Pet Grooming Orange County

How to Choose a Pet Groomer

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How to Choose a Pet Groomer

Responsible pet parents want what is best for their pets. However, choosing a pet groomer can be a little confusing. Currently, pet groomers in the United States are not required to undergo any special training before handling sharp instruments around pets. While even the best groomer will sometimes nick an animal, an inept groomer can cause serious injuries. This is why it is so important to find an experienced pet groomer that is both skilled and kind. When choosing a groomer you should consider the following:

  1. Training and experience
  2. Cleanliness and attitude of the grooming shop
  3. How the groomer handles difficult pets

The last person you want handling your pet is someone who has just picked up a pair of clippers and posted an ad on Craigslist. It is extremely important to find out how your prospective groomer got their training. For example, they might have taken special courses or learned the art through an apprenticeship. Whatever the case, make sure that you choose a groomer who has received the proper training and has an ample amount of experience.

Whether it is hair on the floor around a pet being groomed, or an accident from a nervous pet, a grooming shop is bound to have the occasional mess. However, a grooming shop shouldn’t be excessively messy and pets should never be left in soiled cages. If the grooming salon handles both dogs and cats, they should be kept well away from each other. Barking dogs will frighten most cats and a pet groomer who takes this into consideration is a groomer that is mindful of the comfort and well-being of the animals that they are responsible for.

Don’t be afraid to ask a prospective groomer how they handle difficult pets. Confrontational and coercive reactions have a high probability of escalating the pet’s aggression, making them respond badly to any future attempts of grooming. Using grooming muzzles is acceptable however they should be used carefully and only for short periods of time. Groomers should never administer sedatives unless they are provided by the pet’s guardian under a veterinarian’s recommendation. The best responses regarding dealing with difficult pets will mention gentleness, breaks from the grooming session, not rushing the process, distracting with treats and stopping if the pet becomes overwhelmed.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s pets since 2001. Our talented groomers are experienced and fully trained. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment please call 714-962-1005.

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How Grooming Affects your Dog’s Behavior

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How Grooming Affects your Dog’s Behavior

Most people know that petting and stroking their dogs provides many physical and emotional benefits for humans. However, this nurturing interaction can benefit our dogs as well.

Dogs learn to enjoy touch only when they have the right experiences with it. Rough handling destroys a dog’s trust. Tentative handling can have the same effect. Puppies will often protest being touched. If you back off when these protests occur then you send the wrong message to the puppy. They will learn that the only way to communicate with people is by growling or biting. On the other hand, if you overreact and punish the puppy for protesting, then you can actually make the puppy more defensive.

A regular grooming schedule provides structure to a puppy’s experience of human touch. With the important task of grooming to get through you are more likely to hold steady when faced with a puppy protest. In order to help your puppy cooperate through the process of grooming, you will quickly learn ways to make the grooming process more comfortable for your puppy. This brings balance into your interactions, leading to a number of benefits.

In order to maintain a healthy relationship with your dog, regular touch is necessary. While it’s easy to cuddle and pet a clean dog several times a day, it’s not so easy if you must go and clean yourself up every time. This is one of the reasons that regular grooming is so important to your relationship with your dog. When dogs have tangles and mats, they often have skin sores hidden beneath the mats. These sores hurt, making the dog fearful of being touched. However, because the sores are hidden, their family members do not realize why the dog resents being touched.

Families with long-haired dogs should know right from the start that professional grooming will be required. The training provided by a skilled groomer can be extremely beneficial. For best results, find a good groomer and stick with them. Shopping around for the best price for dog grooming can negatively affect how your dog handles the grooming process. Dogs who visit the groomer regularly tend to enjoy the experience while dogs that are not taken often enough can find the experience painful and scary.

Short haired dogs require regular grooming as well to distribute skin oils throughout their coat, keep their nails trimmed and to remove loose hairs. Families that groom their dogs regularly have healthier dogs because they are able to detect problems much sooner, while they are much easier to treat.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. For more information about the grooming process, or to schedule a grooming appointment please call 714-962-1005.

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Keeping Your Cat’s Teeth Clean

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Keeping Your Cat’s Teeth Clean

Having a healthy set of teeth and gums are essential to your cat’s welfare. In the wild, big cats prevent plaque and tartar build-up by tearing through tough skin and bones. While modern day cat foods supply your cat with the proper vitamins and nutrients, they do very little to keep their teeth healthy. In order to keep your cat’s teeth strong and free from plaque, tartar build-up and gum disease you must regularly examine your cat’s mouth and clean its teeth. Let’s take a closer look at how to keep your cat’s teeth clean.

Although many people believe that brushing their cat’s teeth will be a difficult job, even the most stubborn cat can become used to a daily teeth cleaning. The younger your cat is when you begin your teeth cleaning routine the better. However, you can begin a tooth cleaning routine at any time, even if your cat is older and has never had its teeth cleaned before.

If your cat already has tartar build-up then it’s a good idea to have your veterinarian perform an oral inspection and cleaning. While dental treatments can be costly, keeping your cat’s teeth clean between visits will mean that they can go much longer before needing these detailed cleanings.

Start by obtaining a cat toothbrush and toothpaste that is specially formulated for pets. Toothbrushes that are designed for humans are much too harsh for a cats delicate gums and normal toothpaste will upset your cat’s stomach when swallowed. Pet toothbrushes and toothpaste are available from most pet supply stores.

Once you have the correct toothpaste and toothbrush, begin by putting a small amount of toothpaste on your finger and seeing if your cat will allow you to gently massage its teeth and gums. Be encouraging and be sure to give plenty of praise if your cat allows you to do it. If your cat resists, try again the next day.

After your cat becomes accustomed to your finger, try using the toothbrush instead. Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the brush and put it in your cat’s mouth. Once your cat is happy with the feel of the brush against its teeth you can gently begin brushing. Don’t worry if you aren’t able to get all of your cat’s teeth brushed at first. Begin with a short, fifteen second session then gradually increase to thirty seconds. Try to clean every tooth during these longer sessions.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, CA. For more information about cat grooming services, please call 714-962-1005.

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The Problem with Fleas on your Cat

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The Problem with Fleas on your CatFleas on pets

Fleas can quickly take over your home and your cat. Fleas bite both people and pets, causing welts and intense itching. These tiny pests are not only difficult to live with, but they can also cause some serious problems as well. Let’s discuss the problems associated with fleas on your cat.

Tapeworms

Fleas are an essential part of a tapeworm’s life cycle. If your cat swallows an infected flea, it will end up contracting these intestinal parasites. Tapeworms can cause serious problems for your cat including malnutrition and intestinal blockage. These problems aside, the sight of tiny wriggling tapeworms on your cat or in their litterbox will be enough to send you running to your vet for medication. However, treating the tapeworm infestation is only a small part of the battle, as long as your cat is still coming in contact with fleas, they are subject to re-infection.

Anemia

A cat that has a severe flea infestation is not only suffering from the intense itching these pests can cause, but they can also cause your cat to die. Every time a flea bites your cat, it takes a little of its blood. If your cat has a large number of fleas on it, they can consume so much blood that your cat becomes anemic. Even though cats of any age can become anemic from fleas, the most likely to suffer are young kittens and elderly cats. Controlling fleas can protect your cat from this life-threatening situation.

Allergies

Cats that are repeatedly exposed to fleas can develop a flea allergy causing them to react strongly to every single flea bite. Cats with flea allergy scratch and lick constantly. Their skin becomes red and inflamed causing obvious distress. Flea allergy can also cause your cat to lose fur and develop sores. In severe cases you might see cracked, crusty brown patches that ooze clear fluid or pus.

Dealing with fleas can be an ongoing battle, especially in California where the weather is ideal for fleas all year long. Fleas must be dealt with aggressively and quickly to avoid serious problems for your cat. In order to ensure that fleas are dealt with properly, your cat and home must both be treated.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of orange county’s pets since 2001. We can help you rid your pet of fleas. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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

Cleaning Pet Stains with Household Products

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Cleaning Pet Stains with Household Productsduchess

If you have pets then you probably have had to deal with pet accidents. When not cleaned properly, pet accidents can leave behind unattractive carpet stains and odors. Even though there are several retail products available to clean up pet messes and remove carpet stains, these products are often expensive and contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to you and your pet. Pet stains can be cleaned with common household products. These highly effective, inexpensive and natural ingredients remove pet stains quickly and eliminate the odor that is sometimes left behind.

Vinegar

Vinegar works to break up the ammonia in pet urine, killing bacteria and neutralizing odor. To clean up pet messes with vinegar start by blotting up as much of the pet stain as possible then pour the vinegar directly onto the stained area. Use a scrub brush to work the vinegar into the entire area, making sure that it reaches the underside of the carpet as well. Let it sit for ten minutes and then blot with a clean towel. Allow the area to air dry.

Baking Soda

Baking soda can be used to absorb pet stains and eliminate odors. Using a clean towel, blot up as much of the stain as possible. Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the entire area. Allow it to sit for fifteen minutes and then work in the remaining baking soda with a scrub brush. Prepare a spray bottle with one part vinegar and one part water and spray the vinegar solution over the stain. Work the solution in with a scrub brush and then blot up any excess wetness. Once dry, use a vacuum to remove any leftover baking soda.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove pet stains, however it can sometimes cause discoloration of the carpeting. Always spot test in an inconspicuous area before attempting to clean carpet stains with hydrogen peroxide. Before cleaning, you will need to absorb as much of the stain as possible with a clean towel. Sprinkle a thick, even layer of baking soda over the entire stain. Next, soak the stain with hydrogen peroxide. The baking soda will bubble up. This reaction is completely normal. Allow it to sit for five minutes and then absorb the leftover peroxide with a clean towel. After the area has dried, use a vacuum to remove any leftover baking soda.

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

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming for both dogs and cats. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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

Common Cat Haircuts

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Common Cat Haircutsclaire_anderson

A cat’s coat is important for a number of different reasons. It keeps the cat warm and allows it to regulate its temperature. Most of the time a cat will keep its fur groomed on its own. However, sometimes the fur might require extensive grooming and clipping. Grooming a cat’s fur can contribute to the overall health and comfort of the cat, especially if the coat has become matted. There are many different grooming styles for cats. Let’s take a closer look at the most common cat haircuts.

Stripped

Also known as shaving or clipping, a stripped grooming style involves shaving the cat’s fur close to its body. This style of grooming is necessary if your cat’s fur is extremely matted.

Lion Cut

The lion cut is a grooming style where the cat’s body is clipped short but the fur on the head, feet and tail are left alone. This type of haircut is extremely popular for cats as well as some breeds of dogs.

Sanitary Haircut

A sanitary haircut does not affect the overall appearance of the cat’s fur. In fact, most people will not even notice that this type of haircut has been given. A sanitary haircut is a functional haircut. Cats with longer fur sometimes get excrement stuck in their fur. A sanitary cut trims down the fur in such a way that this will not become an issue.

Partial Haircut

A partial haircut involves clipping the fur on the cat’s inner thighs, armpits, chin, tail and sanitary area. The fur on the cat’s back, sides and tail are left as they are. This type of grooming neatens up the cat’s appearance.

Peekaboo Haircut

A peekaboo haircut involves shortening the fur on the cat’s underside and blending the length into the longer fur on the cat’s back. While this type of haircut gives the cat the appearance of a full coat, it reduces the work necessary to maintain the cat’s underside which can easily become matted and full of debris.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming Orange County’s cats and dogs since 2001. Our experienced groomers understand that grooming can be stressful for cats and know how to reduce that stress while providing them with excellent care. We will be happy to discuss with you which type of haircut is best suited for your feline friend. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

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