Price List For Bark City Services

Here is an official price list for services. Please keep in mind that I have not made the price list for "amenities", yet. That will be coming soon! The Enrichment Gym standard price will be included in the amenities list. So, don't panic! You will still be able to use the Enrichment Gym even if you don't have a Club Membership.

New Prices and Club Membership

Before I get into the gritty details of our new prices, I want to first introduce something more exciting than the rest of the exciting stuff I have introduced:

THE ENRICHMENT GYM. This gym will not only be new to Bark City, but also to the whole Valley! Montana can get really cold in the winter... too cold... to do anything. We found a solution to this problem: We will have a new indoor gym! You will now be able to come exercise your dog(s) without fear of frostbite on your nose or your dog's paws.

Ok, now for the Nitty-Gritty....

With all the new programs and services we will be offering, some of our prices will be changing... by a minimal amount...like $2. Staring February 1st, 2016 prices will be $22 for full-day daycare, $16 for half-day and $28 for overnight. This will keep us competitive with other daycares in the area. Our VIP Membership will no longer be available, though we will still honor the current VIPs. Instead, we will be offering a "Club Membership". The Club membership will be a HUGE SAVINGS for clients that use us a lot. It equals a little over $20/ month or more depending upon which package you purchase. Plus, you get a bunch of perks:

12-month Annual Membership: ($250)

Discount on all Daycare programs
Access to all Daycare packages
Access to the Enrichment Gym (by appointment)
Discount on all boarding programs
10% off all amenities including spa
10% off all enrichment classes (coming soon!)

3-month Membership: ($75)
Discount on all Daycare programs
Access to all Daycare packages
Access to the Enrichment Gym (by appointment)
Discount on all boarding programs
5% off all amenities including spa
5% off all enrichment classes (coming soon!)









The details:

• Daycare Programs: The membership will offer discounts to our current program and our new enrichment program. We will be changing some of our daycare packages and some will only be available to Club Members. The current daycare program will still offer full-day and half-day daycare. The Enrichment program will only be available in full-day (Monday-Friday). The enrichment daycare will also have some package choices, but those will only be available to Club Members. 
• Boarding Programs: The Club Membership will be offering discounts to our current boarding program and the new enrichment boarding. If you currently have Luxury boarding, that option will now be the Enrichment boarding. The new Enrichment boarding will offer the same things as Luxury boarding, PLUS enrichment activities during the day. The enrichment activities will be tailored specifically to what your dog likes best and fun activities with a small group of friends. We will also have our new puppy program to get your dog's boarding experience off the a great start.
• Amenities: Club Members  will receive a discount (5-10% depending upon your package) off  all extra amenities during their dog's stay. This includes: extra walks, training, treats, spa services and more! Plus, you get your dog's nails trimmed for FREE. 
• Enrichment Classes: These will be coming very soon! Club members will get a discount (5-10%) off of any classes we will be offering. We have some fun things up our sleeves, so stay tuned!
• Priority Boarding: I know, this sounds like we are an airline. But again, it's a big perk for Club Members. All members will get notification when our Hotel is starting to fill. For those of you that have had to be on our wait list during holidays, you know that this notification will be nice!

With all that said, stay tuned for a Membership Deal we will be offering this month!

What Your Dog's Sleep Position Communicates

I've been pumping out a lot of information these past weeks on our expansion. Last week, I wrote a lot about why sleep is important for your canine. This week, I have decided to keep it short and simple with a few fun facts about a dog's sleep position and what it communicates:

Bark City's Puppy Preschool Program

Our next expansion announcement: Puppy Preschool! We will no longer be taking puppies 4-months-old or younger in our daycare programs. Puppies need more socialization than just daycare. The first 4 months of a puppy's life is the most critical period for socialization. Positive experiences help him learn that new things are fun, and hopefully he will remember the good association when he encounters them again later in life. It's important to take advantage of the socialization period and provide the puppy with as many positive experiences as possible in the world.

Having a young puppy attend daycare is great for socialization for the first time or two. After that, the puppy knows the staff, he knows the environment and he has met some of the dogs. Things are no longer novel to him and therefore, no longer counts as socialization. Daycare becomes a safe and healthy outlet for energy, but that's about it. This is where our new program fits in.

How it works: 
The Puppy Preschool Program is based on at least 5 days at our facility. The days are completely flexible. The puppy can come 5 days in a row, twice a week or whatever schedule best fits the owner. With the way this program is designed, the 5 days need to be completed by the time the puppy is 4 months old. Once the puppy is over 4 months old, he can no longer be enrolled in the preschool program.

What will my puppy experience?
Puppies in the preschool program will not only be given time to socialize with other puppies, but will also be socialized with different things they may encounter on any given day. Examples: different kinds of flooring, children, men with hats, canes, grooming, crate training, potty training, ect... We will make sure they are being introduced to these things in a safe setting and at a comfortable pace for each individual dog. We will also be giving owners feedback in order to continue the socializing at home.

Who will be working with the puppy?
This is such an important period in the puppy's life! We want to make sure only our most experienced dog handlers are the staff doing the socialization exercises. The whole program will be overseen by a certified dog trainer. The staff working with that trainer will also be required to take courses in canine body language and the development stages of puppies.

Is this program the same as a puppy training class?
Even though we will be having a certified dog trainer working with the puppy and teaching basic commands, this is not the same program as a puppy training class. This program is focusing more on socializing the puppy to his the world around him.

Pricing and availability:
Since this program is more specialized and structured, we will open enrollment to puppies at the first of each month. You may enroll your puppy later in the month, but that will be based on availability. We will be keeping our numbers small to make sure each individual puppy gets the time he needs. The daycare preschool program is $30-$35/ day and the boarding preschool program is $40-$45/night. 

Bark City-- A New Kind of Daycare

The expansion is getting close to being finished! Once it's done, Bark City will be adding new programs to the facility! Since opening in 2005, we have been blessed with the opportunities we have been given. When we first opened, we were one of the only facilities in town that offered "all day play". This was a new concept in the dog boarding world and to the pet owner. I can't even tell you how many times I heard, " Sooo.... people really just drop their dogs off while they are at work?" Back then, it took a lot of convincing to show people that it can be done safely and is actually good for their dogs.

Fast forward to today, everyone knows what a dog daycare is and there are more and more opening everywhere. Because we have been lucky enough to thrive in this industry for 10+ YEARS, we have been able to master what works and what does not. Every dog is an individual. As much as we would love for every dog to thrive in a standard daycare environment, for some it's just not the ideal setting. When I first started on the expansion, I honestly had a completely different idea for what I was going to do with the space. But after doing a lot of soul searching, I changed my mind. I am blessed to have the opportunity to have a building I can construct myself in order to try the new approach to daycare on one side while still maintaining my original design on the other. I hope that between the two, Bark city can make sure every dog that comes through our doors will thrive and enjoy their time with us. I am so excited to try this new concept! I honestly feel it is going to be a great and very popular choice once tried. With all that said, I now introduce..... (drum roll, please).....

Bark City's Canine Enrichment Program!! Here are some of the highlights. With later posts, I will go into more detail on the why's and hows. But for now, here is an overview:

Our Daycare Program: 
 The daycare program will be a little different from what we are doing right now. If dogs are enrolled in this program, they will get to socialize and play with other dogs like our current program, but will also be given activities during the day for mental/cognitive exercise (Think Luminosity... only for dogs). The daycare groups will be a lot smaller. We will only be putting 5-10 dogs together at a time and will be pairing them based on personalities. We will then schedule their day based on their personality. They will get more one-on-one time and will be able to feel comfortable being themselves. This program will be a great option for most dogs, but we are super excited for the dogs that seem uncomfortable with our current program. Because of the structure of this program, it will only be available to dogs that attend daycare for a full day. Drop off times will be 7a-9a and pick up 430p-7p.

Boarding Program: 
For the Luxury Boarders-- You will get to enjoy the new daycare program during the day and will stay in the new boarding room at night.

Intact Males: 
We are excited to announce that with the new daycare program, we will now have a better ability to socialize the intact males. We will select a group that we feel comfortable socializing without the worry of testosterone interfering. We will be one of the only facilities in the county that will be able offer this kind of option.

Non-Social Dogs:
Some dogs just don't enjoy being around other dogs. And that's OK! Currently we take these dogs, but have never really been happy with what we have been able to offer them. If they are unhappy, we are unhappy. With the new expansion, they will get to safely be in our new doggy gym and be able to enjoy some activities with one of our skilled staff members.

I hope you are as excited as I am for our new approach. At Bark City, we make sure ALL of our staff is trained. For information on how we train our staff, you can click here. Since our new approach is such a specialized program, we will only have our top trained employees working in it. The program is going to be headed by a Certified Dog Trainer AND a Certified Fitpaws Instructor. Our Fitpaws Instructor is also working on becoming certified in Canine Fitness as well! Between the two of them, they will be working with each dog and owner to create an individualize program with all expectations met.

Next week... The new Puppy Preschool Program!!!

Bentonite Clay For Canines

Bentonite clay is mud. But it's not your everyday run of the mill, make a mud pie sort of mud. It's a healing mud that can be eaten or used topically. There are three types of Bentonite clay depending on the dominant mineral within it, but the clay I will be talking about is food grade Calcium Bentonite Clay (aka Animin). Bentonite clay is a negatively charged, highly absorbent substance that is mainly comprised of volcanic ash. It contains around 50 trace minerals and has historically been used for centuries as a healing remedy for a variety of ailments:

Yes and more! In fact, animals in the wild will instinctually search out and eat clay to get rid of pests or if sick. They aren't all "scientific-y" like us humans but somehow they know it works and in Layman's terms, here's how: Bentonite clay is negatively charged, when ingested the clay's negative ionic charge pulls positively charged particles (such as parasites, toxins, allergens and bacteria) from the body via the bloodstream and then eliminates them through the kidneys and bowels. The clay is not absorbed into the body, so it gets eliminated as well. It should be noted though, that when feeding your pet Bentonite clay, more is not always better. It's best to stick to the daily dosages and always provide water. Water is the key. If your pet is not drinking enough water, Bentonite clay can cause constipation or blockage.

Or just read the back of your package. This is just a general guideline I found on the internet. Links will be provided below.

If feeding Fido mud makes you a little nervous, do not fret! Bentonite clay can also be applied topically as a paste for rashes and stings. You can also soak your beloved four-legged in a luxury bath right at home. This will also help draw out toxins and reduce inflammation in the body.

As always, I need to provide a word of caution:

And Remember!! Food Grade Calcium Bentonite Clay!! Not Sodium Bentonite Clay or Magnesium Bentonite Clay or Potassium Bentonite Clay. You want Food Grade Calcium Bentonite Clay! (Also know as Animin)

For further research, here are addition links (amongst a million) I have found on the internet:

• Bentonite Clay Detox, Dogs Naturally Magazine: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/bentonite-clay-detox/
• Heal Your Pets Naturally With Calcium Bentonite Clay, Earth's Living: https://earthslivingclay.com/1702/heal-your-pet-naturally-with-calcium-bentonite-clay/
• 10 Proven Bentonite Clay Benefits and Uses, Dr. Axe: http://draxe.com/10-bentonite-clay-benefits-uses/
• How To Use Bentonite Clay Internally, Camden Whole Health: http://www.camdenwholehealth.com/2012/12/how-to-use-bentonite-clay-internally/ 

And as always, before you give your dog a new supplement, please consult a medical professional and do your own research to find out if it is the right path for your four-legged family member. 

Diatomaceous Earth for Flea Control

Fleas- They are nuiances. If you have pets, you have to deal with them. There are many products on the market. Some are chemical and some are natural. A lot of us use a chemical treatment, such as Frontline. But, there are a lot of animals and people out there that are allergic to chemical treatments. The natural treatments composed of essential oils can sometimes have adverse effects on animals (or humans) as well. Whether chemical or natural, you need to research your product and decide for yourself what is the best option for your household. I also like to recommend that pet owners "know their enemy", which means you need to do a little research on the life cycle of a flea. Some products help eliminate all stages of a flea from larvae to adult and some just eliminate the adult stage.

The product I am showing you today, is a natural, non-toxic substance that eliminates ADULT fleas (and other insects as well): Diatomaceous Earth. Diatomaceous Earth is a fine powdery substance that has the consistency of pumice powder. It is made out of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used in about a million things: toothpastes, facial scrubs, metal polishes, filtration for swimming pools, filtering food products and the list goes on and on. In fact, we eat diatomaceous earth almost everyday. Farmers throw it in with grain stores to keep insects from eating the grain. Gardeners use it for a variety of pests and plant growth problems. Some people even mix it with water and drink it to detox. What must be emphasized is that FOOD GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH IS THE ONLY FORM OF D.E. YOU SHOULD USE ON PETS OR YOURSELF. If it does not say food grade, most likely it is the form of D.E. that is used in pool filtration systems or for some other industrial use and it is very harmful if inhaled or ingested. With that said, when I talk about Diatomaceous Earth in this post, I am talking about food grade quality.

Food grade Diatomaceous Earth is an effective way to kill adult fleas, but you must be vigilant. The algae it is composed of has sharp edges (like pumice). It works by cutting into an insect's exoskeleton causing it to become dehydrated and dry up. It kills an insect on the physical level, not chemically. For application on your pet, it can be sprinkled on and worked into the fur (I usually use a brush). It can also be sprinkled onto carpets, bedding or even outside. BUT, it takes time to work. You must leave it on for a few hours to overnight. Then you can vacuum, wash, bath, ect... It also loses it's effectiveness if it becomes wet. Remember, that it only kills adult fleas. Which is why you must be vigilant. Adult fleas lay eggs. D.E. does not kill the eggs or larvae. Which means, frequent application of D.E. is needed to get rid of the fleas completely. If applied too much, it can also dry out your pet's skin and cause irritation. If you are thinking about using D.E., I would recommend researching the frequency of application for your specific pet. It really varies depending upon how extreme your flea problem is and the length/ thickness of your pet's fur. If you plan on sprinkling large quantities on your carpet, I also recommend wearing a dust mask. Like any sort of powder, it can cause eye or lung irritation if too much is inhaled.

Parvo (Parvovirus)

Canine Parvovirus is a viral disease that attacks rapidly dividing cells in a dog's body. It affects the intestinal tract of canines as well as the white blood cells. Young animals can also suffer severe damage to the heart muscle. This disease is HIGHLY contagious and resistant. It can live in an environment for months and sometimes for over a year on organic material (grass).

The most susceptible to contracting this disease are puppies, adolescent dogs and unvaccinated canines. It affects all members of the dog family including wild members: wolves, coyotes, foxes, ect. Because of it being highly resistant in an environment and affecting wild animals as well as domesticated, unvaccinated dogs could contract this disease from the streets or wilderness.

Treatment for this disease is very intensive and expensive. Without veterinary care, it has a high mortality rate. Parvo is transmitted through contact with a dog's feces and is highly resistant to most disinfectants. This means, a human could potentially transmit Parvo to another canine through touch, on shoes, ect... BUT, a human will not get sick from Parvo. It is strictly a canine disease (though there is a feline version: distemper). If your dog happens to get Parvovirus, it is best to disinfect all the dog's belongings with a solution of 1 part bleach to 32 parts water by soaking each item for 10 minutes. Things that cannot be disinfected, will need to be thrown out. Again, vaccination is the only way to prevent your dog from getting this disease and is why Bark City requires all dog's to be vaccinated. It is also why you should always ask what a daycare's vaccination policy is when shopping for the daycare that is perfect for your four-legged family member.

Taurine Deficency in Dogs

Taurine is an amino acid that is vitally important to a mammal's body function. It helps regulate heart beat, maintains stability of cell membranes, transports calcium in and out of cells, regulates the activity of brain cells, facilitates the absorption of fats/ fat-soluble vitamins and is an antioxidant. Most humans and canines can manufacture taurine through the body unless there is a medical or genetic condition. Cats cannot and some dogs, particularly large breeds, have trouble producing taurine making them susceptible to deficiency.

Before WWII, pet food was 90% canned and made of mostly meat. Once war hit, the metal used for canning was needed by the military. Dry kibble became the #1 pet food. Gradually, over time, the pet food industry started to cut corners and introduced more and more grain to their product. A diet rich in taurine comes from eggs, dairy, fish and red meat. Cereal grains contain no taurine. Deficiency of this amino acid is a slow progression and could take months or years to become noticeable, and by the 1970's veterinarians were finding that an increasing amount of cats were dying of heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy. Many felines were also becoming blind. After ten years of research, they finally traced these deaths to a deficiency in taurine. Soon after, pet food manufacturers started adding this amino acid back into cat food. But, not necessarily dog food.

Since some dogs can produce taurine and some cannot, research on the importance of taurine for dogs is not as complete as it is for felines. Modern day research is agreeing that owners need to become aware of this deficiency and the repercussions of a diet low in Taurine. As stated above, deficiency is a slow progression and could take months or years to become noticeable. When buying your dog food, please check the proportion of meat vs. grain and opt for a high protein food. Cat food is supplemented with taurine, dog food is not as reliable. Always check the label to see if this supplement is added. If not, consult your veterinarian about supplementing it back into the food.

Lastly, as Fido's parent, you should become aware of symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy:

If your dog is displaying these symptoms, please take them to the vet! This blog entry is not intended to scare the pants off of you. It is merely to educate on the importance of what you feed your four-legged friend.

Additional Links: 

• "The Importance of Taurine for Cats and Dogs", Dr. Jean Hofve, Holistic Veterinarian, http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/holistic-healthcare-library/vitamins-nutritional-supplements/113/the-importance-of-taurine-for-dogs-and-cats.aspx
• "Is There Taurine in Your Dog's Food?", http://www.web-rover.com/dogfood/taurineinyourdogsfood.php
• "Dogs and Taurine", http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogs-taurine.aspx
• "Taurine Protects Heart, Eyes and Improves glucose tolerance", http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/taurine-protects-heart-eyes-and-improves-glucose-tolerance
• "Cardiomyopathy and the Benefit of Adding Taurine to a Dogs Diet!", https://preciouspetz.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/cardiomyopathy-and-the-benefit-of-adding-taurine-to-a-dogs-diet/

Bee Pollen Supplement For Dogs

For the last couple weeks, I have written about two products Honey Bees produce: Honey and Royal Jelly. This week, I will write about: 

Bee pollen is the plant pollens collected by worker bees that is combined with plant nectar and bee saliva. It is then packed into pellets in the hive and used as a food source for male drone bees. Historically, it has been touted as a complete food source. It is composed of about 40% protein , free amino acids, a multitude of vitamins, minerals, folic acid, enzymes, co-enzymes, antioxidants, Quercetin, carotenoids and rutin. Once ingested, it is rapidly and easily absorbed into the body. Within just two hours of ingestion, it can be found in the blood, cerebral spinal fluid and urine.

Throughout history, Bee Pollen has been used for a multitude of medical problems as well as to correct an unbalanced diet. It should be noted, that not much research has been done on the actual validity of the health claims other than case studies by individuals. Therefore, there is a lot of contradicting evidence. Also, most of the historical data is for humans, not canines. Bee Pollen is a modern canine supplement. But, none the less, has had rave reviews by dog owners. Here are some of the claims that it helps with:

Since bee pollen can be highly allergenic, especially for dogs (or humans) that already suffer from seasonal allergies, it is recommended that the initial dosage should be just one pellet of bee pollen. Owners should then monitor their dog for any signs of allergic reaction. If there is no reaction, the next dose should be two pellets the next day. Owners should go VERY slowly and gradually increase the dosage up to 1tsp for every 30 lbs of body weight per day.

Again, I would always consult with your veterinarian before beginning a new supplement. If you would like to read more about Bee Pollen, here are some links that I have found:

The Effects of Bee Pollen  on Energy and Weight Loss, Collins, Kendra: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/beepollen.htm

About Bee Pollen, Schecter, Steve N.D.: http://beepollen.info/

Bee Pollen, WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-78-bee+pollen.aspx?activeingredientid=78&activeingredientname=bee+pollen

Health Benefits of Bee Pollen for Cats and Dogs, Raw To The Bones:http://www.rawtothebones.com/health-benefits-bee-pollen-cats-dogs/

Bee Pollen, Wong, Kathy N.D.: http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsa1/a/Bee_Pollen.htm

Bee Products Have a Special Meaning to Dogs, The Whole Dog Journal: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/10_9/features/Bee-Honey-Products-Help-Canines_15967-1.html?pg=3

Royal Jelly for Canines

Before I start in on the benefits of Royal Jelly, I would first like to make a BIG announcement!!! After 2 years of planning and changing things, Bark City is pleased to announce that we will be EXPANDING!!!!! 2015 will be a very big year for us as we will be doubling our square footage!! We will be staying open during the whole process and it won't interfere with the dogs having fun. With the expansion we will also be adding NEW SERVICES!! I am SO excited about what is to come. It has been a dream of mine to have a facility like this and to have the dream come true is such a blessing. I would like to Thank all of you for helping this dream become a reality. I would also like to Thank my wonderful employees (past and present) for working so hard to make sure all the dogs are taken care of I really couldn't have done it without them.

And now onto Royal Jelly:

Royal jelly (RJ) is a milky white substance produced by worker bees in a colony and is used in the nutrition of larvae and adult queen bees. It is made up of digested pollen, raw honey and a chemical secreted from the pharyngeal gland of the worker bee. To appreciate the nutritional value of RJ, you must think about the queen bee. She is significantly larger than the other bees in the colony and she lives WAY longer. The average bee lives about 4 weeks, whereas a queen bee lives approximately 6 years. This disparity is from royal jelly. Queen bees eat it, worker bees don't. Which is why people have been studying the nutritional benefits of  this substance. Like honey, more and more people are using royal jelly as a nutritional supplement for canines.

Royal jelly has been used throughout history for the treatment of a variety of ailments, to thwart the aging process and increase energy. Here are some of the many examples of the benefits of RJ: 

This substance is PACKED with nutrition:

... and it's POTENT. A little bit goes a long way is regards to dosage. For humans, the recommended dosage is 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon a day! For dogs, it is even smaller! Example: a 60-80 lb dog would get half of the human dosage. The taste is also awful. Most dogs will not like it and owners will have to find creative ways to hide the taste. The most popular way is to sneak it in with a daily dose of honey. 

There are also a few warnings: Since royal jelly is so potent, it can be extremely allergenic for dogs that already have seasonal allergies or are allergic to bees. It is best to try just a TINY bit at first to see if there is a reaction. It is also NOT recommended for puppies. It is also highly perishable and requires refrigeration.

As always, consult a nutritional expert (which I am not) before supplementing your dog... and do your own research! Knowledge is power! Here are a few helpful links on Royal Jelly:

• Royal Jelly, Bee Brood: Composition, Health, Medicine: A Review, Bogdanov, Stephan, http://www.bee-hexagon.net/files/file/fileE/Health/RJBookReview.pdf

• Pharmacological Activities of Royal Jelly, Soby, Eman A., Tailang, Mukul, Hasan, Ali M., Patil, U.K., http://www.ijrapronline.com/issues1/Patil_IJRAPR.pdf

• Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog For Optimum Health,  Dodds, Jean W. DVM, Laverdure, Diana, https://books.google.com/books?id=nXfVBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT50&lpg=PT50&dq=Royal+Jelly+for+canines&source=bl&ots=VB9hRm5mOs&sig=Qmcs_-x4j8zXxkdpEljudAZoWRw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=h-UxVebxGZGooQSVkIGYBQ&ved=0CFcQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=Royal%20Jelly%20for%20canines&f=false

• Royal Jelly, WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-503-royal%20jelly.aspx?activeingredientid=503&activeingredientname=royal%20jelly

• Bee Products Have a Special Meaning For Dogs, The Whole Dog Journal, http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/10_9/features/Bee-Honey-Products-Help-Canines_15967-1.html?pg=2

Honey For Dogs

Bees are one of nature's little miracles. Everything from their little stings to the honey they produce have been praised for their human health benefits. Currently, experts are finding that honey may also help your dog's health. Over these next few weeks, I will talk about a few of the products honeybees create and how they can be used to enhance your dog's health. This week, I am going to talk about the most obvious product- honey.

In this post, when I talk about honey, I am referring to raw honey. Raw honey is not heated, pasteurized or processed which can destroy the nutrients.... and nature has packed A LOT of nutrients into this syrup...

Isn't that amazing? Honey contains glucose and fructose which are simple sugars (monosaccharides) and are more easily absorbed than disaccharides and polysaccharides which are found in table sugar and starchy vegetables. Honey also contains live enzymes, such as amylase. Amylase facilitates proper digestion of carbohydrates. The daily dosage you should give your dog, varies by who you talk to or what you read. But, I found the average to be about 1 Tablespoon/ day for large dogs and 1 teaspoon/ day for small. Large consumption of honey could lead to diarrhea and obesity. If your dog is diabetic, you would want to check with your vet before supplementing with honey.

Honey is used for a variety of health concerns or to upkeep general health.  The live enzymes found in it are antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic and antifungal. It is used as an internal supplement as well as a topical:

And respiratory problems!!

I forgot to add to the list that it can also be used to help treat respiratory problems! It should be noted-- and this is very important!-- that raw honey should NOT be given to puppies or other baby animals. Because it is raw and unfiltered, it could contain botulism spores. Puppies do not have a developed immune system like adult dogs, so these botulism spores could become potentially dangerous for a young pup. As always, please do your own research when wanting to supplement your dog and consult a vet! Knowledge is power!!

REFERENCES

Bee Products Have a Special Meaning for Dogs, The Whole Dog Journal: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/10_9/features/Bee-Honey-Products-Help-Canines_15967-1.html

The Benefits of Raw Honey, K9 Instinct: http://www.k9instinct.com/blog/the-health-benefits-of-raw-honey-for-dogs-environmental-allergies-in-dogs

Raw Honey: A Sweet Food For the Health of your Pet,  Dr. Jean Dodd's Pet Health Resource Blog: http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/58633442872/raw-honey-pets#.VSlguZNRKRI

Essential Oils That Are Toxic to Pets

Last November, I was introduced to essential oils and started doing research on using essential oils

for  pets. Unfortunately, there is so little research on the subject and so much misinformation, it can get quite overwhelming. One of my favorite websites for learning how to safely use essential oils on humans is Learning About EO's. I have learned so much, but feel as if I have only scratched the tip of

the iceberg. As a result of this newly found knowledge, I have also developed a new pet peeve-- people posting natural essential oil recipes for pets on Pinterest without really taking into regard the power of these oils.... and they can be SUPER POWERFUL. There are a lot of oils out there that are NOT safe for pets and can be quite deadly. Therefore, I have compiled a list of oils that I have read can be toxic to pets. I always encourage you to do your own research as well, because I am obviously not a licensed aromatherapist nor am I a chemist or a holistic Veterinarian.

Essential Oils That Are Toxic to Cats:

• Peppermint
• Oregano
• Clove
• Sage
• Citrus oils (example: Lemon and Wild Orange)
•  Lavender
• Melaleuca (tea tree oil)
•  Cinnamon (cassia)
• Wintergreen
• Thyme
•  Birch
•  Bergamot
•  Pine
• Spruce
•  Any other oils containing phenols (example: Wintergreen, Thyme and Oregano)
• Eucalyptus

There are probably a lot more that are toxic for cats. I have read quite a bit of research in regards to using essential oils on cats and it's kind of a "no-no". I wrote about what I found in my blog post last November. 

Essential Oils That Are Toxic To Dogs and Cats: 

• Anise
• Basil
• Birch
• Bitter Almond
• Camphor
• Cinnamon
• Citric Oils (examples: Lemon and Wild Orange)
• Cloves
• Eucalyptus
• Garlic
• Horseradish
• Hyssop
• Juniper
• Mustard
• Oregano
• Pennyroyal
• Red or White Thyme
• Sassafras
• Savory
• Tansy
• Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca)
• Wintergreen
• Yarrow

 One essential oil that was on the fence with the information I could find was Peppermint oil for dogs. But, the ASPCA said this: "Oils such as peppermint can cause oral, skin and gastrointestinal irritation—if swallowed in large quantities, central nervous system depression may occur as well. Due to its potential for problems, we would not recommend giving peppermint oil to your dog. If you’re looking for a supplement to support your dog's health, we advise communicating with your local veterinarian to get a recommendation for an appropriate product."

These lists should not be considered "the list". There are a lot more lists out there that are more thorough (Like this one). I focused on the more common oils as a quick "go to". Always remember to thoroughly research anything you are going to use therapeutically for yourself or your pet and ask a doctor (for you) or a Veterinarian (for your pet).

Polkadog Bakery

 For the last few weeks, I have been highlighting different dog treats that can be found in our candy store.The next company (and last for a while!) is Polkadog Bakery. Polkadog is a small canine bakery in South Boston. All of their treats are handmade from scratch every morning. Their ingredients are locally source from neighborhood suppliers. Large dog treat manufacturers often have raw materials shipped to them from all over the country or world. This causes a decline in quality and increases the risk of food contamination. Because Polkdog gets all of their ingredients "right around the corner" they have optimum control over what goes into their treats and what stays out. In fact, they control every aspect of their bakery from resources, to mixing and baking the ingredients to even hand-packing the finished products and shipping! Their treats are superb and dogs absolutely love them!

Bosco and Roxy's

The candy store treat company I am going to highlight this week is Bosco and Roxy's . We first learned about them at a dog convention in Las Vegas this past summer. They are based out of London, Ontario Canada and founded by fellow dog boarding facility owners, Michelle and Jamie Crook. Michelle and Jamie wanted to give the dogs special treats while they were boarding, so they started baking from scratch. Word slowly spread about their treat's awesomeness and soon people were asking if they could take them home. The treats have quickly spread across North America, yet they still retain that homemade touch.

This image was found on their Facebook page. Click here to "like" them.

All of their cookies are hand cut, baked and decorated. Their ingredients are human-grade and they carry wheat-free options for those sensitive stomached pups.

We also like that they have many different themed cookies to choose from, so we can pick our treats according to what's going on at Bark City.  Obviously, the theme we currently chose is because we love dogs so much and has NOTHING to do with Valentine's Day. (hahaha.)

Plus, they make really cute client pictures when balanced on noses.....

Bubba Rose Biscuit Company

We launched our Dog Candy Store in December. It took us quite a while to decide what treats to carry. After all, we only want the best treats available to our clients! I would like to take these next few weeks to highlight the companies we decided to use. Today, is Bubba Rose Biscuit Company.

Bubba Rose was started in 2006 by Jessica and Eric Talley. They started making dog treats for their two rescue dogs, Bubba and Rose. From there, it kind of took off! Now they have been featured on NBC's Today Show, People Magazine, NY Times Style Magazine, Modern Dog...and MANY more... trust me, the list is really long. I didn't feel like typing them all out. They also have a cook book you can buy. (See picture to immediate right.)

What I like about Bubba Rose is that every treat is wheat, corn, soy, gluten free AND baked in small batches in their bakery in NJ. All the meats are locally sourced, free-range, grass fed and hormone and antibiotic free. They not only care about dogs, but ALL animals and want the ingredients they use to be farmed humanely. The eggs they use are from cage-free hens (I refuse to say "cage-free eggs" because that just bothers me grammatically).  And, If I haven't used the word "free" enough, I am about to do it now: Everything they make is free of chemicals, free of salt, free of artificial flavors, free of colors, free of fillers and free of GMO ingredients. That is a lot of stuff that is not added! Which means, they probably don't cut a lot of corners when making their treats.

To put a cherry on top of all of this goodness, a portion of their sales goes to animal rescue organizations.