Don't Miss Out On This Month's Specials!

Fundraiser Update, November Specials, New Items, 6 Benefits of Taking Reishi Mushrooms
Howl-O-Ween On The Avenue Update

Thank you to all that supported our annual fundraiser this past Saturday, Howl-O-Ween On the Avenue including our fabulous volunteers and always amazing staff! We had 28 dogs sign up for the costume contest. We witnessed everything from a dog dressed up as a witch riding a broom, a dog as a rock star and the Chick-Fil-A Dog. This year we also had some wonderful human participation as well.  We had an entire family take on a very festive Mexican Fiesta theme with 2 babies dressed up as Tacos, mom as a Siracha Bottle, grandma sporting a sombrero and their dog in a pinata costume. And we can't forget another human dressed in a full blown dinosaur costume to accompany their dog dressed in a dinosaur costume. There were so many great costumes this year and way too many to name.   


Peek-a-Boo the goat with Peach Tree Hill Goats was quite the hit in her tutu. She was so well mannered and wasn't even phased by all of the dogs around her. All that she cared to do was eat all of our Sale signs.

Mart & Cindy Ratliff with Dog Scouts of America were here with their personal dog Alex. She was showing everyone how smart she was by personally taking donations. Alex was also sporting her merit badge lined cape with all of the badges that she has earned throughout the years.

The silent auction and raffle were a huge success bringing in the majority of the donations, although there were several folks that made individual contributions and one customer in particular that made a very generous donation.

We are currently working with one of our largest distributors Supreme Pet Supplies who will be our supplier of pet food to be donated. Supreme will help us maximize donations.   Once we have the final donation results we will send out an update.

The recipients of our fundraiser this year are the "Big Dog Rescue Project", "Don't Forget To Feed Me Pet Food Pantry" and "Operation Kindness", who took in over 100 dogs after Hurricane Harvey.
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Sale On This Highlighted Brand This Month 

Steve's Real Food 

STEVE'S IS A PIONEER IN THE RAW PET FOOD INDUSTRY

"Steve's Real Food raw dog and cat food has been on the market since 1998 and was the first commercial raw diet to meet AAFCO standards. Steve Brown, the founder, was meticulous in developing his first formula, taking over four years to get it perfect.  Steve became an expert in pet nutrition as he journeyed to find the perfect blend of nutrients and taste for his pets.  Nicole Lindsley, who now owns the company, has followed in his footsteps and worked for five years to ensure she fully understood pet nutrition before improving on Steve's original formula to make it more sustainable, healthy, and natural. "

For more information on Steve's Real Food, click on the following link:

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What's New?

Holiday Collars and Toys

Bocci's Seasonal Treats

Personalized Embroidered Collars Now Available

New "Everyday" Collars

Pumpkin Spice Latte and Egg Nog from The Honest Kitchen

Chicken Broth, Turkey Broth and Golden Milk from The Honest Kitchen

Steve's Real Food

Medicinal Mushrooms (See Article Below For More Info)
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November Specials

Steve's Real Food
  • 15% Off Entire Frozen Line
 
Rawz Kibble
  • $2 Off Small Bags
  • $4 Off Medium Bags
  • $6 Off Large Bags
 
Stella & Chewy's
  • 15% Off 6.6oz Freeze-Dried Which Is 20% More Free Than The 5.5oz 
 
Nulo 
  • $3 Off Small Bags
  • $7 Off Large Bags  
 
Tucker's 
  • Carnibars - Buy 3, Get 1 Free
 
OC Raw
  • 20% Off Turkey All Sizes Frozen and Freeze-Dried
 
Fromm Can Promo   
  • 20% Off With Minimum 3 Can Purchase

Bravo
  • Buy A Bag of Bravo Homestyle Complete, Get a Free Bravo Duck Foot Chew(While Supplies Last)
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Update - Holistic Care

Last month, John and I had an opportunity to attend the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) Conference as part of our ongoing commitment to keeping up with the latest in holistic pet care. 

We heard from some of the top Holistic and Homeopathic Veterinarians in the world and came away with some great information to pass along. 

One holistic vet in particular that we met was Ihor Basko. He is quoted below as stating some of the health benefits of using Reishi Mushrooms with his patients. 

We now carry Canine Matrix mushrooms (which are referenced below). They use only organic and human grade ingredients.  We are very excited about this addition to our holistic line-up of food & supplements.

Below is a great article detailing several compelling reasons why you and your dog should to be taking these amazing mushrooms.

Tammy Doak


The mushroom of immortality. That gets your attention! You want your dog to live forever, don't you?

Well ... you might be able to extend your dog's life by giving her this mushroom.

The mushroom of immortality is one of the names for reishi ... a powerful medicinal mushroom that's been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine as well as in Japan and Korea. You'll also see reishi called by their botanical name Ganoderma lucidumor the Chinese name Ling zhi.

I want to share with you the top 6 reasons to give them to your dog ... and below I will share some of the best brands to buy to make sure you're getting a good reishi supplement.

But first, let's summarize what research tells us about reishi's health benefits.

What Reishi Mushrooms Do
Unlike many other medicinal plants, Reishi mushrooms have been studied extensively and their many medicinal properties are supported by clinical research.

  • Immune system support
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Protect the liver
  • Support kidney health
  • Relieve allergies
  • Control blood sugar
  • Regulate blood pressure
These benefits of reishi mushrooms make them a potent supplement to support your dog's health in many ways.

6 Reasons To Give Your Dog Reishi
So ... here's our list of the top 6 reasons to give reishi mushrooms to your dog.

#1 Fight Cancer
Reishi mushrooms have long been used to treat cancer in China and Japan. Their constituents include triterpenes, compounds that have many medicinal benefits.  
Studies have shown their anti-cancer properties.

Reishi also contain beta glucans, which are complex sugars that are known to modulate the immune system ... this means they boost the immune system but don't over-stimulate it.  According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, reishi can correct the immune system whether it's deficient or excessive.

Research shows reishi mushrooms' ability to support the immune system in fighting and preventing cancer.  Reishi may stop cancer growth and evenshrink tumors in some cases.  They can also help prevent secondary cancers.  Studies also show that reishi can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

#2 Protect The Liver
Your dog can't live without a healthy liver ... so giving foods or supplements that help the liver do its job is a really good idea.

Reishi mushrooms have antioxidant properties that help nourish, detoxify and  protect the liver.  These antioxidant properties minimize the damaging effects of free radicals that can slow down liver function.

Reishi can help with renewal of liver cells, strengthen the liver overall and improve the detox process.

In a study on rats, reishi has even been shown to  reverse liver fibrosis, which is the final stage of fatty liver disease and is usually not treatable.

Reishi has also been used successfully to treat hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis in humans. While these aren't dog diseases, this fact demonstrates the healing power reishi can bring to the liver.

Caution: if your dog already has severe liver disease, consult your holistic veterinarian before giving reishi.

#3 Manage Diabetes
Studies  show reishi mushrooms can help manage diabetes. They can lower blood sugar and help regulate glucose levels.

Research also shows reishi mushrooms can prevent or slow kidney complications that can often develop in diabetics.

Another side effect of diabetes is that wounds can be slow to heal ... and the antioxidants in reishi can also speed wound healing for diabetic patients.

If your dog's on insulin or other medication for diabetes, talk to your holistic vet about how reishi might help reduce the need for these drugs.

#4 Support Heart Health
In Japan, reishi mushrooms are a traditional treatment for circulatory problems.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine reishi is used as a general tonic for the whole cardiovascular system.

Reishi act as vasodilators, improving blood supply and oxygen delivery to the heart. Vasodilators open blood vessels so that blood flows more easily and the heart doesn't have to pump as hard.

Reishi have a blood thinning effect (so they shouldn't be given in conjunction with blood thinning drugs like warfarin).

Reishi can also reduce blood pressure and can help relieve heart arrhythmia.

#5 Control Allergies
Reishi contain ganoderic acid, a triterpene that inhibits the release of histamines that cause allergic reactions.

Allergic reactions are an improper immune response ... so allergies are another disorder that reishi's immune modulating powers can help with. Reishi also have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions that can reduce allergy symptoms like itching and difficulty breathing.

Reishi can have a healing effect on the lungs, relieving coughs and other respiratory issues.

#6 Slow Aging
Reishi can delay the aging process and reduce aging symptoms.

A study of a reishi supplement fed to mice resulted in longer lifespans and reduced death risks. Increased longevity is one of the benefits reishi are famous for ... and the reason for the mushroom of immortality name!

Reishi can fight immunosenescence ... the gradual decline of the immune system brought on by the aging process over time.

Reishi's powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can help prevent and even reverse cognitive decline, as well as manage aging joint issues like arthritis.

Safety
Reishi mushrooms have very few reported side effects, but in humans nausea and insomnia have been reported in a few cases. For dogs it's best to start slowly to avoid any digestive upset.

Reishi mushrooms have anti-clotting effects and shouldn't be combined with blood thinning drugs.  Avoid giving reishi to pregnant or lactating females as studies haven't covered this group of patients.

How To Give Reishi To Your Dog
Reishi mushrooms taste quite bitter, so the best way to give them to your dog is usually in a tincture or powder/capsule formula.

Note: If you do want to give your dog whole reishi mushrooms be sure to cook them thoroughly; raw mushrooms are very indigestible and may be toxic to dogs. Making a tea or soup is a good way to feed fresh or dried mushrooms. 

Buying Reishi
There's a wide variety of quality in mushroom supplements so it's important to do your research before buying and find an organic product if you can.  Reishi can also be used in conjunction with other mushrooms and you'll often see supplements that combine reishi mushrooms with maitake, shiitake, cordyceps or turkey tail.

Here are a few suggestions.
Host Defense mushroom products are high quality, US-grown, sustainably cultivated, certified organic and non-genetically modified.  The company sell reishi in both  capsules and  extract(tincture).

Veterinarian Dr Marty Goldstein uses mushrooms a lot and recommends the  Mushroom Wisdom brand.  This company's mushrooms are grown in China without any pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers and final manufacturing is done at a pharmaceutical GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) manufacturer in the US, where stringent lab tests are performed to confirm purity of the final product.

Dosage: Both of these products are packaged for humans, so assume the dosage instructions are for a 150 lb person and adjust the amount according to your dog's weight.  Start with a lower dose and work up gradually to avoid any digestive upset.

Canine Matrix (which Bark Avenue Now Stocks)  makes a line of mushroom supplements for dogs and several of their formulas contain reishi.  Their mushrooms are certified 100% organic, grown, processed and packaged in California.

Dosage: If you want to buy one of these blends especially made for dogs, follow the dosing instruction on the label.

The same company's Om brand formulas for people include a  reishi powder.

Dosage: Again, this supplement is packaged for humans so adjust the dose for your dog's weight, assuming the dosage is for a 150 lb person.

Summing Up ...
Many holistic veterinarians who use mushrooms in their practice advocate using reishi for dogs. 

Ihor Basko DVM says:
Reishi mushrooms are my favorite mushroom to consume for my own health benefits, and my favorite mushroom to use in my holistic practice (in combination with herbs, other mushrooms, and antioxidants). [...] In general, reishi mushrooms are good to use with pets experiencing chronic degenerative processes, weakened immune systems, dysfunctioning liver, heart or kidney systems, or general weakness.

Reishi mushrooms may not make your dog immortal (that's a lot to ask of a mushroom), but they can do a lot of wonderful things for her health!

Upcoming Events

November

Saturday, November 4th
Essential Oils Training 
12-1pm

"Healthy Pets: Supporting Your Pet with Essential Oils"
We had a great time last month learning from Dr. Jim Bob Haggerton on some of the practical uses of using essential oils with our pets. Dr Haggerton will take the discussion further this time around to include how to use these amazing oils to help specific ailments.

Dr. Jim Bob Haggerton has been a practicing chiropractor in Hurst for 14 years specializing in Family Wellness and nutrition. He has been using and incorporating essential oils for his patients, family and pets for over 4 years and has seen incredible results in health for both the two and four legged members of his family and office.
There is no charge for this event, however space is limited. Call us at 817-656-2275 to reserve your spot.


Saturday, November 18th 
Pet Fur'tographer
Christmas Photos with Santa

The Pet Fur'tographer, Laura Long-Edwards will be taking Christmas Photos with Santa from 10:30 - 5:30. Her schedule fills up fast. If interested,   
call us at 817-656-2275 to reserve your spot.

Also on Saturday, November 18th
Jennifer Phoenix will be here showcasing 
sterling silver dog jewelry, designed and crafted in the US of recycled silver. Many dog breed pendants, pet themed earrings and bracelets.  Outstanding craftsmanship, yet locally sourced.  Special orders available, no shipping charges.  Great Christmas gift ideas!

December

Saturday, December 2nd
Pet Fur'tographer
Christmas Photos with Santa

The Pet Fur'tographer, Laura Long-Edwards will be returning for another round of Christmas Photos with Santa from 10:30 - 5:30. Her schedule fills up fast. If interested,  
call us at 817-656-2275 to reserve your spot.


As a reminder, Bark Avenue will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Dr Will Falconer has written the e-book, "Vital Animals Don't Get Heartworms".  
It truly is a life-changing way to look at heartworm prevention.  Click on the following link to get your copy today:   http://vitalanimal.com/drugfreeheartworm





Tammy & John | Bark Avenue Market & Bakery | 817-656-2275 | tammy@barkavenuemarket.com |   www.barkavenuemarket.com
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