Blog

Managing arthritis in our older dogs is something many of us have dealt with.  It breaks our hearts as it is so painful for our beloved companions.  What can you do?  Well, exercise in mild forms is great, swimming can be helpful and weight management.  

There are many products on the market from orthopedic and heated dog beds to numerous foods, treats and supplements.  Of course, there is always the prescription drug route as well – and that works well for many pet owners.

We have a new product on Campus called Dawg Eez – made from Elk Velvet Antler.  I can see some of you cringing now – hold on.  One of our staff members was telling me about her older dog and how she managed this dog’s arthritis very effectively with Elk Velvet so I did some research and found it is really a great product that has been used for centuries.  It can be expensive, but if it eases the pain and improves mobility many think it is worth it!  It certainly is less expensive than some alternative options such as surgery, treadmill therapy and some prescription medicines!

There are many active ingredients found in elk velvet antler including a variety of minerals, trace elements, protein, fatty acids, and glucosamine.   The product we sell, Dawg Eez, is in tablet form and contains 375 mg Domestic elk velvet antler and 125 mg of domestic elk liver.  This combination provides your dog with several basic nutrients, associated with joint health! 

Back on Campus:  Well, Martin did a terrific job with the murals!  He transformed the “warehouse” to a beautifully painted Campus!  He combined our silly humor with over 75 paintings of dogs, buildings, etc.  It is great fun and we will be hosting a week-long open house event.  Stay tuned for more information!  Woof on ….

Microchipping:  Is your dog microchipped?  No?  Okay, I get it …. We get busy and just cannot get around to everything but that doesn’t mean we love our dogs any less nor does it mean we won’t freak out when they run away or are missing.   You’ll have peace of mind if you get your furry student microchipped.

Millions (yes, millions) of dogs are lost every year.  We see a lot of dogs here and it just breaks our heart when we get a call from one of our dog owners telling us one of our students is missing.  We go all out to help … posting flyers, using the front  page of our web site, Facebook, e-mail blasts, we call our competitors (yes … I go there) and ask them to be on the look-out.    Sadly, the two I’m thinking of have not been found.  

So, you are more careful than them – you never let your dog out of your site – your yard is fenced …..  Okay, so one of the two dogs I’m thinking of was at their Veterinarian and the dog panicked and ran out the front door never to be seen again.  The other (and this is far more commonly heard) was in the back seat of the car when the owner was in an accident.  As EMS opened the door to treat the injured driver, the dog jumped out in fear and has never been seen again.  

A microchipped dog has a better chance of finding his way home to you.  Microchipping is most often a onetime event – a onetime cost.  Did you know that most of the animals surrendered have no I.D.?  The Michigan Humane Society reports that without microchipping, the chance that a dog will be reunited with his owner is less than 20 percent.  For cats, it’s less than three percent. 

Canine College will be offering a low cost Microchipping clinic in the autumn of 2012.  If you want your pet microchipped before then – just ask your Veterinarian.

Back on Campus:  So much news!   We have been busier than a one eyed cat in a room full of mouse holes! 

The Holiday season was a blast!  We had at least 140+ dogs every day and we just had a blast with them!   Our Student’s owners just spoiled the staff terribly bringing in subs, pizza, candy, cookies … you name it!  Thank you so much.  Staff works so hard and they just LOVED the grub!

The new cameras are up – all 29 of them!  Lots of views of the playfields and lots of private dorm room web cams!  Want to watch your furry student in his dorm room at night?  Just give Sue in Student Services a call.  She’ll let you know how to reserve a suite with a camera!  

Must run – so much to do!  Woof on ….

As we perpare for a full campus and all of the fun activities we will be having with our furry students over the next few weeks, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for sharing your furry family member with us.

The Holidays can present a few challenges to your furry student – please consider the safety and health of your student by being aware of some of the temptations your furry student may face including:

• Holiday meal “sneaks”.  Sure, we like to share but use caution.  Limit the table treats so as not to cause your furry student to have an upset stomach!  (you too!)
• Holy Smokes!  Where did all the candy from the candy dish go?  Keep those treat plates high so our furry students are not tempted.
• Watch the doors as your guests come and go with their holiday cheer and gifts.  In the excitement your furry student can run out of the house unprotected.  Properly introduce your furry students to your guests when the excitement of the entrance has calmed down.
• Tinsel and other holiday tree trimmings can be very inviting as they sparkle and move!

We wish you, your family and friends peace and joy …….  Enjoy the Video