Back to School Can Bum Out your Best Friend

With the summer coming to a close, the crazy households of summer vacation will come to a quiet halt and peace will fill your homes.  As we are sure, many of you are happy to get back to the swing of school, there is one family member that might feel a little bummed out.

 ...And that's your pup.

Best Buddies Forever.

Your school-age children have spent countless hours with the family pup all summer long,
but now school will be in session, and the house is once again empty, don't forget that our four-legged friends might begin to feel a little lonely without the fun non-stop action that is summertime.




What to do?
While you are out filling up your cart with notebooks, crayons, and glue sticks...stop by and pick up some back to school supplies for your pup too!  We recommend activity-based safe toys to keep your pup entertained while transitioning into having a lot more alone time.  Being mindful of this transition can certainly save your couch, pillows, or even a few shoes.  We have just gotten in Nylon tough Fido Bones made in Michigan!  Or try leaving your pup with one of our puzzle games, to keep their minds sharp while they are home alone.





Take some nice long walks.
When the time is best for your schedule, go out and enjoy the beautiful changing seasons with a nice long walk.  The extra outdoor air and exercise will also help relieve that pent-up energy that has been adding to the craziness and fun of your past summer.  We recommend the Cleveland Metroparks;  there are so many beautiful paths to walk and explore...you'll never get bored.

  All in all, just don't forget your favorite fur friend throughout this household transition, your pup and your shoes will thank you for it!

We all did it! Thanks to YOU!

THANK YOU! 

We want to take a moment and thank everyone that came to the Pack Walk and Cook Out June 22.  

Thanks to your generosity we were able to raise over $1300 for Rescue K911. This is a very dedicated group of volunteers and we are proud to support their hard work. The pictures from the event are on our Facebook page as well as Rescue K911's page.

 

Once again, we thank each and every one of you for your continued support of these great rescue groups!

 

Keepin 'em COOL this summer

Several folks have asked us about cooling vests and bandanas for their dogs to use for hot weather activities. We have looked at several of the commercially made ones and just haven't found one that worked well. You can make a cooling bandana at home, using a soft, flexible freezer pack and a square bandana. Simply roll the frozen pack into the bandana, then tie it around your dogs neck so it hangs in front.  

Several major blood vessels go through the front of the neck, wearing the freezer pack in front cools most efficiently.  

Most dogs tolerate this and it really helps. The soft freezer packs come in a variety of sizes and will work for all sizes of dogs. Best of all you can put back up packs in your cooler and change them out as they thaw.  

Another danger for dogs is hot pavement.

If it's too hot for you to walk barefoot, it's too hot for your dog. The Metro Parks have a variety of walking paths available, from paved to gravel or wood chips. If your favorite park has blacktop paths do your walking early or late, avoid the hottest time of the day. Don't forget your dogs paws will benefit from Mushers Secret or a similar paw balm all year round. This helps avoid dry, cracked pads. Applying the balm every 2 or 3 days will help prevent drying and cracking.

Why no Flexi Leads?

A little explanation why we don't allow them at group events

Several people have asked why we don't allow flexileads at our events. Many people like them, and they do give your dog more freedom than a standard leash. When you are walking one or two dogs by yourself it is usually pretty safe.
However, in a group of dogs and people it can be a different story. All it takes is one flexilead wrapped around a dog or person and serious injuries can happen. The thin cord of the flexilead can cause serious burns when it rubs against skin, both human and canine.

We want everyone to be safe at our events, so please use a fixed length leash.

New Customer Loyalty Program

We will help you save some bone$!

We are thrilled to announce we will be starting a new Customer Loyalty Program July 1! This will replace the punch cards, though we will continue to honor those for anyone that has them.

We will begin keeping track of your purchases July 1 and when you reach $250 you will receive a coupon for 5% off your ENTIRE purchase via email. No more punch cards, and bigger savings! #winning!

We will need to have your email address in our system, it is different than this newsletter list. At checkout, we will ask for your email, and we will assure you that it is for the new Loyalty Program ONLY.
We promise we won't Spam your inbox and we will never sell your information to anyone.

Online Customers:

This counts for you too!  Once you reach your spending cap, we will generate a special savings code for you too!

UPDATE:

 There are a couple of changes I wanted to mention. Since not everyone uses email, the reward discount will be applied when you come in, rather than an emailed coupon. We will be able to let you know when you reach $250, and that your discount will be applied next time you come in and shop. This will also be printed on your receipt so you can keep track of where you are. (It is similar to the Fuel Perks at Giant Eagle). We will continue to honor the punch cards!

 

CHEWsing the right Chew for your dog

One thing that most dogs like to do is chew.

Chewing is natures way of cleaning canine teeth, and dogs enjoy a good chew. If you don't provide appropriate chews or chew toys for them, many dogs will find their own.

Shoes, chair legs, the list is endless. There are many different kinds of dog chews available, and all have risks. How do you choose the best, safest chew for your dog? Let's look at the most popular types.

Bones
Bones are the original chew, and dogs love to have them. Never give cooked bones, the cooking process dries bones out so they are very likely to splinter. This could cause a perforation of the stomach or intestine, a life threatening emergency. Raw bones are safer, but any bone could still splinter and cause problems. Always watch your dog when they have a bone, it should wear down as your dog chews. Make sure you aren't giving small bones to big dogs, it could be a choking hazard.

We have a wide selection of raw bones if you decide you want to try this type of chew for your dog.

Rawhide Chews
Rawhide chews have been around forever, and most dogs love them but that doesn't mean every dog should have them. Rawhide is made from the hide of cattle or pigs and is not easily digested. A dog that ingests a large hunk of rawhide is at risk for an intestinal obstruction. This is a life threatening emergency that requires immediate surgery. If your dog is an easy going chewer, wearing a rawhide down over days rather then minutes that is fine. In small pieces rawhide can be digested. Be aware that not all rawhide chews are safe for your dog. Some companies spray the rawhide with chemical preservatives, and in some cases, even formaldehyde. These chemicals are not safe for your dog. We carry the Wholesome Hide brand, made in the USA without any chemical preservatives.


Chew Toys
Puppies benefit from chew toys, especially during the teething stage. A softer chew is best, something that will be soothing to their gums. West Paw and Planet Dog both make a line of chew toys especially for puppies. Softer material, but still tough and durable. Planet Dog also has a line of toys designed for older dogs that still love to chew but may have dental issues. Their Old Soul line is made especially for the seniors. Both are American companies that manufacture within the United States.

Himalayan Chews
The Himalayan Company makes a durable chew out of compressed yak and cows milk. They are designed to break into small pieces and are digestible. Again, you have to watch your dog with this chew, once it is down to a small piece there is a risk of choking. You can take the small end piece and microwave it for 30-45 seconds to soften it. Once it cools it is like a cheese curl, and your dog will love it!




Dental Chews
Dental Chews are made specifically to clean teeth while the dog chews. Made of compressed vegetable starch, these can be tough and durable. There are some dogs that can manage to break off big pieces and swallow them, so always observe your dog when they have a chew. Vegetable starch is usually digestible so there is less risk of developing an obstruction.


Bully Sticks
Bully sticks are dried beef tendon, and are much more digestible than rawhide. A large bully stick will last my dog Beau about 45 minutes to an hour. As he chews it the bully stick softens and he gets the small pieces off. A really determined chewer could break it off in larger pieces, and have a risk of choking. So again, keep an eye on your dog whenever they have a chew.


Antlers
Antlers are a very popular dog chew, and very long lasting. These have marrow at the center just like a bone and that is what the dog is chewing to get to. Antlers wear down slowly and splintering is rarely a problem, one of the reasons they are so popular. Antlers are very hard, and a determined chewer can easily fracture a tooth. Split antlers are also available, cut lengthwise to expose the marrow. This lets your dog get to the good part more easily and with less risk of tooth damage. The split antlers don't last as long but they also don't cost as much.

I hope this information helps you make an informed choice about what chew is best for your dog. When you come to the Bakery our staff is there to answer your questions. Please don't hesitate to ask!

Water Intoxication and your Dog

Water intoxication is a life threatening condition, leading to death in many cases. Some dogs do survive with intensive treatment but many suffer brain damage and have neurological impairment

afterward. This condition is much easier to prevent then to cure, since by the time symptoms are noticed it may be too late for treatment.

Water intoxication describes a condition where more water is taken in than the kidneys can process. The excess water dilutes or lowers sodium levels, and is then taken up by the cells in the body to try to maintain a normal sodium level. This leads to swelling of the cells throughout the body, including brain cells. While there is room for swelling in most organs, the brain is incased in the skull. Any swelling of brain cells damages those cells, and can lead very quickly to death.

Water intoxication in dogs is most likely to happen while swimming or playing in the water. Diving for toys or swimming to retrieve a toy causes the dog to swallow water. If the play goes on long enough the dog will swallow more water than the kidneys can process. This doesn't mean your dog can never play in the water, just that the water play intervals are short enough and dry land breaks are long enough that the kidneys can keep up with the water being swallowed. Choosing a flat toy for your dog to retrieve rather than a ball helps keeps the mouth closed while swimming, limiting the water that is swallowed.  Keep an eye on your dog during play, and make sure they are urinating during breaks.

Your dog is also at risk if he or she likes to bite water coming out of a hose or sprinkler, or biting at waves on the beach. When dogs do this they are swallowing some of the water, and you need to make sure they aren't swallowing too much. Again, make sure the "dry" breaks are long enough for the kidneys to keep up with the water.

Another risk for the wave biters is sand bloat. If the waves are stirring up sand on the beach, your dog is also swallowing sand. This can lead to a condition called sand bloat, another life threatening condition. The sand actually causes a blockage in the stomach or intestine, requiring surgery. It is never a good idea to let your dog bite at waves, or to throw a toy where they are retrieving in the surf line.

Dogs that were bred for water retrieving like labs and goldens tend to swim with their heads held high out of the water. This helps to limit the water they swallow while swimming. If your dog loves to swim, observe how they hold their head. Is it high or at water level? Is your dog so obsessed with swimming they don't stop unless you make them? These dogs are at higher risk and need more and longer breaks. Toy breeds and any dog with a very low body fat level are also at higher risk for water intoxication. The little ones have less body mass and the lean dogs don't have fat cells to store the excess water in.

Water play is great exercise for your dog, especially in the summer when it's too hot for other forms of play. Just be careful and make sure the dry land breaks are long enough. 

We carry Whole Dog Journal in our store!  Stop by and pick one up to read up on healthy care for your pet!