as her body grows accustomed to the new food.

If you are patient and take the time to really listen to the team at the Barkery, you could see marked improvements in your pet’s health and overall well-being. It is definitely worth asking more than just your vet for advice on pet issues.“

If your furry friend is having skin problems, start by visiting Brookside Barkery & Bath. We’ll help you choose the diet that’s right for your pet, and you’ll soon have a healthier, happier companion!