Pet Grooming Orange County

Pets and House Guests

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Pets and House Guests

The holiday season often brings a steady stream of house guests. The holidays are a wonderful time to open our homes to distant relatives, friends and other guests. However, mixing holiday guests with your pets can result in a number of problems. While you should be able to entertain guests you don’t want to make your pets feel unwelcome in their own home.

Make sure that all of your guests know that you have a pet before they arrive. Even though your close family and friends probably already know about your pets, check to see if they will be bringing anybody else. Informing guests of the type of pet that you have will give them the opportunity to alert you of any allergies. Although guests with severe allergies are likely to decline an invitation, less severe allergies will require you to spend some extra time vacuuming and cleaning. Informing your guests of your pets can go a very long way towards making holiday visits run smoothly.

Prepare a special place for your pet ahead of time. While it might not seem fair to keep them away from the festivities, you must consider their comfort and safety. It might sometimes be better for your pet to spend a few hours in a safe and comfortable place. Prepare the space with a water bowl, food and toys and remember to check on them regularly.

If you decide to keep your pet out during holiday get-togethers you will need to monitor them closely. Make sure that your pet is not bothering your guests or begging for food. Also, watch for guests that feed your pet from the table. Kids often don’t realize when they are playing too rough, putting themselves and your pet in danger. House guests that engage in behaviors such as roughhousing or improper feeding might be putting your pet at risk. As the host, it is your responsibility to ensure that your guests are following the house rules in regards to your pet.

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

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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

 

Choosing the Right Groomer

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Choosing the Right 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. Currently, there is an estimated 30,000 grooming businesses in the U.S. Finding the right one for your pet requires more than just a quick search through listings on the web.

Claws N Paws Day Spa opened in 2001. Unlike many other Orange County grooming shops, we are not a chain store that is required to follow corporate rules. Instead, we are able to bend certain policies in order to better accommodate you and your pet.

Pet safety and comfort is always our number one concern. We are not a small or un-established grooming shop that must purchase only bargain shampoos and discount grooming supplies. When it comes to the health and safety of your pets, we will always choose quality over cost. In addition, our four groomers each have between five and twenty years of grooming experience totaling a whopping fifty years of combined experience!

Grooming appointments are scheduled throughout the day so that each pet can receive individualized attention and go home as soon as it is finished. We will never keep your pet all day. Our grooming shop is sprayed for fleas every single month. In fact, we will not accept pets that are infested with fleas, without de-fleaing them first. This ensures that other pets will not bring fleas home from our establishment.

Claws N Paws is one of the few grooming shops in Orange County that is recommended by several local veterinarians. While we might not be your cheapest option, when shopping around for a grooming shop please keep in mind that you will always get what you pay for!

For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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

 

Black Cats and Halloween

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Black Cats and Halloween

Even though most Halloween customs date back to the ancient celebration of Samhain, the association of black cats with Halloween is a far more recent addition. During the Middle Ages, cats began to be associated with witches. The exact reason for this is unclear but historians believe that it has something to do with a cat’s nocturnal nature. The powerful association between witches and cats, especially black cats, persisted throughout the years. Today, modern celebrations of Halloween often include images of the wicked witch with a black cat right behind her.

During ancient witch trials, cats were often tortured and killed by puritans along with the supposed witches. This occurred because many believed that witches had the ability to change shape into a cat and that both cats and witches were evil. Many people also believed that witches would sacrifice cats during their rituals. Because of communal reinforcement, many animal shelters will not allow the adoption of black cats around Halloween for fear of their abuse.

It is always a good idea to keep all cats indoors during Halloween, regardless of their color. Even if there is no one meaning ill will in your neighborhood or community, the sheer number of people out and about on Halloween, combined with the increased vehicular traffic make the outdoors a scary and unsafe place for our furry friends.

Keep your pets locked inside an interior room in your house on Halloween so that they do not panic when children come to your door in costume. Even the calmest of cats can become upset at the endless doorbell ringing and constant screaming of “trick or treat”. Remember to enjoy yourself this Halloween while trying to make the holiday as stress-free as possible for your feline friend.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality grooming services for both dogs and cats in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment please call 714-962-1005.

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

 

Keeping your Pets Safe this Halloween

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Keeping your Pets Safe this Halloween

There are many pet safety hazards on Halloween. It’s important to understand these hazards in order to keep your pets safe. With a little caution, Halloween can be a very fun time for pets and their families.

Let’s take a look at the top points to consider for your pet’s safety this Halloween.

The continuous ringing of the doorbell and rush of people that show up at your door can be extremely stressful to pets. In addition, pets can become fearful and aggressive towards strangers in costumes. It is important to keep your pet in a quiet, safe place on Halloween. Keep in mind that some pets might experience stress related diarrhea or injure themselves if crated or restrained.

Pets, especially black cats, are at risk for extremely cruel treatment on Halloween night. In fact, most rescues and adoption agencies will not even allow the adoption of black cats during October for this very reason.

Remember that candles and jack-o-lanterns pose a fire hazard. A wagging tail or a frightened cat can easily tip over a candle or carved pumpkin, possibly causing burns or a fire. Additionally, Halloween decorations can pose a choking hazard. Be sure to keep all decorations away from your pets.

Candy, gum, mints, baked goods, chocolate and anything containing the sweetener Xylitol should be considered very poisonous to your pets. Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and liver failure in dogs. Chocolate is toxic to pets. While small amounts of chocolate will cause vomiting and diarrhea, larger amounts can be fatal. Other candies with plastic components pose a danger if ingested. Lollipop sticks can cause intestinal obstruction and possibly rupture the intestines. Be sure that all candy is kept far away from pets and talk to your children about not sharing Halloween treats with the family pets.

If you choose to put a costume on your pet, make sure that they are never left alone or unsupervised. Check the costume for proper fit and that there are no small parts that can be ingested. If your pet becomes frightened while wearing a costume, remove it promptly.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming dogs and cats in Orange County, California since 2001. 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!!

 

Halloween Costumes for Pets

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Halloween Costumes for Pets

People of all ages enjoy Halloween. It only makes sense that we would want to include our pets in the fun. Pet costumes have come a very long way over the past few years. While choosing the perfect costume for your pet should be enjoyable, remember to always put your pet’s safety and comfort before your own amusement.

Most likely, your pet won’t have any say in what their Halloween costume is going to be. Most pet parents have a very special bond with their pets and in many ways their pet becomes an extensive of their own personality. The costume that you choose for your pet might reflect your special relationship with them or it could reflect what is trending at the moment. You might even choose to wear a matching costume with your pet or make your pet a special sidekick or accessory to your own costume.

Pets typically have a tough time getting used to wearing their costumes. Costumes with headgear are some of the most difficult to get your pet accustomed to. While you might be tempted to wait until Halloween, it’s a much better idea to get them used to their costume before the big night. A pet’s costume should never limit its movement. Pets should be able to run or walk normally without banging into anything. A slow buildup to Halloween with lots of positive reinforcement is probably your best bet at making your pet comfortable with their costume.

Start by putting the costume on your pet for a short period of time. Offer lots of treats and praise them. Remove the costume and repeat this process several times during the weeks before Halloween. This type of training helps to convince your pet that wearing the costume is a positive experience.

No matter how much you prepare it’s still important to know when your pet is uncomfortable. Telltale signs include ears pulled back, tucking of the tail, lowering of the head and immobility. Their costume should be easy to remove in case of discomfort. Also, make sure there are no parts of the costume that can be chewed off and ingested.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming dogs and cats in Orange County, California since 2001. 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!!

 

Abnormal Feline Behavior

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Abnormal Feline Behavior

Every cat is unique, each with their own individual “quirks”. While most feline behavior is not cause for concern, certain behaviors can signal a bigger problem. Typically, even the most abnormal feline behavior can be successfully treated. Let’s take a closer look at the common types of abnormal feline behavior.

Much like their human companions, cats can develop unusual behaviors. While many behaviors are not cause for concern, there are a few that should never be ignored such as wool sucking, obsessive compulsive disorders, consuming non-food items and abnormal phobias.

Some behaviors are easier to recognize than others. For example, if your cat is consuming a lot of non-food items this is a condition known as pica. Wool sucking or fabric chewing is common among Siamese cats. Sometimes the cat will actually consume the wool which can lead to a much more serious problem. Abnormal behaviors that are more difficult to spot include obsessive compulsive disorders and abnormal phobias. Obsessive compulsive disorders can take many forms such as twitching, compulsive grooming or biting themselves. Any behavior where your cat is causing physical harm to itself should be considered compulsive. Phobias are usually difficult to recognize unless you have seen your cat experience the upsetting stimulus several times.

Whenever your cat is presenting abnormal behaviors is it extremely important to take them to their veterinarian as soon as possible. Pica is often caused by an underlying medical condition such as anemia, liver disease or thiamine deficiency. Ingesting non-food items as well as fabric and wool can cause an intestinal blockage that must be treated by a professional. Obsessive compulsive disorders can signify an underlying problem such as a skin disease, parasites or thyroid disease. Even if the condition does not require immediate medical assistance, your veterinarian will be able to give you advice on how to deal with the behavioral problem.

The cause of many feline behavior problems can be traced back to the cat’s first few weeks of life. Kittens require proper socialization within the first 16 weeks. Without this care and attention the kittens can develop into cats with abnormal fears and/or behaviors. Another common cause of abnormal behavior is stress. Common stressors include a dirty litter box or inconsistent feeding times. Young children can also be a source of stress for cats.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming dogs and cats in Orange County, California since 2001. 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!!