Pet Grooming Orange County

Are Freelance Pet Groomers Too Good To Be True?

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Are Freelance Pet Groomers Too Good To Be True?

Over the past few years we’ve been hearing more and more about freelance pet groomers. These are individuals who do not work for any grooming shop or mobile grooming company. Instead, they work for themselves, often out of their own homes. These individuals advertise that they are willing to come to your home or care for your pets outside of normal business hours. They sometimes offer services for free or for a deep discount in an effort to build their portfolio.

If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.

Sometimes these individuals have no experience and think that grooming pets will be an easy or fun way to earn some extra cash. Other times they are experienced groomers that work from home out of necessity, usually after having a child. Unfortunately, many times freelance groomers are individuals that have lost their grooming job due to negligence or abuse.

Grooming shops and professional mobile grooming businesses must follow strict guidelines regarding the treatment of animals. The law requires grooming facilities to remain clean and in good repair. Professional groomers and other employees must always provide proper care to animals. Animal enclosures must be structurally sound, provide adequate space, be water-proof and protect pets from injury. Failure to follow these laws results in fines and possible closure of the business. When people groom out of their home, they are typically doing so without a license. That means that there is absolutely no way for these laws to be enforced.

Serious accidents and deaths that occur in grooming salons are almost always caused by negligence. Animals left unattended can easily fall. Inexperienced and inattentive groomers can cause life-threatening cuts and burns. Pets that are not properly secured can fight with each other or escape into busy parking lots. Sometimes groomers use excessive force or become abusive with pets. These are all reasons why groomers are let go and grooming shops are forced to close their doors.

To keep the cash flow coming, many of these negligent groomers begin grooming on their own, either out of their home or in the homes of their clients. They will never tell you why they lost their job or why their shop closed. They won’t have to. No one is watching them. They don’t have to answer to anyone, and if it doesn’t work out, they’ll just try something else.

Sometimes these groomers have references. Maybe they used to groom your pets in a grooming salon. Have you ever thought to check why they left or why their business closed? You can’t always trust people, especially with something as precious as your beloved pet. Always remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Claws N Paws offers quality pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, CA. To schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

 

 

 

Fall Dog Grooming – Dealing With Shedding

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Fall Dog Grooming – Dealing With Shedding

All dogs, regardless of breed, shed to some degree. However, the amount of hair that they leave around your home can be decreased through routine dog grooming, use of fatty acid supplements and frequent vacuuming. Keep in mind that dogs typically shed most during the spring and the fall.

Routine grooming

Brushing your dog regularly reduces the amount of hair that drops off their coat. A professional groomer can help you determine which grooming tools are best for your pet. Metal combs and slicker brushes tend to be effective for most breeds. Regular baths can also help to get rid of loose and dead hairs.

Supplements

Fatty acid supplements can be excellent for your dog’s coat. Omega-3 and omega-6 supplements are believed to encourage coat growth and reduce shedding. If your dog does not consume enough of these fatty acids through their diet, their skin can become dry and shed larger amounts of hair. If you would like to reduce shedding and keep your pet’s hair glossy and soft, speak to your veterinarian about how much of these supplements your dog should have.

Keeping your home clean

Frequent vacuuming can dramatically reduce the amount of stray hairs throughout your home. You will want to get rid of hair on your upholstery before it is able to work its way into the fabric where it will be much harder to remove. If you wish to keep your furniture free of hair, consider using furniture throws which are easily cleaned.

Excessive shedding

Even though shedding is normal and healthy, excessive shedding can indicate a health problem. If your dog’s shedding seems particularly bad, take them to their veterinarian for a checkup. Excessive shedding can be a sign of fungal infections, bacterial infections, ringworm, dermatitis, mites and mange.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help with fall shedding. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please contact us at 714-962-1005.

This Orange County Pet Groomer Believes That Pets Can Improve Your Health

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This Orange County Pet Groomer Believes That Pets Can Improve Your Health

Claws N Paws Day Spa, your Orange County pet groomer, believes that pets can be good for your health. In fact, research over the past 25 years has shown that living with pets provides a variety of health benefits. Pets help lower blood pressure, boost immunity and reduce anxiety.

Fewer allergies

It used to be believed that if your family had a pet, the children were more likely to become allergic to that pet. Often, people with allergies in the family avoid pets for this reason. However, studies suggest that children that grow up in a home with pets actually have less risk of developing allergies and asthma.

Older adults

Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients have far fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home. Caring for a pet provides companionship and encourages exercise.  Caregivers also feel less burdened when there is a pet, especially if it is a cat, since they usually require less care than dogs.

Good for the soul

Pet parents are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. This is especially true when people are strongly attached to their pets. Studies have shown that people with high blood pressure that adopt a dog or cat have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than people without pets.

Heart problems

Heart attack survivors who have pets survive longer than those without. Studies have shown that male pet parents in particular have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming and mobile grooming in Orange County, California. We treat your furry friend like one of the family. Stop by today to see why we are one of Fountain Valley’s most respected grooming salons. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Diatomaceous Earth For Flea Control

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Diatomaceous Earth For Flea Control

Summer is right around the corner. As the weather begins to warm up, fleas can become a very big problem. For effective flea control, consider using Diatomaceous Earth. Diatomaceous Earth is an excellent and inexpensive way to control external and internal parasites on your dog.

What is Diatomaceous Earth?

Diatomaceous Earth is a non-toxic substance made from the crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. Diatomaceous Earth is deadly to insects, yet harmless to pets and the people that love them.

How does it work?

When looked at under a microscope, Diatomaceous Earth resembles small pieces of broken glass. The sharp edges easily pierce the protective coating on insects and parasites, causing them to dehydrate and die.

Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth

Internal parasites can be controlled by giving food grade Diatomaceous Earth internally. Diatomaceous Earth can be used to eliminate roundworms, whipworms, pinworms and hookworms when fed daily for thirty days. Just remember to only use food grade, because other types of Diatomaceous Earth can be dangerous to your dog.

Diatomaceous Earth can also be used to control external parasites and flies. Simply dust your dog, its bedding and any carpeted areas.

Diatomaceous Earth has been reported to absorb methyl mercury, e-coli, endotoxins, viruses, organophosphate pesticide residues, drug residues and protein. This makes Diatomaceous Earth an excellent detox solution, digestive aid and colon cleanser.

Dosage

For dogs over 55 pounds, add one tablespoon of food grade Diatomaceous Earth to their food every day. Use one teaspoon for small dogs and puppies. To control external parasites, rub the powder full strength into the coat and sprinkle on bedding and carpeting.

Claws N Paws Day Spa believes that Diatomaceous Earth is a safe and effective way to control fleas. We offer full service pet grooming in Orange County, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please contact us at 714-962-1005.

 

Orange County Pet Groomer Answers: How to Properly Clean the Gunk From Your Dog’s Eyes

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Orange County Pet Groomer Answers: How to Properly Clean the Gunk From Your Dog’s Eyes

If your dog suffers from seasonal allergies they probably gather a lot of gunk around their eyes. This condition typically gets worse during the spring, summer and fall. If not properly removed, the gunk can cause the hair around the eyes to stick together, and cause eye infections. Even though medication can be used to prevent these infections, nothing is as effective as daily cleaning. Claws N Paws Day Spa, your Orange County pet groomer, can help!

  1. Start by taking your dog for a long walk to tire them out. A dog is always easier to work with when their energy level is low.
  2. Use your hand to wipe your own closed eye. This will help you determine the proper amount of pressure to use on your dog.
  3. Soak a couple of clean towels in lukewarm water. You want them to be dripping wet when you use them. It can be helpful to keep them in a bowl of warm water while you work.
  4. Have your dog lie on one side.
  5. Using the wet towel, make sure your dog’s eye is closed and gently wipe the dog’s eye in one direction over and over. Start from the inside corner of the eye and move to the outside corner. As the gunk gets wet it will break loose from the hair and skin around the eye. If the towel becomes too dirty, switch to another a clean one. Remember to never pull, tug, force or press hard when removing the gunk.
  6. Stubborn bits might need the use of your fingers to slide them off. Use a very soft touch to try to remove them and then resume using the wet towel. Never use strength or force as this can hurt your dog’s delicate eye area.
  7. After finishing with one eye, have your dog turn over and repeat the process.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming services in Orange County, California. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please contact us at 714-962-1005.

When Professional Pet Grooming Isn’t Enough To Keep Them Cool – DIY Cooling Pad for your Pets

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When Professional Pet Grooming Isn’t Enough To Keep Them Cool – DIY Cooling Pad for your Pets

During the summer, it’s extremely important to keep our pets cool. This isn’t just a matter of comfort; intense heat can be detrimental to their health and safety. Protecting your pet from the heat prevents them from overheating and falling victim to heatstroke and heat exhaustion. When professional pet grooming just isn’t enough to keep them comfortable, consider making them a cooling pad. Here’s how:

  1. Search your home or a local second-hand shop for an old sleeping bag that has an outside shell made from nylon or polyester.
  2. Determine how big you would like your cooling pad to be. You will want to make sure that it’s a good size for your pet.
  3. Cut the sleeping bed width-wise to the appropriate size.
  4. Cut a piece of aluminum foil big enough to wrap two ice pack inside and slide inside the exposed portion of the sleeping bag.
  5. Wrap two ice packs into the diagonal corners of the foil. Use tape to secure them if necessary.
  6. Slide the foil and the ice packs into the open side of the sleeping bag. The foil and ice packs should be touching the underside of the nylon or polyester.
  7. Tape up the open end of the sleeping bag.
  8. When the weather warms up, wrap up the pad and place it in the freezer for half an hour. If the pad is too big, remove the ice packs and refreeze them.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. During the summer we offer summer haircuts, belly shaves, baths, brushing, mobile grooming and flea and tick treatments. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.