Bark City Doggy Daycare

Winter can be a beautiful time to hike in the sparkly, cold wonderland. But, it can also wreak havoc on your dog's paws: cracking, trauma, frost bite, chemical burns and drying. This can hurt! We often don't think about it, but steps can be taken to prevent painful paws. Here's what you can do: Prep the paws . Trim the hair between the toes and around the paws. This will prevent ice balls from forming. It is also especially important to keep your dog's nails trimmed. Long nails can cause the paw pads to spread out while walking causing snow to get packed in between the toes.  Invest in some Paw and Nose Butter . Yes, there is such a product! Before you go out into the wild, gently clean your dog's paw pads with a warm wash cloth and apply a thin layer of butter. This will form a thin barrier between your dog's paw pads and the elements. Once you are done with your walk, wash your dog's paws with warm water and apply the butter again. This will help moi...

 With the increased risk of upper respiratory infection during cold and flu season, I have decided talk about what we do to try and keep our facility as clean as possible. One of the most important things we do is shovel all snow off the yards. We never let snow sit very long. The staff gets here at 6am and if the yard is not green, then they are out there before we open shoveling. Why? As pretty as snow is, it is not good for it to sit in a yard full of dogs. The turf we have was installed professionally with a drainage system underneath. When snow sits on the surface for a long period of time, this taxes the drainage system and causes a higher risk of bacteria. Snow also can cause the dogs to slip while running which increases chance of injury. Last, but one of the most important reasons, it makes it impossible to disinfect. The only yard we do not shovel is our biggest yard and that is because it does not get the traffic the other yards do. We only use that yard for a...

If there is one ingredient every dog owner should have in their cupboard, it should be canned pumpkin. Keep in mind that when I say canned pumpkin, I do not mean pumpkin pie filler. That item contains ingredients that are toxic to your dog. I mean the 100% canned pumpkin. Or, if you want to get fancy, you can roast your own pumpkins and freeze them for later use. Adding a bit of pumpkin to your dog's diet is great for their health. A bit of canned pumpkin helps with both diarrhea and constipation. And, it's loaded with nutrients. Specifically, fiber and beta-carotene which the body converts to vitamin A. You do want to make sure you do not feed your dog too much pumpkin. Too much Vitamin A can be toxic to your furry family member. The right dosage is about a couple teaspoons per day for a smaller dog and a couple of Tablespoons per day for a big dog. Pumpkin seeds are also a great addition to your dog's diet. They are filled with protein, amino acids, fiber, iron, ...

A Kong has limitless options on what you can stuff into it. As long is it isn't something potentially poisonous to dogs like onions and chocolate. The easiest way to fill a Kong is to turn it upside down (biggest opening facing upward) inside a coffee cup. The coffee cup holds it in place while you spoon in the filling. Filling options can be as simple as a favorite canned dog food or can be a mixture of household ingredients that you have on hand, such as: Roasted Sweet Potato and Peanut Butter: 1/2 roasted sweet potato with out the skin 3/4 c. of peanut butter 1/4 c. of flax seeds 1/2 cut oats ~ Mix all the ingredients together and spoon into an ice cube tray. Place in freezer. When frozen, you can take an individual cube out and place in the Kong. Coconut Banana 1 cup of plain yogurt 1 tsp. of coconut oil 1 sliced banana  ~ Mix all ingredients together and stuff into your Kong. Place Kong into freezer until frozen.   Chicken and Pumpkin 1 jar of ch...

We all try our very best to keep our dog happy, healthy and safe. But, did you know that there are more than 100,000 cases of pet poisoning in the US each year? Many of these poisonings happen with everyday items that we humans use and don't really think about in regards to pet safety. Here is a list of the most common household items that cause canine poisoning: Common Human Foods : Foods like chocolate, xylitol, grapes, etc... can be toxic to you dog. Before you feed your dog any human food, please do your research on what is and isn't toxic for your pet. Just because humans can eat it, does not mean a dog can safely ingest. Insecticides : This could be a mosquito spray, bait stations or even flea/ tick treatments. Please be aware of what is within your dog's reach or what you spray onto their fur. Licking off these insecticides could can be toxic. Mouse and Rat Poison : Aside from just eating the poison, ingesting a rodent that has been poisoned can also be toxic...

We always set New Year's Resolutions for ourselves, but how often do we do it for our dogs? Or rather, for us to be better dog owners? This is Bark City's top 10 Resolutions for Dog Owners:   Weight Management -- Obesity in dogs can trigger a whole slew of health problems. Diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular disease are just a few. You should be able to feel your dog's ribs, but not see them. If you see them, Fido may be too skinny. One way to keep your dog's weight under control is to minimize the human table scraps and keep them on a healthy dog food. Read labels and opt for a higher quality dog food that is easily metabolized by your dog. One website that I use regularly is The Dog Food Advisor . This website has extensively researched a multitude of dog foods and rates them based on ingredients and health.  Grooming -- Keep up on matted fur, parasites, dental hygiene, toenails, ear infections and hot spots. All of these (and more!) can  lead to health pro...