Pet Grooming Orange County

Summer Safety

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Summer Safety

Summer has officially arrived in Southern California. This is the time of year when many of us will be spending more time outdoors enjoying the park, beach, and time with our family. You might also be spending more time with your pets.

It’s important that you do all you can to keep your pets safe this summer. The following are our top safety tips for summer.

Never Leave Your Pet in the Car

Even if it doesn’t seem that hot outside or you plan on leaving the window open a crack, your pet can still fall victim to heatstroke if left in a hot car. The temperature inside your vehicle can reach dangerous levels in a very short amount of time. Pets left in hot cars become distressed quickly.

Heatstroke causes permanent damage to organs, and even death. Never leave your pet in your car, even for a minute. If you know that you’ll be going somewhere that your pet is not allowed, it’s always better to leave them at home.

Check the Temperature of Sidewalks and Roads

A dog’s paws are sensitive and can easily become burned by hot concrete or asphalt. Before walking your pet, make sure that you check the temperature of the ground. The same is true for outside areas of your home. If it’s too hot for you, then it’s too hot for them.

Burns are painful and can become infected as pets continue to walk on dirty surfaces. If your pet’s feet become burned, it’s important that you have them checked by a licensed veterinarian.

Avoid Spending Too Long in the Sun

While a day at dog beach might seem like a lot of fun, it’s important that you don’t spend too much time in direct sunlight. Pets can get dehydrated and develop heatstroke quickly.

Make sure that your pet has plenty of fresh water at all times and that they have access to shade. Watch your pet for strange behavior and signs of dehydration. Remove them from the heat as soon as a problem is detected. Prompt medical treatment is required if your pet is suffering from heatstroke.

We hope you have a safe and relaxing summer!

Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Skin Issues Are Common in the Summer

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Skin Issues Are Common in the Summer

Missing fur, scratching, bumps, and lumps are all extremely common during the summer. As Orange County’s premier grooming salon, we frequently discover skin issues that well meaning pet parents have missed. This is due to the fact that we get your pet wet, which gives us an up close view of their skin.

If your groomer notices anything out of the ordinary during your pet’s appointment, they will let you know. However, it is up to you to take your pet to a licensed veterinarian to discover and treat the underlying cause.

Common Causes of Skin Problems in Pets

Skin issues are extremely common during the summer. Common problems include missing fur, irritated skin, hot spots, foxtails, fleas, ticks, and even sunburn. Your groomer can treat some issues, such as fleas and ticks, quickly and easily. If skin is irritated, we will use a soothing shampoo to prevent further irritation. However, it is up to you to determine the underlying cause.

Most of the time, skin issues are caused by allergies or fleas, which can be addressed quickly and easily. However, it’s important to remember that even something small could be a sign of something more serious. For example, missing fur could be caused by allergies, or it could be a symptom of cancer. This is why it is so important to have your pet checked by a vet at the first sign of a problem.

Although your groomer has lots of experience with pets and are knowledgeable about several different skin conditions, they do not have the training or tools needed to properly diagnose your pet.

If your pet experiences skin issues during the summer, your veterinarian will likely prescribe a special shampoo. Please bring this shampoo with you to your grooming appointment.

Orange County Pet Grooming

Claws N Paws Day Spa provides a wide range of grooming services for both dogs and cats. Our experienced groomers will analyze your pet’s skin during their appointment and notify you of any issues. However, the advice of your groomer should not be considered a substitute to the advice provided by a licensed veterinarian.

Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment for your pet.

 

 

Dealing With Foxtails

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Dealing With Foxtails

The warm weather has officially arrived in Southern California. This means more beach days, more backyard BBQs, and more time spent outdoors. This is also the time of year when foxtails become a problem.

Foxtails are barbed seedpods that form on a special type of grass. As these pods dry, they can easily become stuck to your pet’s fur. Once attached, they burrow their way into the skin. This can be a major problem, as foxtails do not break down inside the skin. When left untreated, foxtails can cause serious infection and even death.

Although foxtails can be a problem on any part of the body, they are more likely to occur between the toes and inside the nose, ears, and mouth. Signs of embedded foxtails include redness, swelling, discharge, and pain.

Spotting Foxtails

It’s important to know how to spot the signs of a problem. If your pet is exeriencing any of the following, you should take them to your veterinarian right away:

  • Swelling and/or redness
  • Limping
  • Excessive licking between the toes or around the genital area
  • Head shaking
  • Head tilting
  • Squinting or redness of the eye
  • Pawing at the face
  • Constant sneezing

Preventing Foxtails

Pets with curly hair and long ears are at the greatest risk for foxtails. After spending time outdoors, it’s important to inspect your pet thoroughly. Check their feet, in their ears, and through their fur. If not embedded, foxtails can easily be removed. However, once they have entered the skin, you will need the help of an experienced veterinarian to remove them.

Foxtail removal can cost $700 or more. It’s best to prevent a problem in the first place. Avoid areas with long grass. Check your pet regularly after spending time outdoors. Keep long hair trimmed to prevent foxtails from becoming stuck. This also makes it easier to locate and remove them.

Claws N Paws Days Spa can help keep your pet groomed this summer. We have experience working with cats, dogs, and other pets. We are your best choice for pet grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to setup a grooming appointment.

 

 

Looking For A New Pet? – Why Adoption Is The Better Choice

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Looking For A New Pet? – Why Adoption Is The Better Choice

Most people have fond memories of the pets they lived with as a child. Sometimes, the pet you acquire as an adult is your first experience living with a furry friend. Whatever the case, adding a new pet to the family is exciting.

You have many choices when looking for a pet. There are pet shops, shelters, rescue groups, and breeders. There are also several people looking for homes for their pets on websites like Penny Saver and Craigslist. Although you might have an idea of what type of pet you’re looking for, there are some things you need to consider before choosing where to get one.

The type of place you get your pet from can help determine its health, behavior, and the future of millions of other pets. Please read below for more information.

Pet Shops

Unless they offer rescued pets for adoption, pet shops are one of the worst places to get a pet. Pet shops get their pets from places known as “puppy mills”. Puppy mills force pets (dogs, cats, and other species) to breed over and over. They do not provide adequate nutrition, space, or exercise for the animals they keep.

Animals from puppy mills can have severe problems such as diseases, muscular, and skeletal deformities. These pets are frequently sick when they arrive at the pet shop. They are also more likely to suffer from behavior problems.

In addition to the health and behavior risks associated with buying a pet from a pet shop, supporting puppy mills puts millions of pets in danger every year. This is why pet shops that sell animals are being banned around the state.

Breeders

Although there are some very respectable breeders, most are in it just to make money. Inexperienced breeders often do not know how to properly care for the pets they are in charge of. Much like a puppy mill, pets from breeders are prone to physical deformities, diseases, and behavioral problems.

Classifieds

You’ll likely see lots of pets offered on websites like Penny Saver or Craigslist. While there are definitely perks to helping a pet in need, you never really know what you’re going to get. It’s not uncommon for well-meaning people to take a pet only to find it has aggression or other issues they hadn’t anticipated.

Shelters

Adopting from the shelter is an excellent way to give a pet a second chance at a good life. The only issue is that you won’t know what kind of behavior your pet has until you bring it home.

Most of the time, pets are dropped off at the shelter because of behavior problems. Keep this in mind when adopting.

Rescue Groups

Rescue groups take the time and effort necessary to get to know each and every pet. They understand what type of behavior problems they have and they’ve taken the time needed to resolve them. They have each pet checked by a licensed veterinarian to ensure they are healthy and free from disease. Since they’ve taken the time to get to know each pet, they will be able to tell you which one will be the right fit for your family.

Claws N Paws offers cat and kitten adoptions. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information.

Caring For Disabled Pets

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Caring For Disabled Pets

Caring for a disabled pet can be extremely challenging. Special needs pets require extra help doing the things that most of us take for granted. They must be handled carefully and require lots of patience and care.

Grooming a special needs pet can be difficult. Many disabled pets have a hard time standing on their own, let alone jumping in and out of a standard bathtub. These pets may become frightened from the hose or the other sensations they experience while being groomed. Grooming these pets at home is usually not an option.

Finding A Groomer

When choosing a groomer, it’s extremely important that you take the time and effort needed to find a grooming salon that is able to properly care for your pet. In addition to having experience working with disabled pets, they should be kind and caring towards the animals they work with.

Before making an appointment, ask the groomer if they would mind if you looked around their facility and watched them interact with other pets. Make sure you ask them about their experience with special needs and disabled pets. This will help you determine their ability to properly care for your pet.

Check out the grooming facility. Look to see if they have a low tub and ask if they are able to groom on the floor. Make sure the salon has adequate space for your pet without having to put them in a crate or kennel.

Orange County Grooming Salon

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional grooming for special needs pets. We have experience working with a wide range of conditions and disabilities and understand the special care that your pet requires.

We have a low tub and are able to bathe and groom on the floor. We have areas where your pet can be kept outside of a kennel and we provide the option of waiting with your pet while they are being groomed.

Please stop by our grooming salon to take a look at our facility. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about grooming your pet.

Clean and Protect Your Dog’s Ears With Zymox Ear Cleanser and Ear Solution

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Clean and Protect Your Dog’s Ears With Zymox Ear Cleanser and Ear Solution

Dogs of all breeds and ages suffer from ear infections. These infections can be itchy, painful, and downright annoying. Ear infections may occur in one or both ears.

Ear Infection Causes and Symptoms

Quite a few things can cause ear infections to develop including parasites, allergies, growths, ear hair, and water trapped inside the ear. Ear infections can be persistent and recur often, especially in dogs with floppy ears.

Symptoms of an ear infection include:

  • Head shaking
  • Scratching the ears
  • Rubbing ears on the floor or furniture
  • Discharge from the ears
  • Foul smell in ears
  • Redness of the earflaps or ear canal
  • Aggression or other signs of pain when ears are touched

Dogs with ear infections might scratch excessively. This can lead to wounds to the face, neck, and ears. If left untreated, ear infections can move to the middle or inner ear, causing more serious problems including head tilt, incoordination, inability to walk or stand, hearing loss, and severe, unrelenting pain.

Dogs that suffer from recurrent ear infections are also more prone to ear hematomas. Persistent head shaking and scratching can cause these fluid filled sacs to develop on the earflaps. Ear hematomas must be treated by your veterinarian and often require surgery to resolve.

Zymox Products Clean and Protect Sensitive Ears

As Orange County’s premier grooming salon, we see a lot of dogs with ear infections. These infections can cause discomfort to both pets and their owners. Ear infections are often difficult to treat and can lead to thousands of dollars in vet bills.

We are pleased to announce that we now offer Zymox Ear Cleanser and Zymox Enzymatic Solution for dogs that suffer from chronic ear infections.

Zymox Ear Cleanser uses bioactive properties to gently clean and protect even the dirtiest ears. This cleanser does not contain any harsh chemicals and will not irritate sensitive ears.

Zymox Ear Solution contains a combination of hydrocortisone and bioactive enzymes. This helps form an antimicrobial defense against infections. This is an effective antibiotic-free solution to chronic ear infections.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers Zymox Ear Cleanser and Ear Solution for both dogs and cats. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information or to schedule a grooming appointment.