Pet Grooming Orange County

Pet Grooming Tips For Summer in Orange County

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Pet Grooming Tips For Summer in Orange County

Summer is a great time to get outside with our dogs. Maintaining their grooming routine is also important during this time of year. Regular pet grooming helps our dogs look good, feel good and keeps them healthy.

While some breeds require the services of a professional groomer, all dogs benefit from a good brushing at home. The right grooming tool can help strip out loose hair, allowing cool air to circulate against your dog’s skin. Regular brushing also prevents mats that can be painful and trap moisture and heat, resulting in nasty skin infections.

This time of year you will want to watch out for fleas and ticks. Adding an extra bath or two might be a good strategy during the summer. Brush your dog before and after their bath and choose a shampoo that is a good match for their skin and coat type. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog well, or else they might develop a bad odor or become itchy and flaky from the shampoo residue. Consider having them professionally groomed to prevent these problems.

Inspect your dog’s ears regularly, especially if they like to swim. Dog’s who’s ears fold over are more prone to ear infections. After your dog goes swimming, wipe their inside earflaps gently with a cotton ball. Your vet might be able to suggest special ear drops for dog’s that suffer from a lot of ear infections during the summer. Swimmer’s ear can be prevented with a drop of white vinegar.

Claws N Paws provides quality full service grooming and mobile grooming in Orange County, California. We can help keep your dog looking and feeling good this summer. We offer brushing, bathing, summer haircuts and flea and tick control. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

When Professional Pet Grooming Isn’t Enough To Keep Them Cool – DIY Cooling Bandana

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When Professional Pet Grooming Isn’t Enough To Keep Them Cool – DIY Cooling Bandana

The heat and humidity of summer can be extremely miserable for our dogs. The combination of intense heat and a thick fur coat can make enjoying a full day outdoors with your best friend almost impossible. When professional grooming just isn’t enough to keep them cool this summer, consider making your dog a cooling bandana. These bandanas can be made quickly and easily from materials found at your local craft and hardware shop.

  1. Start by cutting a piece of fabric 4 inches by 45 inches in length. For larger dogs, you might need a piece as big as 60 inches long.
  2. Fold the fabric lengthwise with the print facing in, and sew the long side together.
  3. Press the sewn fabric with an iron. Turn the fabric right side out and press it again.
  4. Sew one of the ends shut.
  5. Slowly pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of polymer granules into the tube. These granules are used for gardening, and can be found at most gardening or home improvement stores.
  6. Sew the open end shut.
  7. Soak the bandana in water for 20 minutes. The granules will soak up the water. Use your fingers to ensure that the granules fill the entire bandana.
  8. Place the cooling bandana in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
  9. Wrap the bandana around your dog’s neck and secure the ends with 2 safety pins.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming in Orange County, California. For your convenience, we also offer full service mobile grooming. For more information about how we can keep your pets cool this summer, please call us at 714-962-1005 today.

Orange County Cat Groomer Answers The Question “Why Cats Bite The Hand That Feeds”

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Orange County Cat Groomer Answers The Question “Why Cats Bite The Hand That Feeds”

Why cats bite is one of life’s mysteries. We’ve all experienced it: you’re beloved feline is enjoying you scratching their favorite spot when suddenly they bite you. Pet parents often refer to these nibbles as “love bites”. However, the behavior is so common that feline behaviorists have created a formal name for it: petting-induced aggression. As an Orange County cat groomer we’ve heard our fair share of cat bite stories.

Why do cats bite?

Sometimes cats bite when playing or as a form of communication. Some cats nip to signal what they want. You’ll know if the biting is a signal behavior if your cat bites you then tries to lead you off in the direction of what they want.

Today, we’ll talk about the type of biting that seems to occur out of nowhere, when your cat was previously content.

Although petting-induced aggression is poorly understood, there are some reasons why cats may bite:

  • It could be the manifestation of status-induced aggression, where cats seek to control a situation.
  • Some cats might experience neurologically significant negative stimulus from being petted for a certain length of time.
  • The cat in question might be extremely subtle at letting humans know when they are unhappy, making their change in attitude seem more sudden than it actually is.

Whatever causes your cat to bite, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t still interact with your cat in a meaningful way. Your veterinarian or groomer might be able to teach you how to recognize the subtle warning signs associated with your cat’s displeasure before it reaches the point of biting.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For your convenience, we also offer full service mobile grooming. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

Preventing Fleas and Ticks – Orange County Pet Grooming

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Preventing Fleas and Ticks – Orange County Pet Grooming

Fleas and ticks are external parasites that can cause a lot of discomfort for your pet. During the summer, Orange County pet grooming shops typically have to deal with a lot of fleas and ticks and the problems that come along with them.

Fleas

Fleas can be found almost anywhere. Although there are more than 2000 species of fleas, the common cat flea is the type that is most often seen on both dogs and cats. Fleas prefer warm, humid conditions. This is why fleas are more prevalent during the summer and early fall.

Fleas can cause flea allergy dermatitis, which is a severe allergic reaction to flea saliva. In severe cases, flea allergy dermatitis causes intense itching and inflammation that often leads to bacterial or fungal infections. Fleas also play a role in the transmission of tapeworms and cat scratch fever. In severe infestations, fleas can remove so much blood that they cause anemia.

Ticks

Ticks are not actually insects. They are closely related to spiders, scorpions and mites. There are approximately eighty tick species in the U.S. but only a handful of them pose a problem for people and their pets.

Tick bites can be both painful and irritating. However, the real concern with ticks is the number of serious diseases that they are able to transmit.

Ticks can be found all over the United States. Although they can be seen during any time of the year, they are most prevalent during the early spring and late fall. Ticks prefer dark, moist, brushy places.

Preventing fleas

Today, there are many safe and effective flea control products to choose from. These products are administered either orally or topically. Some flea control products are only active against adult fleas, while others target other stages of the flea’s life cycle. Keep in mind that these products are separately labeled for dogs and cats. Never use flea medication meant for dogs on your cat.

Once an infestation is established it can be extremely difficult to get rid of. It might be necessary to treat your pet several times. It is also important to treat the pet’s environment.

Preventing ticks

Many major flea control products have formulations that help prevent ticks as well. These products are usually applied topically at the back of the neck. Just make sure that you never use medication intended for use on dogs on your cat.

Keeping your pet out of heavily wooded areas and tall grass are an important part of tick prevention. It might be necessary to treat your yard to reduce the number of ticks.

It’s a good idea to check your pets regularly for ticks. If you find ticks, never attempt to remove them with your bare hands. Your veterinarian or groomer can help you figure out the best way to remove ticks.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

 

More Than Cat Grooming – How To Keep Your Cat Cool This Summer

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More Than Cat Grooming – How To Keep Your Cat Cool This Summer

Summer officially begins on June 21st. Not only is this the longest day of the year but it’s also the start of three months of grueling hot weather. During the summer heat it’s easy for humans to strip down to shorts and tank tops, but what about our cats? They must wear their fur coat all year long. When your cat requires more than routine cat grooming to cool off, the following tips can help:

  • Drop three or four ice cubes into your cat’s water bowl.
  • Fill a small plastic bottle ¾ full with cold water and leave it in the freezer overnight. In the morning, wrap the bottle in a towel and place it in your cat’s favorite lounging spot.
  • Elevating your cat’s bed allows air to pass underneath it, keeping your cat cooler.
  • Consider getting a small box fan and placing it on the floor near your air conditioner or an open window. For extra cooling power, put a frozen water bottle in front of the fan.
  • If your cat has long fur, consider a lion cut to help keep them cool on hot summer days. Keep in mind that cats with white or light colored fur also have pale skin that is more susceptible to sunburns. Another option is to only shave your cat’s tummy.
  • Stroke your cat with a damp washcloth or paper towel.
  • Close the curtains or blinds of any south or west facing windows. Not only will this keep your cat cooler, it will save you money on your air conditioning bills as well.
  • Cats can get overheated easily by exercise on hot days. It’s best to save playtime until the end of the day, when it’s cooler.
  • Remember to NEVER leave your cat in your car for any period of time. Your car can reach dangerous temperatures extremely fast.

Heatstroke can cause kidney damage, heart dysfunction and other potentially fatal issues. If your cat starts panting, drooling or having trouble breathing it’s important to get them to the nearest emergency vet immediately.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help keep your cat cool this summer. Contact us at 714-962-1005 to find out how!

 

Orange County Groomer Discusses Why You Should Never Leave Your Dog in a Hot Car

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Orange County Groomer Discusses Why You Should Never Leave Your Dog in a Hot Car

 If you take your dog with you everywhere you go, it’s important that you never leave them in the car while running errands, even for a few minutes. The consequences of doing so can be severe under conditions much milder than you might realize. The intense heat inside a vehicle, regardless of the make or model, can be brutal and unrelenting. This Orange County Groomer doesn’t think it’s ever worth the risk.

How dogs deal with heat

A dog’s primary defenses against the heat are panting and their coat. Panting releases moisture and their coat is specially designed to provide insulation against the sun’s rays. The average body temperature for an adult dog ranges from 99.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

What happens to a dog in a hot car?

When a dog is left in a hot car, they pant in an attempt to keep cool. The more they pant, the more body fluid they lose. Even after just a few minutes, a dog can develop symptoms of non-fever hyperthermia or heat stroke. The longer a dog is subjected to intense heat, the greater the chance that it will affect all of their vital systems. Even though senior dogs and puppies are at increased risk, dogs of any age that are left in a hot car can suffer from multiple organ failure and/or death.

How hot is too hot?

Vehicles are built from materials that trap, conduct and distribute heat. Parking under a shady tree, using a reflective dashboard or windshield cover or leaving the windows open only makes a very small difference. The interior of a vehicle gets extremely hot, very quickly. The air temperature only needs to be between 81 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for a dog to begin showing signs of heat distress. If it is 89 degrees outside, the interior of your vehicle can reach 123 degrees within just 30 minutes.

What to do if you see a dog alone in a car

If you see a dog alone in a parked vehicle you should always attempt to locate the owner first. Write down the vehicle’s license plate just in case legal action is necessary. Alert the local authorities. If you feel that you must intervene, remember that you do so at your own risk.

Claws N Paws Day Spa believes that if you must run errands on a hot day it’s always best to leave your dog at home. Keep them cool this summer with professional pet grooming. To schedule a grooming appointment, please contact us at 714-962-1005.