Monday, September 26, 2016

Leptospirosis in Dogs

Lepto....What? Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects canines, humans and other animals such as livestock and wildlife. It is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Leptospires infiltrate the body system by burrowing into the skin and spreading throughout the body by way of the bloodstream. It then can infect the entire body by reproducing in the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, eyes and reproductive system. Soon after infection, a fever and bacterial infection of the blood will develop. But usually the body will resolve itself through antibodies. Depending upon the extent of the infection and the body's immune system, even after it has been resolved, Leptospirosis can remain in the kidneys and reproduce. Thus, infecting an animal's urine. Younger animals and animals with a weakened immune system are at the highest risk of complications with this bacteria.

Since Leptospires can infect an animal's urine, it is usually passed to another animal through water sources such as stagnant water, moist soil and recreational lakes/ponds. Exposure risk increases during summer and early fall months. It's rarely fatal to humans, but the Center for Disease Control estimates that there are up to 200 human cases a year in the United States.

Diagnosis of Leptospirosis can be somewhat tricky because it looks like many other diseases. But, here are some of the symptoms:


 Preventative Tips: 
  • Vaccinate your dog and livestock. Interestingly, Cats seem to have a natural defense to this bacterial infection, so there is not a vaccination for cats. 
  • Avoid stagnant water with your pets.
  • Good sanitation is a must for your family. Practice hand washing (especially with children who are at higher risk) when handling anything that may have your dog's urine on it. 
  • If you work in an environment that involves routine exposure to standing water or wildlife, wear protective clothing. 
Leptospirosis can only be diagnosed by a veterinarian. Because it looks like many other diseases, diagnosis can be frustrating and costly requiring numerous blood and urine tests. Once diagnosed, your veterinarian may recommend intravenous fluids, antibiotics as well as any other therapies depending upon the extent of the infection.

For more information, you can visit these websites:

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

DIY Enrichment Games For Your Dog

Because we have a great Enrichment Program, I thought it would be fun to post some enrichment games you can make for your dog at home:

 Image: Yes Missy
The Muffin Tin Game is somewhat like Hide-and-Go-Seek, but with treats instead of humans. It's pretty simple and easy to put together. You just grab a muffin pan, and place a few treats in random indentations in the pan. Then, place tennis balls over all the indentations. You dog needs to A) figure out how to get the balls out and B) figure out which indentations hold the treats. A full tutorial can be found here: Yes Missy.

Image: The Nerd's Wife
This enrichment game was found on The Nerd's Wife and will keep your dog entertained for hours. I do want to write a little disclaimer: The Nerd's Wife tutorial on how to make this enrichment toy also endorses Purina Beyond Pet Food. Though Bark City thinks this is an awesome idea for an enrichment toy, we are not endorsing Purina Beyond.... Because, well... we think the food we sell at the daycare,  Honest Kitchen, is the greatest. Honest Kitchen is not a kibble, but they sell treats and "toppers" that can be used in these toys.

Image: Kol's Notes
This enrichment toy comes from Kol's Notes. It's inexpensive to make and will keep your dog busy. But, like the above game by The Nerd's Wife, Kol's Notes is endorsing a dog food on their tutorial. Again, we want you to like Honest Kitchen, so we aren't going to be endorsing Kol's food.

Image: Kelly's Dog Blog
I have seen this toy circulating the internet quite a bit. And, you will need a handyman to help you make it. But, once it's made, I think it would be well worth the time and effort. The concept of this toy is to have your dog figure out how to get the treats out of the bottle (aka spinning the bottle). If you want to see more images of how this toy works, head on over to Kelly's Dog Blog

Image: Leopold's Crate
This last enrichment toy may look like an ordinary ball with a bunch of fabric stuffed into it. And yes, that is what it is, but there is more! Inside each of those pieces of fabric are little tiny treats. This toy is good for "those one dogs" that like to rip their stuffed animals apart. For a full tutorial, please visit: Leopold's Crate. *** Safety Reminder: If you have a dog that likes to rip things apart, always supervise them while they are destroying.***

Remember to exercise your dog's mind is just as important as physical exercise. Constantly learn and play together!

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Apple Cider Vinegar for Canines


I've been drinking apple cider vinegar (ACV) for a while now to help relieve symptoms of arthritis. Every day, I mix about 1 Tablespoon of ACV in a mug with a heaping spoon of raw honey and fill it to the brim with hot water. Aside from noticing that my joints ache less, I have been noticing my nails are growing like wild fire and my hair is soft and shiny. It got me wondering if I could give this remedy to my furry family members and if they would reap the same benefits. Sure enough, the answer is "yes" (of course it would be, otherwise I would not be writing about it in this blog). I've decided to compile a list of the benefits that have been toted on the internet about ACV along with a dosage suggestion and how to mix it for spray on application. Without further ado, here ya go: 


It should be noted that it is recommended you use raw, organic ACV that has the "mother" inside the bottle. I like to use this brand ---> Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar. But, this is mostly because it is what is available at my grocery store. The dosage recommendation for a dog is to work up to 1 tsp a 1 TBSP twice daily for a 50# dog. BUT, you should also make sure that your dog's natural body chemistry is in need of adding an acidic supplement by testing the pH balance of your dog's morning urine with a pH strip. ACV improves digestion by acidifying the gastrointestinal tract. This in turn, helps the digestion of proteins. Like humans, canine body chemistry can vary according to what is being eaten, stress, age, ect... A dog's pH balance should be anywhere between 6.2- 6.5. If it is in this range, your dog may not benefit from ACV and you may make your dog's chemistry to acidic by adding ACV to the diet thus making them sick. If your dog's pH is 7.5 or above, their body chemistry has too much alkaline. Apple Cider Vinegar may be beneficial in this situation. But, as always, you should work with your veterinarian when it comes to supplementing your furry friends.

Aside from adding ACV to the diet, it can also be used topically by mixing 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water. This mixture can either be sprayed or sponged directly onto the skin. The benefits of skin application are:
  • To remove excess soap after bathing
  • Kill bacteria that causes flaking
  • Repel fleas and ticks
  • To "cool" hot spots, burns and rashes 
Other added bonus' to ACV:
  • It acts as a natural preservative. This is super news for those of us who make our pet's food. Adding a little bit of ACV will extend the fridge life of our pets food. 
  • Some dog's are finicky about water and will only drink the water that they usually drink. This can become bothersome if you are traveling with a dog, because they won't drink unfamiliar water! If you get into the habit of adding ACV into their water daily, they may be more likely to drink that unfamiliar water when ACV is added (it makes it familiar!) 
Lastly, I will leave you with a couple of links for your own reading a research: 


Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Easter Recipes for Dogs

This coming Sunday will be Easter. In some homes, that means a big Easter ham with all the fixin's and baskets full of candy and CHOCOLATE for our two-legged family members (aka.. humans). But, we must be extra careful during holidays to make sure our four-legged family members do not get into the candy or the dinner. Some ingredients (like chocolate) are poisonous to dogs. Here is a handy list I made last Thanksgiving as a quick "go-to" list on what dogs can and cannot have from the table. Though, now that I am looking back on this list--- I forgot chocolate on the bad side!

As an alternative to fretting over what our dogs can and cannot have, I have gathered a list of 5 dog treat recipes that you can make for your dog to eat while you are eating the people's food. Here 'ya go:

Just click on the link provided at the bottom of each image to bring you to the actual recipe.

Honey and Ham dog treats from Doggy Dessert Chef



Easter Brunch Scramble form Beagles and Bargains


Bunny Bacon and Carrot Muffins from Bunny Roo Beagle


No Bake Dog Treats from Jo and Sue


Dog Biscuits with Cream Cheese Frosting by HGTV

Also, if you need something that lasts a bit longer and keeps your dog's nose off the table, you can try these frozen Kong recipes---> Click here. Spring is right around the corner!

Monday, February 22, 2016

Cranberries For UTI Health in Canines


The secret of cranberries and maintaining a healthy urinary tract has been passed down from generation to generation. It is now not so much a secret and could be said to be general knowledge. I bet the majority of you have been told to drink cranberry juice when suffering from a bladder infection. But, are cranberries really all that effective for treating urinary tract infections (UTI) and can they be used for canines?

Little research has been done on the effectiveness of cranberries on canine urinary tract health, BUT a lot of research has been done on humans. Of all the reading I have done for canines on cranberries, it seems that most veterinarians are using the human research to shed light on canine health. In addition, it seems that a lot of canine owners are praising the benefits of cranberries for helping their furry family members.

There does seem to be some confusion on how cranberries help with UT health.  It is often told that cranberries help by lowering the PH in urine, thus making it more acidic and killing off the bacteria. However, this seems to be just a wives tale passed on from generation to generation. In fact, it looks like cranberries help by making it difficult for bacteria to attach to the bladder wall tissue. If the bacteria can't attach, they can't multiply and just float around until they are flushed out with urine. It should also be noted that cranberries are not very effective in curing an already blazing urinary tract infection. You need antibiotics for that. Cranberries are helpful for maintaining a healthy urinary tract. This, in turn, reduces the chances of an infection. If your dog has chronic bladder infections, it is wise to work with your veterinarian to find out why. It could be a diet issue or an anatomical issue. As always, if you are supplementing your dog, you should always let your veterinarian know. Some medication and supplements don't work well together.

Aside from helping with UT health, cranberries are...well, like most berries... super healthy. They are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. In addition, they have abundant minerals and antioxidants. A daily dosage would be as follows:
  • Cats and small dogs: 100mg/ 3 times a day
  • Medium dogs: 200 mg/ 3 times a day
  • Large dogs: 300 mg/ 3 times a day
  • Giant dogs: 400 mg/ 3 times a day
If you would like to read more on cranberries for UTI health, here are some helpful links: