Pet Grooming Orange County

Reducing the Pain of Arthritis During the Winter

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Reducing the Pain of Arthritis During the Winter

Both people and pets feel more pain in cold weather. Cold air causes muscles to stiffen, causing pain for even those that do not suffer from joint problems. Pets with arthritis can get extremely stiff and uncomfortable during the winter.

What is Arthritis?

Normal wear and tear on the joints causes the cartilage to wear away. This allows the bones to rub together. Arthritis can occur in any joint, but it is most common in the hips, knees and ankles of pets. Discomfort is typically mild at first, but gets worse over time.

Arthritis is common in older pets. It advances quicker in pets that are overweight, due to the extra pressure placed on the joints. Arthritis cannot be cured but there are ways to reduce the pain and slow its progress.

Weight Reduction

If your pet is overweight, it’s important to get their weight under control. This is the first step in slowing the progress of arthritis. A healthy, low-calorie diet can help your pet shed extra pounds. Speak with your veterinarian about weight loss diets and pet foods specially designed to improve joint function in older pets.

Remember to switch your pet’s diet gradually. Mix a little bit of the new food with their old food while they adjust. Slowly increase the ratio of the new food until you’ve completely eliminated the old food. This will help your pet avoid upset stomach and digestive issues.

Exercise

Regular exercise is important for joint health. However, you’ll want to make sure that the exercise isn’t placing excessive pressure on the joints. Keep activities short and watch your pet carefully for signs of distress. Swimming is an excellent, non-weight bearing activity for pets suffering from arthritis.

Keep Your Pet Warm

It’s important to keep your pet warm and comfortable throughout the winter. Provide them with a soft, padded bed in a warm location, preferably indoors. Clothing such as dog sweaters or t-shirts can help keep your pet’s joints warm.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service grooming for both dogs and cats. Our groomers are specially trained to groom pets suffering from arthritis. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

Spending New Year’s Eve With Your Pet

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Spending New Year’s Eve With Your Pet

New Year’s Eve can be scary for pets. The combination of large crowds, big parties and fireworks can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Even if you avoid the crowds, pets can’t usually tell the difference between fireworks outside and on the television.

Fireworks and loud noises may startle pets and cause them to flee. More pets get lost during the holidays than any other time of the year. Keep your pet safe this New Year’s Eve with the following tips.

Update Identification Information

During parties, pets can escape through open doors. They may run when they hear loud noises. Before the holiday, make sure that you update the information on your pet’s identification. If you haven’t already, this might be an excellent time to have your pet micro chipped.

Make Sure Your Pet Gets Plenty of Exercise

Before New Year’s Eve, make sure that your pet gets plenty of exercise. This will hopefully help them sleep through the festivities. Take your dog for a long walk or spend some time playing with your cat.

Make Sure Your Pet Doesn’t Get Any Table Scraps

Table scraps can be dangerous for pets. Onions and garlic are toxic. Fatty foods can lead to life-threatening pancreatitis. Make sure that you keep food out of reach of pets. If you are having guests over for the holiday, let them know that your pets are not allowed to eat table scraps.

Drown Out the Sound of Fireworks

Fireworks, noisemakers and screaming neighbors can upset pets. If possible, play some white noise for your pet throughout the evening. Even classical music can help cover up outside noises.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. We also offer cats-only boarding throughout the holidays. If you are concerned about your pets, boarding is an excellent option. Our boarding facility is specially designed to be quiet and comfortable. We offer condos for one or more cats. We provide daily interaction and exercise. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about cat boarding or to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cat Grooming Tips

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Cat Grooming Tips

Cats require regular grooming to stay happy and healthy. Cat grooming includes caring for your pet’s skin, coat, nails, ears and teeth. Regular grooming can help you spot issues with your pet’s skin sooner, allowing you to treat them before they are able to become a much bigger problem.

It’s important to remember that not all cats will tolerate being groomed. If your cat fights the grooming process, it might be best to take them to a professional groomer. This is the best way to avoid injury to yourself and your cat.

Bathing

Cats generally take very good care of their coat. Occasionally, they might get into something sticky, smelly or dirty. Older and disabled cats might not be able to clean themselves properly. If this is the case, you’ll need to give your cat a bath.

Use only warm water and shampoo meant for use on cats. Human or dog shampoos can irritate your cat’s skin and eyes.

Brushing

Brushing your cat helps remove dead hair, dirt and grease from their coat. It also removes dead skin cells, improves circulation and encourages the skin to produce more oils. This moisturizes and improves the condition of the skin and coat. Depending on your cat’s coat, you should brush them at least once or twice a week.

Ear Care

Your cat’s ears can become dirty with debris and wax. Check your cat’s ears once a week for build-up. This can also help you spot the early signs of infection or ear mites.

Nail Care

Your cat uses their feet for climbing, scratching, jumping and landing. You’ll need to inspect them regularly for injury and trim your cat’s nails every four to six weeks. Be careful when trimming the nails that you don’t cut into the vein. This can cause bleeding and pain for your cat.

Dental Care

Your cat needs to have their teeth checked regularly for damage and infection. Your veterinarian can let you know if your cat requires deep cleaning. Between vet appointments, have your pet’s teeth brushed with a pet-safe brush and toothpaste.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers cat grooming from our full service salon in Fountain Valley. Bath and haircut appointments include nail trims, ear cleaning and brushing. We also offer teeth brushing for an additional charge. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Spending the Holidays With Your Pet

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Spending the Holidays With Your Pet

When you think about spending the holidays with your pet, you likely consider what you’ll give them under the tree. However, there is far more to the holidays than giving gifts. This time of year presents a number of challenges for our faithful companions. It’s up to you to make sure they stay happy, healthy and stress-free throughout the holidays.

Decorations

Most of us decorate our homes for the holidays. From the tree to the tableware, there’s so much to consider. When decorating your home, make sure you think about the safety of your pets.

Twinkling lights and brightly colored ornaments are often tempting to pets. Anything that could break or pose a choking hazard should be kept far away from them. Live trees can cause an allergic reaction and respiratory distress in both pets and people. Make sure that your pet is not allergic before setting up a live tree in your home. If you still aren’t sure, it might be best to stick with an artificial tree.

Traditional holiday plants like mistletoe, holly and poinsettias are all toxic for pets. Candles pose a danger as well. Keep lit candles in an area where pets are not able to access them or knock them down.

Gifts

When choosing gifts for your pet, select toys and treats that cannot be broken into small pieces. Anything with small parts or strings should be avoided. Check the ingredients in treats to make sure they won’t cause an allergic reaction.

Avoiding Stress

The holidays can be an extremely stressful time for both people and their pets. Pets often pick-up on our emotions. If you are worried about the holidays, your pet might become anxious or upset. The hustle and bustle of the holidays might be stressful for pets as well.

Make sure you provide your pet with lots of reassurance this holiday season. Give them a quiet room to escape to if the festivities become more than they can handle.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers holiday grooming for dogs and cats in Orange County, California. We also offer mobile grooming services. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a holiday grooming appointment.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Pets

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Holiday Gift Ideas for Pets

Our pets bring us so much joy all year round. They are always there when we need cheering up. Don’t forget about them this holiday season. The following holiday gift ideas can help you pick the perfect gift for your furry friend!

Holiday Treats

I’ve never met a pet that didn’t enjoy treats. Treats are an excellent option if your pet doesn’t have allergies or weight issues. The shops are full of specialty treats this time of year. You can find cookies shaped like ornaments, treats that look like candies, and more. Just keep in mind that you will need to keep treats out of your pet’s reach until it’s time for them to be enjoyed.

Toys

Most pets love to play. The holidays are an excellent excuse to get your pet some new toys. Although there are several holiday toys available, it might be best to stick with traditional options. Stock up on your pet’s favorites or offer them a variety of toys. Rotating the toys available to your pet can help keep them interested.

New Bedding

A new bed or blanket could be exactly what your pet needs this holiday season. Pet bedding keeps your pet off the ground, which can be extremely cold this time of year. Providing your pet with his or her own place to relax can also help keep fur off your furniture.

Collars and Leashes

Consider getting your pet a new collar or leash for the holidays. There are many designs available. You’re sure to find the perfect set to compliment you and your pet’s unique style. When choosing a collar, make sure that you can easily fit two fingers between the collar and your pet’s skin.

What to Avoid

There are several holiday gifts that can be dangerous to your pet. Rawhide bones and chews can cause choking and a life-threatening blockage. Avoid toys that can be easily destroyed. Stay away from anything that has strings or other items that can be removed.

Claws N Paws Day Spa wishes you and your pet a safe and happy holiday season.

 

Protecting Your Pet’s Skin This Winter

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Protecting Your Pet’s Skin This Winter

We all suffer from dry skin during the winter. The cool, crisp air combined with dry indoor heating can lead to dry, flaky, cracked skin. This can cause a lot of discomfort for your pet.

Pets often scratch or lick dry skin, making the problem worse. Pets with dry skin may develop large sores and experience hair loss. Dry skin should be treated as soon as possible. The following tips can help protect your pet’s skin this winter.

High Quality Food

A diet that provides all of the essential nutrients can help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy year-round. Select a food that contains high quality ingredients and a variety of essential vitamins and minerals. Ask your veterinarian if you aren’t sure which food is best for your pet.

Supplement With Fish Oils

Fish oils contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, which are scientifically proven to protect your pet’s skin and coat. Fish oils can also be used to reduce inflammation. This makes them an excellent choice for pet’s suffering from arthritis or joint disease. Choose a high quality product that contains both DHA and EPA. Only give your pet the recommended dose. Too much fish oil can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Regular Grooming

Regular bathing and brushing is a crucial to a healthy skin and coat. Brushing helps remove dead hair and stimulates the skin to produce more oils. Bathing can help restore moisture and protect your pet’s skin from irritation. It’s important to only use a mild pet shampoo and not to bathe your pet too often. Doing so can have an opposite effect on the skin.

Protect Your Pet From the Elements

Cold, wet weather is tough on your pet’s skin. Protect your pet from the elements whenever possible. Keep your pet indoors during bad weather and use a raincoat or cover whenever outside in the rain.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming for dogs and cats. We offer mobile grooming and have a full service salon in Orange County, California. We can help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy this winter. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.