As a pet parent, you know problems arise. Here are common pet problems we see and ways you can combat the chaos. As always, visit your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your pet's health.

Dogs | Cats | Small Animals

Common Dog Problems

Toys & Behavior

My dog destroys toys

Ruffwear’s Gnawt toys stand up to touch chewers. They're made from natural, sustainable latex-rubber. The quality toys come in three shapes and provide plenty of playtime and mental stimulation.

My dog is naughty when bored

Keep your dog's mind active and alert with a puzzle toy from Outward Hound, and watch your dog hone treat hunting skills while staying entertained. The mental and physical stimulation entertains dogs and helps them burn energy. If your dog needs to lose weight, you can switch out treats for food.

Try different puzzle toys at our stores to see what suites your dog's play style and ability.

Loud squeaky toys drive me crazy

Try a Hear Doggy! Ultrasonic Flat toy. It features a squeaker so high-pitched that only dogs can hear the symphony of squeaks and squeals. No matter how hard your pet chews and chomps, you won’t hear a peep. Even better, these toys are made without stuffing, meaning no mess as well as no sound. Perfect for travel, office visits, TV time and any other situation where you need a doggy distraction that doesn’t distract you.

How can I help my dog calm down?

Looking for a safe, easy-to-use, effective, drug free remedy to calm your pet? The ThunderShirt works by applying gentle pressure to relieve anxiety. Like swaddling a baby, it acts like a calming hug. The ThunderShirt is a positive solution, and is less expensive than medication, training or destroyed furniture. A ThunderShirt helps over 80 percent of cases and is backed by a money-back guarantee.

Introduce a ThunderShirt during happy, non-stressful times. Let your pet sniff it, eat treats off of it, receive plenty of praise and pets while having it on. The final step is to practice fully securing it and giving praise and treats. Working into wearing the ThunderShirt will help pets associate with positive experiences and allow it to comfort them during stressful times.

Picky Eaters & Sensitive Stomachs

I have a picky eater

If a normally hearty eater suddenly stops wanting their food, take them to the veterinarian. If, however, your dog is a picky eater, a little creativity can help. Switching up the texture and variety of their food can help tempt their appetite – if your dog normally eats dry kibble, try mixing in a bit of canned food, or sprinkle their regular food with a freeze-dried topper like Honest Kitchen Proper Toppers. If allergies are not a concern, try rotating your dog’s protein sources.

Indigestion

Symptoms include loose stool or diarrhea, gas, vomiting, lethargy, fever, pain and changes in appetite. The causes of pet stomach troubles vary widely. They can include, but aren’t limited to, changing diets, pets eating things they are not supposed to, antibiotics and other medications, stress and illness.

You can reduce or prevent a pet’s reaction to a digestive system irritant by supplementing with beneficial bacteria, also known as probiotics. Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria in your pet’s digestive system. Approximately 70 percent of a pet’s immune system resides in the digestive system, so it’s important to maintain a healthy population of probiotics. Because probiotics strengthen your pet’s immune system, they may help with other health conditions as well. Pet owners have reported improvement with seasonal and environmental allergies.

Be sure to check with your vet if your pet is being treated for any health condition before starting supplements.

Care & Cleaning

Funky body odor.
Made with all-natural herbs and oils, Cloud Star Buddy Wash 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner will leave your pet so sleek, shiny, and soft, it might make you jealous. Buddy Wash is gentle enough for sensitive skin, lathers well and rinses out easily, and leaves your pet smelling sweet and feeling soft for longer than other shampoos. Try the Green Tea & Bergamot for an energizing boost, or the Lavender & Mint for the dog who needs some extra soothing at bath time.

Hot and cold pavement hurts my dog's paws

If you’re not sure how hot the pavement is, hold the back of your hand to the sidewalk for seven or eight seconds. If you can feel the burn, it’s too hot for your furry friend’s feet.

To minimize the risk to your dog, walk them during the cooler hours of the morning and have them walk on the grass as much as possible. If you absolutely can’t avoid the pavement, a pair of boots can help protect their pads.

Winter can be hard on your dog’s paws. Protect their paw pads with Musher’s Secret, a wax salve that you can rub onto their pads to provide a barrier against the elements. It keeps their skin safe from ice and salt while allowing their paws to breath. It can also prevent snow from clumping between their toes. Plus, Musher’s Secret doesn’t rub off on floors or furniture.

Can I get rid of tear stains?

Tear stains are caused by your dog’s tears leaking onto their cheeks and reacting with the normal bacteria on their hair and skin. Not only can it be unsightly on light-colored fur, but also excessive tear staining can lead to matted fur and skin irritations. NaturVet products help you treat your pet inside and out with both a topical remover and a preventive supplement.

NaturVet Tear Stain Topical Remover is a gentle, water-based cleanser that wipes the stains and soothes their skin with aloe. Follow this up with a NaturVet Tear Stain Supplement Soft Chew, a tasty once-a-day treat that will boost your dog’s immune system and lubricate their tear ducts to clear up the cause of the problem.

How do I remove pet stains from carpet?

To get the carpet truly clean, you need to eliminate the organic biomatter that hides in the carpet fibers and causes lingering smells and stains. Anti-Icky-Poo contains live enzymes that “eat” the biomatter, removing the odors and breaking down the visible stain.

Taking care of bad breath without brushing

Allergies & Medicine

Won’t take medicine

Try PillStashios to hide all traces of the medicine. Simply open it, insert the pill, capsule or liquid and snap it closed. Since no odor or taste escapes the capsule, your dog thinks it’s a tasty treat.

Seasonal allergies

Dogs, like people, can develop allergies to dust mites, fleas, molds and pollens from grass, trees, weeds and flowers. A dog with allergies will have itchy skin and may lick, scratch, bite or chew at certain areas of the body. HerbSmith Clear AllerQi sooths skin-related issues associated with seasonal allergies. The herbs in Clear AllerQi cools the skin and harmonizes the body’s defenses to help support normal skin functions.

cat

Common Cat Problems

Skin & Coat

Can I reduce hairballs?

Dry skin can lead to heavier shedding, and the loose hair your cat swallows when she grooms herself will create hairballs.

A high-fiber food rich in omega oils will help eliminate hairballs. The omega oils nourish the skin and coat, while the fiber helps her pass the hair she’s already ingested. If you’d rather not switch your cat’s diet, try PetNaturals Hairball Chews and your cat will think it’s just a tasty treat.

My cat has a lot of dandruff

Your pet’s skin and coat can tell you a lot about their overall health. Dandruff is one of many signals that your pet may be missing key nutrients in their diet.

An omega-3 fatty acid deficiency is the most common cause of dandruff, however, other nutrient deficiencies or underlying health problems can be the culprit too. Omega-3 fatty acids can be added to the diet through supplements that contain fish oil or flaxseeds. Diets containing grass-fed meats, such as Primal pet food, will be naturally higher in omega-3 fatty acids than diets using conventionally raised meats.

Adding a good source of omega-3s to your pet’s diet can help prevent dandruff, and reduce hair and dander shedding by strengthening the skin and coat. Family members with allergies to pets will usually benefit from the reduced shedding and dander production.

It can take up to two months to see improvements from supplementation. In the meantime, you can use skin-soothing shampoo and conditioner on your cat. Finally, always check the label to ensure a product is safe to use on cats. Because cats clean themselves more thoroughly and frequently than dogs, it’s important to use cat-safe products. Anything that you put on their skin and coat must be safe for them to ingest.

Play & Adventure

Entertaining my cat

To help keep your cat active and entertained, try a treat-dispensing toy like the Slim Cat. The adjustable hole sizes allow you to adjust the toy’s difficulty level, and the shape makes it easy to roll, paw and nuzzle. Pro tip: Replace the treats with one of your pet’s kibble meals and help them burn off the extra winter calories while they play.

Cat wants to explore the great outdoors

Leash walking is a fun way to let your cat explore the great outdoors while keeping them safe. The Gentle Leader Come With Me Kitty harness is a comfortable, easy-to-use harness and leash combo that keeps your cat safe and gently controls their range. The adjustable harness attaches to the leash in the back, removing pressure from your cat’s throat when they pull on the lead. Cats like to jump and climb as they explore. The specially designed bungee leash stretches and retracts with their movements and keeps them from getting tangled or choked as they move.

How can I help my cat lose weight?

If you feed your cat treats, check how many calories are in each one. Keep your cat slim with Wellness Kittles, a healthy, low-calorie treat that will delight your cat’s taste buds without doubling his waistline. These crunchy treats come in three tantalizing flavors and 150 treats in each bag. Add them to a treat-dispensing toy, like Slim Cat, to help your cat burn calories while they enjoy treats.

Cleaning & Care

How do I cleanup accidents outside the litterbox?

Accidents happen, even with the most fastidious felines. Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer is specially formulated to neutralize cat urine (both the smell and the stain) with a natural, bio-enzymatic formula and a pleasant citrus scent. It breaks down stains on carpet, flooring and fabric without requiring scrubbing or shampooing – just pour it on and let it dry

My cat has indigestion

You can reduce or prevent a cat’s reaction to a digestive system irritant by supplementing with beneficial bacteria, also known as probiotics. Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria in your pet’s digestive system. Approximately 70 percent of a pet’s immune system resides in the digestive system, so it’s important to maintain a healthy population of probiotics. Because probiotics strengthen your pet’s immune system, they may help with other health conditions as well. Pet owners have reported improvement with seasonal and environmental allergies. Studies have determined that cats with kidney failure may benefit from probiotics supplementation, and that probiotics may help vaccines to last longer and reduce the side effects of antibiotics.

Be sure to check with your vet if your pet is being treated for any health condition before starting supplements.

What clean's vomit stains out of carpet?

My cat has bad breath. What should I do?

It’s true for both pets and humans: the secret to good breath lies in a clean, healthy mouth. PetzLife Oral Care products soften and break down the plaque along your cat’s teeth and gum line, and kill the harmful bacteria that cause bad breath – all without the need for a toothbrush. The mint-flavored spray is easy to administer (just a couple spritzes a day will clean your pet’s teeth and keep their breath fresh), while the salmon- or mint-flavored gel works best for cats with more long-term tartar buildup.

Can I eliminate tear stains?

Tear stains are caused by your cat’s tears leaking onto their cheeks and reacting with the normal bacteria on their hair and skin. Beyond being unsightly on light-colored fur, excessive tear staining can lead to matted fur and skin irritations. NaturVet products help you treat your pet inside and out with both a topical remover and a preventive supplement. NaturVet Tear Stain Topical Remover is a gentle, water-based cleanser that wipes the stains from your pet’s fur and soothes their skin with aloe. Follow this up with a NaturVet Tear Stain Supplement Soft Chew, a tasty once-a-day treat that will boost your pet’s immune system and lubricate their tear ducts to clear up the cause of the problem.

guinea-pig

Common Small Animal Problems

Getting enough vitamins

For small animals, pellets pack a great nutritional punch, as well as being part of a well-rounded diet. They provide your pet with essential vitamins, minerals and protein. L’Avian Plus premium small animal foods are made with a mix of pellets, grains, dried fruits and veggies, and probiotics designed to keep your little friend’s tummy feeling great.

What are good treats for Guinea pigs?

For training and daily snacking, Oxbow Simple Rewards are a safe and tasty way to show your piggie some love. Made with fiber-rich timothy hay and natural fruit and veggie flavors, they have all the taste without any additives, preservatives or added sugar.

How do I give my rabbit enough fiber?

For rabbits, hay is an essential source of fiber and should be a significant part of their diet. It keeps their teeth trimmed, digestive system healthy and can be perfect for bedding. Alfalfa hay offers high protein and calcium for young rabbits. For adults, freely supply timothy hay. Hay from Oxbow comes in packs, twists and mats and is both convenient for you and exciting for your rabbit.

Trimming my small animal's nails

When your pet’s nails develop a strong curve, it’s time to trim. As a guideline, plan to trim nails once a month. When trimming the nails of a pet Guinea pig, rabbit, gerbil, ferret, etc., use special nail scissors or clippers. These have a small indent to fit the nail and reduce pressure. Using a human nail clipper may crush the nail. Instead, look for cat nail trimmers or clippers appropriately sized for small animals. Coastal Pet Products offers a variety of tools for trimming pet nails.

My bird is bored

A bored bird is an unhappy bird – biting, screeching and feather plucking can be signs that your feathered friend needs something to keep them occupied. Be sure to handle them often and give them ample time outside of their cage, but don’t forget to add some fun to their cage, too! Indulge their natural foraging instincts with a bright, non-toxic toy that allows them to pull, pluck and shred to their heart’s content. Made of natural fibers and colorful wood blocks, the calypso Short Stack can keep your bird entertained for hours. To keep them stimulated, switch their cage toys out every other month (try a calypso Fiesta Ball for variety).

How do I give my Guinea pig enough vitamin C?

Guinea pigs can’t produce vitamin C on their own, so it’s important to provide this as part of their daily diet. Oxbow’s Daily C supplement provides safe, natural health support in the form of a tasty tablet.

Should I clean my ferret's teeth?

It’s true for both pets and humans: the secret to good breath lies in a clean, healthy mouth. PetzLife Oral Care products soften and break down the plaque along your pets’ teeth and gum line, and kill the harmful bacteria that cause bad breath – all without the need for a toothbrush. The mint-flavored spray is easy to administer (just a couple spritzes a day will clean your pet’s teeth and keep their breath fresh), while the salmon- or mint-flavored gel works best for pets with more long-term tartar buildup.

Does it matter what size crickets I feed my lizard?

When fed live, crickets are not only a nutritious meal but also a way to nourish your lizard’s hunting instincts. But which size is right for your scaley family member? The crickets you feed should be no longer than the space between your lizard’s eyes (approximately 2/3 the size of the lizard’s head). Anything larger can cause blockage and impaction, leading to potentially severe health problems.

For additional information on these issues or any other issues, stop into any Chuck & Don's.

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