Bark City Doggy Daycare

Maple. Bacon. Ice. Cream. This recipe is adapted from  Apron Strings . The Apron Strings version is for humans. My version is for canines. It is dairy free and has two ingredients that are considered "super foods": Coconut and maple syrup.   Coconut oil has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial properties. That is a lot of "anti". Because of this, it can support your canine against illness and help speed the healing process. You can read more about it here . (and all the other amazing health benefits.)  Maple syrup is rich in Manganese, zinc and natural antioxidants. It also has a lower Glycemic Index than regular sugar. But let's face it, sugar is sugar and it's not entirely good for dogs. They should only have it occasionally. So, this recipe is a sometimes treat. Do not try to substitute with artificial sweeteners--which are poisonous to dogs. Adapted For Dogs--Maple Bacon Kong Filler Ingredients: 1//2 lb of bacon 4 egg ...

 I know, I know, this is not exactly a glamorous post. Nobody likes to talk about poop, unless you are my children! But recently, I got into a discussion with a friend on why it is important for doggy daycares to clean up dog waste (including urine) immediately. Contrary to popular belief, dog poop is not a natural fertilizer. Quite the opposite, it is one of the top contributors to water pollution. The EPA has deemed that dog poop can be as toxic to the environment as chemical and oil spills. Our waste water treatment systems are not designed to filter dog waste and 1 gram of dog feces is estimated to have 23 million fecal bacteria. This includes: Campylobacteriosis (symptoms: fever, vomiting and swollen lymphnodes.) Salmonellosis (symptoms: fever, shock, lethargy, dehydration and more.) Toxocarisis...aka.. roundworms (symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea and worms in feces.) Coccidia (symptoms: bloody diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration.) Cysticerosis (symptoms: anemia and an...

As winter continues on, we all try to ward off the winter blues by taking our handful of vitamin D daily and watching endless hours of Netflix. Sometimes, we take hikes in the winter wonderland...or there is skiing...or ice climbing.  But let's face it, winter is a time of hibernation and cabin fever can take it's toll. A dog's mental health can suffer. While you can go skiing and ice climbing, a dog can't. They get bored when mental and physical exercise are not consistent. And a bored dog equals a mischievous dog. Luckily, humans are also a creative species and below I have found a bunch of DIY enrichment games for dogs. So start crafting away the winter canine blues! What you see above is a "snuffle pad". You can purchase these or make them. The picture above is a snuffle pad from an Etsy store: FleeceBeWithYou . The price of these mats vary depending upon size and weight ($9.00- $50.00) Snuffle pads are also fairly easy to make, but can b...

For the month of February we are running a Winter Skin Care Special!!! Schedule your dog for a bath or groom in the month of February, and for just an additional $10 you can upgrade them to the skin care special. With this upgrade they will receive a bath in our soothing Lavender and Chamomile shampoo, a soothing paw treatment to help moisturize their feet after the all the mud and snow and spritzed with a olive oil leave in conditioner to help make their fur look extra shiny. They will also receive a stylish bandana to wear around town. This is only a "While supplies last" situation,  so make sure you don’t wait to long.   Dogs have sensitive skin and should only be bathed at most once a month. Over washing your dog can dry out the skin and remove too many natural oils, which will eventually cause more skin problems. One solution to over-washing your dog is to use a dry shampoo in between washings. I have included a dry shampoo recipe at the bottom of this...

The countdown is beginning! Well actually, one of my two-legged children started the count down right after Halloween. Christmas is getting close. Too close for my comfort because I am currently sitting on my couch with a stuffed up nose, body aches and a cough. While my heating pad is keeping me warm and cozy, I am thinking about the fact that I should be out there getting all my stocking stuffers. Oh, did I mention that Bark City has stocking stuffers? Yes, we do! And only a limited supply--it's a first come first serve kind of deal. One of the stocking stuffers I would like to highlight today is the Instant Eggnog. In fact, I am tempted to try a cupful to see if it will cure my cold.  This eggnog is only available for a limited time. If you don't get it at Bark City, you can order it online (for a limited time) from the Honest Kitchen website. It is: 100% Human Grade Made in the USA No by-products No preservatives No corn, wheat,  soy or GMO The ingredi...

Yes, I know I spelled "dehydrating" wrong. Typo!!! ~Before you read this article, please remember that I am just writing what I have read and researched. I do not have a medical degree in anything. I have tried to reference my work by highlighting areas of the article and providing some references at the bottom. ~  Magnesium is extremely important for the body. It plays a key role in a healthy immune system and the bodies ability to produce ATP. It is second only to Potassium as the most abundant substance in cells . Humans usually get magnesium through their diet. But by some estimates, up to 80% of Americans are not getting enough magnesium . More and more, people are turning to Transdermal Magnesium Therapy (TMT) for supplementation. Basically, TMT is a really fancy word for absorption through the skin. TMT seems to be the most efficient way for the body to absorb magnesium. It also provides the least amount of discomfort. Taking a magnesium supplement orally...

It's coming (enter scary Jaws music)-- Cold and Flu season. It hits canines as well as humans. Like humans, if you furry friend is feeling under the weather, it's best if you keep him/her at home until fully recovered to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Also like humans, there are certain things you can give your dog to help support recovery. Here are my top five not in any ranking order: 1. Coconut Oil : Coconut oil has a composition of medium chain fatty acids. One of these medium chain fatty acids is called lauric acid. When lauric acid is present in the body, it is converted into monolaurin. Without getting all "scientific-y" on you, I am just going to say that monolaurin is a super hero in the body: it exhibits anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties that destroy all those enemies that infiltrate the body.  It is recommended that you start with 1/4 tsp for a small dog or 1 tsp for a large dog every couple of day...