Pet Grooming Orange County

Dog Grooming Once a Month VS Once a Year

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Dog Grooming Once a Month VS Once a Year

Getting your pet groomed regularly is extremely important to their overall health and well-being. Regular grooming is not only good for their skin and coat, it also has many social and emotional benefits.

Grooming short-haired dogs

Many people believe that short-haired dogs don’t need regular grooming. This is not the case. Short-haired dogs still shed and are prone to many skin conditions and parasites. Regular bathing helps remove loose hair and can help you catch skin issues before they are able to become a much bigger problem.

Dogs that spend a lot of time indoors will also require regular nail trimming. Nails that are allowed to grow unchecked can break or crack, causing your dog severe discomfort. Many breeds of dogs are also prone to ear infections. Ear infections are painful and can lead to future problems with hearing.  A monthly bath includes a nail trim and ear cleaning.

Grooming long-haired dogs

Long-haired dogs that do not get groomed on a regular basis can become matted. The skin underneath matted fur is often irritated and prone to sores and infection. The mats can hide skin problems and parasites such as ticks and fleas. Removing matted fur takes time and patience. The process will cost you a lot more money than regular grooming will.

Getting used to the grooming process

Dogs that are bathed regularly have a chance to get used to the grooming process. The sights, smells and sounds of a grooming salon can be frightening to dogs. Regular visits allow them to experience these things and adjust at their own pace.

When your dog is bathed only once a year they will not get used to the grooming salon and can become fearful and aggressive with their groomer. This can be a big problem if you ever find that you have to have your pet groomed immediately. Most grooming shops will not accept dogs that are aggressive or showing signs of great distress.

Quality pet grooming in Orange County

Dogs benefit most when groomed every four to six weeks. Claws N Paws offers full service pet grooming and mobile pet grooming services in Orange County, California. For more information, please call 714-962-1005.

Why You Should Never Give Animals Away For Free

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Why You Should Never Give Animals Away For Free

When you make an animal a part of your family you make a commitment to that animal’s care and safety. Animals are not able to speak up for themselves, so it is up to you to ensure that all of their needs are met. If you can no longer keep your pet, your responsibility to them does not change. You are still required to make sure that they will be well taken care of in your absence.

Why people give up pets

There are a number of reasons why people give up pets. Sometimes they must move to a place where pets are not allowed or they find themselves unable to afford their pet’s care. Occasionally situations arise where an owner must suddenly give up their pet within a short amount of time. This is when many people are tempted to offer their pets for free because they believe that it will help the find a new home quickly.

What happens to pets that are given up for free

Unfortunately, criminals often pickup free animals. Pets that are given for free can be subjected to abuse, torture, death or being used for experiments. The people that do these unspeakable things don’t look any different than you or me. They might be well dressed, clean cut individuals that are easy to talk to. They will likely talk to you about how much they like your pet and will offer to care for them when you cannot. These people are con artists.

Other options

If you must find your pet a new home, please ask for an adoption fee. People looking for animals to abuse will not pay for them. An adoption fee ensures that your pet will not be used for animal testing and other horrible crimes. An adoption fee also ensures that a person can afford to take care of your pet’s basic needs. After all, if a person cannot afford to pay a minimal adoption fee, how will they ever be able to afford to care for your pet?

If you do not have the time to safely rehome your pet, please give them up to a pet rescue. This option ensures that your pet remains safe until it finds a quality home where it will not be mistreated.

For more information, please call Claws N Paws Day Spa at 714-962-1005.

 

Understanding the Importance of Micro-chipping Your Pet

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Understanding the Importance of Micro-chipping Your Pet

Every day, hundreds of pets go missing. If you browse Craigslist you’re sure to find tons of lost and found ads. It doesn’t matter how safe you think your pets are; accidents happen all the time. Dogs, cats and small animals can all escape. Unfortunately, many of these pets never find their way home.

What happens to lost pets?

Most lost pets will get picked up by animal control or helpful citizens. These people always try to find the pet’s owner. The first step is having them scanned for a microchip at a veterinarian’s office or at the shelter. If no chip is found, then the pet goes into a database or waits at the shelter for their family. Families that find pets will usually post ads on Craigslist or other social media websites.

With so many options, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start when trying to find your pet. The best way to prevent the heartache of losing your companion is by having them micro-chipped. This simple procedure takes only seconds but could mean the difference between being reunited with your furry friend and never seeing them again.

Micro-chipping your pet

Your veterinarian can quickly and easily insert a microchip in the loose skin between the shoulder blades. This procedure requires no anesthesia is very similar to getting a vaccine. The microchip is registered with you and your pet’s information. Unlike collars and ID tags, a microchip provides a permanent ID that can never fall off or become lost.

Microchips do not require batteries or charging, and they are not tracking devices. When a microchip scanner is passed over them, they emit just enough power to transmit a unique identification number to the scanner. The number gets called into a pet registry service who contacts the person registered to your pet’s microchip.

It is extremely important for you to activate your pet’s microchip. This is not automatically done by your vet. If you are unsure how to activate it, ask your vet for details. If you move at any point during your pet’s life, you will need to update your information with the microchip company!

Every pet should be micro-chipped

Claws N Paws Day Spa strongly encourages everyone to have their pet micro-chipped. We’ve seen numerous pets safely reunited with their families. Unfortunately, we’ve known many more that never were. It’s been our experience that micro-chipped pets stand a much better chance of being found.

For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

 

 

Grooming Tips for Long-Haired Cats

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Grooming Tips for Long-Haired Cats

Cat owners tend to think of their cats as fairly self-sufficient. Cats enjoy a lot of alone time, they groom themselves and they teach themselves to use their litter box. However, if your cat has long hair, they will require your help with regular grooming. Long-haired cats can become matted easily, leading to painful sores and infections.  They are also more prone to problems from digesting hair.

Cat Grooming Tools

You’ll need a few tools to keep your pet looking and feeling its best. Start with a good quality wire slicker brush. You’ll also need an undercoat brush with a combination of wide and narrow teeth, a comb and a flea comb. Before using these, you will need to make sure that all of your tools are intended for use on cats. Dog grooming tools are typically too hard for use on a cat’s delicate skin. If you are unsure of which tools to use, contact your local cat groomer.

Start Young and Build Your Cat’s Trust Over Time

Starting your cat’s grooming routine when they are young ensures long-term success. You can introduce your cat to a gentle comb or brush when they are as young as eight weeks old. Work slowly and use a soft voice as your kitten adjusts to being brushed. Groom all areas, including their belly and tail. Start slowly, and only do what they will allow. Offer treats after each grooming session. For the best results, groom your cat daily.

If your cat is older, it’s important to begin a grooming routine as soon as possible. Start by brushing their back. Talk to them and offer treats. Once they are used to having their back brushed, you can start moving to other areas of their body. Work slowly and never do more than they will allow.

What To Do When You Find Mats

Mats are clumps of tangled fur. They can be small like peas or large like golf balls. They are usually found against the skin. When left alone, mats grow in size and pull on your pet’s skin. They can be extremely painful and sores can easily develop underneath them.

If you find mats on your cat, it’s important that you don’t try to pull them out. Because a cat’s skin is so thin, pulling and cutting mats is dangerous, and can cause serious injury to your cat. A professional cat groomer can remove mats from your cat quickly and safely. They can also provide you with some tips on how to prevent them from returning.

For more information about cat grooming, please call us at 714-962-1005.

Coconut Oil for Dogs

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Coconut Oil for Dogs

Coconut oil has become extremely popular in recent years because of its many health benefits for humans. However, coconut oil can be beneficial to dogs as well. Most of us already know the benefits of giving our dogs oils such as Omega-3, fish and flaxseed. What you might not realize is that coconut oil can also be used to help support your dog’s health.

Coconut Oil to Support Overall Health

The fats in coconut oil are considered conditionally essential, meaning that under certain circumstances, such as during pregnancy and early growth, they are essential. The Medium Chain Fatty Acids found in coconut oil are also found in the milk of humans and other mammals.

Coconut oil is comprised of more than 90% saturated fats. It contains 64% Medium Chain Fatty Acids. These acids are made up of 48% lauric acid, 8% caprylic acid and 7% capric acid as well as myristic and palmitic acids. In addition to Medium Chain Fatty Acids, coconut oil also contains 2% linoleic acid and approximately 6% oleic acid.

Most of the health benefits of coconut oil come from lauric acid. Lauric acid is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. Capric and caprylic acid are also known for their antifungal properties. Medium Chain Fatty Acids provide an immediate source of energy. In dogs, coconut oil can be used to balance the thyroid and help overweight dogs lose weight.

Coconut oil is believed to increase metabolism, provide a higher level of energy, boost the immune system and speed up the healing process. As an added bonus, coconut oil can improve a dog’s skin and coat, aid digestion and reduce allergic reactions.

Safety and Usage

Coconut oil has been proven safe for pets including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and guinea pigs. Coconut oil is well tolerated, although extremely large amounts can cause loose stools.  It oxidizes slowly, allowing it to be stored for up to two years.

The best type of coconut oil is organic, virgin or extra virgin. Whenever possible, purchase coconut oil in glass jars instead of plastic. When cold, coconut oil is a white solid. Once warm, it becomes a clear liquid.

As a daily supplement, give ¼ tsp coconut oil per 10 lbs of your dog’s body weight. Gradually increase the amount to 1 tsp for every 10 pounds. For therapeutic and medicinal doses, double the amount given. Adding the coconut oil to your dog’s food can help avoid digestive issues.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming from our full service pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. To schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

Litter Box Training your Kitten

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Litter Box Training your Kitten

Cats and kittens are naturally very clean and will probably already know how to use a litter box by the time you bring them home. Typically, all you need to do is provide a litter box that is big enough for them to move around in, with enough litter to fill the bottom of the pan.

Keep in mind that even the best behaved kitten will sometimes have accidents. Never scold your kitten for these accidents as this will only make the problem worse. Instead, praise your kitten each time they use their litter box and offer treats or pieces of dry cat food as a reward. This will get them back on track in no time at all.

Litter Box Training

It’s a good idea to have one more litter box than you have cats. For example, if you have two cats then you should have three litter boxes. When you bring your new kitten home you will need to show them where the litter boxes are located. It might also be helpful to put your kitten in the litter box after meals.

For best results, keep the litter box in a quiet location, away from your pet’s food, water and bedding. You will also need to keep the litter box clean. Many cats and kittens will refuse to use a dirty litter box.

When They Just Won’t Use the Box

If your kitten is refusing to use the litter box it’s a good idea to start by making some adjustments. Try different types of litter and litter boxes. Cats can be picky about smells as well. If you are using a strong smelling detergent to clean the box, this could be the reason that they have stopped using it. Only use unscented, mild detergent to clean litter boxes. Never use harsh disinfectants as these can be harmful to your pet.

If simple adjustments don’t work, then it’s time to take your cat to its veterinarian. Cats and kittens that are suffering from urinary tract infections or other illnesses will often stop using their litter box. Your vet can rule out any underlying conditions.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming from our full service pet grooming salon in Fountain Valley, CA. For your convenience, we also offer mobile grooming to many parts of Orange County. Our professional groomers have many years of experience working with cats and kittens. To schedule your pet’s first grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.