The Kids are Back in School,
....it’s Time For You!
West Linn •
503.722.8888
22000 Willamette Drive
West Linn Central Village
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5
SEPTEMBER 2013
F
or families with children, the end
of summer means the beginning
of school. The end of summer can
also bring stress to family pets. As
kids hop on a school bus, climb in the fam-
ily car or walk to school each day, dogs and
cats are left to their own devices. That can
be quite a shock after they’ve enjoyed sev-
eral months of full-time attention.
Mason Hartman, owner and opera-
tor of Nature’s Pet Market, says families
shouldn’t be surprised to see stress-related
changes in their pets around this time of
year.
“Any change in their environment is go-
ing to cause a certain amount of stress,”
Hartman said. “Dogs, being pack animals,
are going to feel better when the whole
family is around.”
Signs of stress for dogs include excessive
barking, whining and chewing, he said.
Surprisingly, despite cats’ reputation as
aloof animals, they too can exhibit signs
of stress when summer’s “anything goes”
routine changes to the school year’s rigid
schedule.
“Cats may mark, pee outside the litter
box,” Hartman said. “Scratching and claw-
ing are signs of stress. If that seems nor-
mal, it’s really a sign that they’re feeling
stress.”
Fortunately, relieving pets’ stress is a
simple matter. And it doesn’t require dras-
tic measures like declawing or debarking.
“Don’t be too quick to go to the vet,”
Hartman said. “A traditional vet may pre-
scribe something that’s not natural, may
knock your pet out or not be effective. Good
training and the right products, these are
all things we can use to help our cats and
dogs get over stress.”
Nature’s Pet Market has many items
to calm pets naturally, and Hartman is
knowledgeable about them all. Here are a
few items he recommends.
For cats
Comfort Zone stress-reducing phero-
mones. Cat lovers know that when their
furry friends rub against humans’ legs,
they’re not just showing affection; they’re
also releasing a naturally calming phero-
mone. Spray Comfort Zone replicates that
pheromone. Spray it on your cat’s collar or
bedding, where your cat can rub it, or plug
a diffuser into a wall socket to release the
pheromone.
Pet-Ease Paw Gel. Apply a bit of this gel,
containing essence of passionflower and
chamomile, to your pet’s paw. As the cat
licks it off, those calming essences go to
work.
For dogs
Hartman recommends threeways to aid
stressed-out dogs: treats, calming aids and
toys.
Giving your dog a special food treat is a
great way to help your pet feel better about
you leaving. If you give your dog extra
treats, Hartman suggests compensating
by reducing the amount of regular dog food
you give your pet to avoidweight problems.
Food treats might not be absolutely nec-
essary, though. Chewing is a natural activ-
ity that keeps dogs occupied and calm. A
Kong chew toy, stuffed with a small food
treat and then frozen, can safely occupy a
dog for a long time, Hartman said. While a
Kong is considered safe for all but the most
aggressive chewers, Hartman said fami-
lies should use caution when leaving dogs
alone with chew toys all day, because of the
risk of the dog choking or ingesting artifi-
cial materials. Nature’s Pet stocks other
toys that are considered safe, andHartman
is glad to discuss the right optionswithyou.
If treats and food don’t do the trick, a
calming aid like Calm K9 Nutri-Wafers,
manufactured by a Portland company, may
help. Each wafer contains an herbal blend
designed to naturally relax and calm dogs
— and they taste good, too.
For both cats and dogs
If your household includes both cats and
dogs, you can use Rescue Remedy with
both types of animals. Add a few drops of
this compound onto your pet’s food, water
or a treat. It contains naturally calming
flower essences your pet will respond to.
The good news for animal lovers is that
options like these will ease your pets into
the school-year routine. If only it were that
easy for the students in your family.
Nature’s Pet is located at 5656 Hood St.
in West Linn Central Village. For more in-
formation, call 503-305-8628 or visit nature-
spetmarket.com/westlinn.
Mason Hartman gives a temporary home — and lots of love — to Betty, a naturally calm cat who lives at Nature’s Pet Market while waiting for a family to adopt her.
Dogs can stay entertained and relieve stress with the toys avail-
able at Nature’s Pet Market. Adding a food treat, like frozen wet
food, makes chewing more enjoyable for dogs.
Mason Hartman’s Nature’s Pet Market offers a variety of calming
aids for dogs and cats.
The wide variety of natural chew treats available at Nature’s Pet
Market means that pet lovers can find something to please every
dog.
By Kate Hoots
Photographs by
Vern Uyetake
Ease pets’ back-to-school stress
Natural remedies
help cats and
dogs adjust to
being left on
their own
“Good training and the right
products help our cats and
dogs get over stress.”
– Mason Hartman, Nature’s Pet Market
owner and operator
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