We love to help our customers care for their pets in the healthiest and most holistic way possible, just like we were able to help Cara D. with her beloved cat, Wolvie. Thank you, Cara for your kind words! We are always here to help.

This is Wolvie (Wolverine). He and his twin Xixi (Sissy) came to me as babies. They are four years old now. 

He’s my mediator (I call him my Switzerland) between his twin sister and his older brother, who do not get along. He’s my lover (loves to kiss the tip of your nose), snuggler, make-up assistant, my outside adventurer on his cat-harness, and my baby who doesn’t know how huge he is or how sharp his claws are (hence, his name).

He also has struggled with UTIs which, I believe, are a result of being stressed (aka: bullied) by his older cat brother and a result of boredom living in an inside space. Even after I switched everyone to a FISH-FREE WET-FOOD ONLY diet, he continued to struggle with pain, crying every night for hours.

We had the urethra-rerouting surgery last August after he became blocked twice in 3 months (deadly for male cats). He healed from surgery but then continued to have issues in his digestive tract (unknown even now but he cried every day for 5 months). I tried everything.

I do holistic healing on myself so I couldn’t very well have one set of rules for me and another for my fur babies, expecting them to heal using antibiotics after my own body went through a whole ordeal the last time I had antibiotics for a year and a half (in 2007). After reading online about holistic healing for UTIs, I made him a special apple cider vinegar/water concoction that he was given for about a month.

After trying the ACV mixture for that month, I was beside myself – I felt I was not living a human life because he required so much attention (ACV mixture every 30 mins to an hour while I was home). The whole family was affected.

It was at this time I went into Brookside Barkery, ready to put him down. In tears, I explained his situation and how he continued to struggle even after surgery which was supposed to “fix the issue”.

“Alex at Brookside Barkery saved his life that day.”

Standing there, looking completely lost, I was asked by Alex if I needed any assistance. I started telling her Wolvie’s story and history and was in tears before I knew it. Alex took me in hand and jumped into action. She handed me some gut-health probiotics and some urinary berry powder, along with bone broth. I went home that night with nothing to lose.

Wolvie is just now (March 2019 – nearly an entire year later) healing from his bouts with antibiotics, surgery, and all that comes with that. His gut health was compromised for a while and it has been a journey of many moons and lots of tears for both of us. We just made it through our first weekend without any crying – it was amazing. I have tried aloe vera powder (for anti-inflammatory properties), probiotics, etc. etc. and we have found the path forward for Wolvie, which was adding some pumpkin and CBD oil to his food. He is a healthy, happy cat and I’m so grateful to Alex and Brookside Barkery for being there when I was in my time of need. I’m utterly in debt that I still have my sweet baby boy as part of my family.

My only advice is DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR FUR BABIES! There is often a homeopathic or holistic way to heal and our problems stem from our impatience, frustration with the inability to ask our fur kids what’s going on with them, and – of course – finances. Often though the homeopathic fix is the most financially feasible and Brookside Barkery has a depth of knowledge relating to sustaining wellness that pairs well with other holistic remedies if needed.

Namaste, Alex and all at Brookside Barkery!

Cara D.
Igby, Sissy and Wolvie