Pet Grooming Orange County

Common Dog Skin Issues

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Common Dog Skin Issues

Dog skin issues are extremely common.  Dry skin, itching and hot spots can have multiple causes. It’s important to identify and treat skin problems early, before they become a much bigger problem.  Let’s take a look at the more common dog skin issues:

Dry skin

Dry skin is extremely common for dogs of all breeds. Most cases of dry skin are caused by temperature changes. Just like humans, dogs get dry skin when it is cold. Using a humidifier indoors during colder months might help. In addition to temperature changes, using human shampoo, or low quality dog shampoo when bathing your pet can strip the natural oils from your dog’s skin and coat. This can lead to skin irritation as well as dry skin.

Allergies

Dog skin allergies can be caused by foods, environmental factors and inhaled irritants. Common reactions to allergens include rashes, hives, itching, baldness and irritability. The most common dog skin allergen is a reaction to the saliva of fleas. This is different than a skin reaction to a flea infestation, as it only takes one flea to create an allergic reaction. Speak to your groomer about how to treat and prevent fleas.

Hot spots

Hot spots are wounds that are moist and hot to the touch. They have a tendency to spread like wildfire. Hot spots might be caused by fleas, an allergic reaction, poor pet grooming, an irritant or an infection. Hot spots start as small wounds that are then licked and scratched by the dog until they become infected. Because of the wide range of possible causes, hot spots require a trip to your veterinarian.

Skin diseases and infections

There are so many different dog skin diseases and infections that it can be difficult to know where to start. Common dog skin diseases range from impetigo in puppies to breed specific diseases of the skin. If you suspect that your dog has a skin disease or infection it’s important to take them to the vet for advice and medication. Grooming should not be attempted until after diagnosis because many infections can be spread through the grooming process.

We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. We can help you with your pet’s grooming needs this spring. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

 

Should You Tip Your Groomer?

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Should You Tip Your Groomer?

Rules for tipping vary significantly from industry to industry. For example, tips offered to your hair stylist are probably different than those you give the person who makes your coffee. When it comes to pet grooming, traditionally tips are given, however exceptions do exist. It all depends on your groomer, the business and your happiness with the work.

It’s much easier to figure out the tipping percentage for food service than it is for services such as pet grooming. Groomers that do not work for themselves generally will not make the full price of the grooming back in compensation, so a tip of a few dollars is a nice way to show your appreciation for their work. For example, a $5 tip on a $50 grooming is not considered a bad tip.

Since they receive all of the profits generated by the grooming shop, it can be easy to dismiss the issue of tipping if the person that performed the grooming is the owner of the grooming shop. However, tipping is a way to show your satisfaction of the work performed and owners should not be separated from other groomers in this respect. If you like the work that was done, then tipping the owner of the grooming shop is perfectly acceptable.

In certain circumstances it might be reasonable to skip the tip. For example, if the groomers are not supposed to accept tips, then you should abide by the grooming shop’s rule. Also, if you are trading services with the groomer or owner then it is probably acceptable to withhold the tip. Remember that tips are for traditional purchase of a service at a location that allows employees to accept tips.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

 

Helping your Local Animal Rescue

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Helping your Local Animal Rescue

Every year, local animal rescues help hundreds to thousands of animals and people, usually with very limited resources and publicity. Helping your local animal rescue isn’t difficult. Try any (or all) of the following:

  1. Tell your friends and family about your local animal rescue. Most rescues rely solely on word of mouth. Consider sharing the organization’s information on social media websites.
  2. Get to know your local rescue groups. Stop in to visit the people that are responsible for caring for the animals.
  3. Before adopting from your local rescue, research what to expect. You’ll be far less likely to become frustrated if you fully understand the challenges and rewards of adopting a pet.
  4. Take a moment to thank the people who work at your local animal rescue. If you’ve adopted a pet from them, show them how well your pet is doing by sharing an updated picture with them in person or on their Facebook page.
  5. Consider making toys for the animals at the rescue using fabric, yarn and recyclables.
  6. Follow your local animal rescue on Facebook and other social media websites.
  7. Donate supplies to your local animal rescue. Rescue groups always need towels, blankets, toys, cat litter and other supplies. Visit or call the rescue to find out exactly what they need. Cash donations are typically welcome as well.
  8. Consider volunteering at your local animal rescue.
  9. Perhaps the best thing that you can do to help your local animal rescue is to make sure that your pets are spayed and neutered and have proper ID at all times. Cats should always be kept indoors and dogs should be kept on a leash while away from home.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. Additionally, we offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. Claws N Paws also has many wonderful cats and kittens available for adoption. Two doors down from our pet salon we have a consignment shop offering several unique and interesting items. 100% of the profits from all pet supply sales at This n That Consignment go directly into our rescue efforts! For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

Tips for Boarding Your Cat

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Tips for Boarding Your Catcat boarding

At some point you will most likely need to leave your cat behind as you venture away for business or pleasure. While a well-meaning friend or neighbor might be willing to watch your beloved pet for you, they might not understand his or her needs as well as a professional will. Leaving your cat at a professional cat boarding facility can help ease the pain of separation for both you and your cat.

Before leaving your cat at a boarding facility you will want to make sure that it fits your pet’s needs. The following tips will help you determine if the boarding facility is right for your cat.

  1. A professional cat boarding facility should be clean with good ventilation. An overwhelming smell of pet waste or chemicals should always be a warning sign.
  2. The facility should offer sufficient space for your feline friend.
  3. The facility should offer some privacy for pets.
  4. Cats in the facility should be relatively quiet.
  5. The facility should have an exercise space for cats. They should offer some time for cats to move and play every day.
  6. There should be ample security so that cats can’t escape.
  7. The facility should require proof of current vaccinations.
  8. The boarding facility staff should be friendly, knowledgeable and loving towards the pets in their care.

When visiting a cat boarding facility consider asking the following questions:

  1. Are bedding and food provided? What about cats with special dietary requirements?
  2. When is playtime/feeding time/housekeeping?
  3. What if my cat becomes injured or ill during their stay?
  4. Can my cat stay a few extra days if necessary?
  5. What are the boarding fees?

Once you have selected a boarding facility for your cat you will want to make sure that you leave sufficient contact information for both yourself and your veterinarian. If you will be unable to return home quickly, make sure that you also leave emergency contact information for a trusted individual.

Located right next door to Claws N Paws Day Spa, Claws and Paws Cat Boarding provides a luxurious, stress-free and safe environment for your cat’s away from home stays! When your feline friend needs a place to stay, you can be confident in knowing that we will provide them with the care and individual attention that they need. Free time, one-on-one attention and plenty of space to stretch their legs are just a few of the amenities that we provide.

We intentionally do not board dogs in order to keep a quiet, stress-free environment for our feline visitors. We strive to make the feline members of your family feel safe and secure with all of the comforts of home.

Please feel free to contact us for a tour of our facility or to set up an appointment.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

Caring For Your Dog in the Spring

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Caring For Your Dog in the Spring

Both humans and animals experience changes to their skin and hair during the spring. Diseases of the skin are extremely common this time of year due to excessive shedding and sweating. It is for this reason that pets require special attention during the spring. While skin infections will require a trip to the veterinarian, there are a few things that you can do at home to care for your dog.

During the spring, dogs tend to shed their fur. Even though this process is normal, it can lead to dry skin and other issues if the shedding hair isn’t properly removed. During the spring make sure that you brush your dog every day to help remove dead hair and restore any lost oils to the skin. This will help you spot any skin issues or allergies before they become a problem.

Caring for your dog’s paws is essential all year long. During the spring, dry weather can lead to cracked pads and dry nails. When dogs lose moisture in their nails they run the risk of chipping them. Prevent this problem by moisturizing your dog’s paws regularly. Ask your veterinarian which products they recommend for use on your dog.

Exercise is extremely important for you and your dog. Dogs are active animals and should get plenty of exercise every day. The warmer weather makes it possible to take more walks outside. Increase the amount of walks gradually as your pet becomes accustomed to the extra exercise.

Dogs can be prone to springtime allergies. Pollen from flowering trees and excessive dust can cause problems for your pet. Keep an eye on how your pet reacts to common allergens. Sneezing, watery eyes and skin irritation are all signs of allergies. While serious allergies will need to be cared for by a veterinarian, sometimes a soothing oatmeal bath is all they need.

We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. We can help you with your pet’s grooming needs this spring. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

 

Keeping Your Pet Cool

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Keeping Your Pet Cool

Spring and summer in Southern California can get extremely hot. You will want to keep yourself and your furry friends cool. The following tips can help you keep your pet cool during the hotter months of the year.

Never leave your pet alone in a parked car for any length of time. It gets very hot, very fast inside a parked vehicle. Even a short period of time in a parked car can be fatal. If you will be going somewhere that doesn’t allow pets, then it’s best to leave them at home.

Offer your pet lots of clean, cool water throughout the day. In fact, a bowl of clean water should always be available. On very hot days, your pets might enjoy it if you add some ice cubes to their water.

Provide your pet with plenty of shelter from the sun. Dogs cool themselves by panting and this works best if the air around them is cooler than their own body temperature. Make sure that your pets always have a shady place where they can safely get out of the sun.

Keep your pets inside when it’s really hot outside. A pet’s normal body temperature ranges between 100 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit. When it’s that hot or hotter outside it can be extremely difficult for pets to cool themselves through panting. On very hot days your pets are much safer inside.

Brush your pet regularly. Brushing your pet removes any dead undercoat. This helps the air circulate near their skin, keeping them cooler. In addition to keeping them cooler, regular brushing helps prevent skin infections and matting. If possible, brush your pet every day.

If your pet does overheat then you will need to act fast. Take your pet to a veterinarian right away. Signs that your pet might be overheating include breathing problems, excessive panting, drooling, weakness, stupor and an elevated heart rate. Extreme symptoms could include seizures, vomiting, fever over 104 degrees Fahrenheit and bloody diarrhea.

We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!