Pet Grooming Orange County

Brushing Your Cat

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Brushing Your Catjessica0808_2

Healthy cats will typically spend several hours each day grooming themselves. Regardless, every now and then they will need your help maintaining their sleek or fluffy appearance. Regular brushing and combing helps remove dirt and prevent tangles from forming. It also helps to spread out your cat’s naturally produced oils, keeping their coat shiny. These important oils also keep your cat’s skin free from irritations.

Cats that have long hair will require more grooming assistance than short-haired cats. Long-haired cats can easily become matted and get things tangled in their fur, especially if they are allowed to go outdoors. Long-haired cats should be brushed and combed every single day. Short-haired cats really only require brushing once a week unless they have a habit of collecting things in their coat.

Brushing is especially important during season changes when your cat tends to shed more fur. While outdoor cats will shed in the spring and autumn, indoor cats tend to shed all year long. This is caused mostly because of the amount of time that your cat spends in direct daylight vs. artificial light, and less because of temperature changes. When a cat is shedding and it grooms itself, it will ingest the hair. This can quickly lead to hairballs. Regular brushing removes the loose fur before your cat has a chance to ingest it.

There are a large number of brushes and combs available for use on cats. For short-haired cats, you can use a short metal comb to remove loose hair or a rubber brush which is perfect for removing loose hair and giving a soft massage at the same time. Fine toothed metal combs can be used to lift any fleas from their coat. When selecting a brush or comb, just make sure that the comb is short and delicate enough so that it does not damage your cat’s skin. Start at the head and slowly work your way to the tail, carefully brushing the legs as well.

For long-haired cats you should use a larger comb and a longer pin brush. When brushing a long-haired cat it is extremely important to remove any tangles, but you should never tug on the tangles too hard. Hard to remove tangles should only be removed by a professional groomer. Brush your cat’s fur all the way through, making sure that you brush the cat’s tummy and legs.

After brushing, it’s a good idea to use a damp cloth or a wet hand to carefully remove any remaining loose hair.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s cats since 2001. For information on professional cat grooming or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call us at 714-962-1005.

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Puppy’s First Groom

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Puppy’s First Groompuppy

If you have a new puppy then you are probably wondering what you should do about grooming. Even a very small puppy can be introduced to the grooming process. Begin your puppy’s first grooming session about twenty to thirty minutes after a meal. This is when your puppy should be calmer and even a little sleepy. Use a soft brush or comb to gently brush your puppy’s fur. Don’t be surprised if your puppy wiggles around while you brush him. Remember, this is a new experience for your puppy. Slow your hand motions down and when he settles down, praise him and take a small break. While you brush your pet, gently handle its feet, toes, ears and tail areas. This will help your puppy learn to accept this type of handling and will make professional grooming less stressful for him later.

Once your puppy has received its second set of immunizations it is time to schedule his first grooming appointment. Most professional groomers will require that your pet has had their shots before grooming. This is for the safety of both your pet and the other pets that are visiting the groomer. Remember, the younger that your dog is when it receives its first professional grooming, the easier it will be for everyone involved.

Consider scheduling your first few grooming appointments two to three weeks apart and then slowly begin to lengthen the time between appointments. If you get your puppy acquainted with the grooming salon at a young age then grooming will be much easier on him in the long run. The strange sights and sounds of new places can cause a lot of anxiety for dogs, and the younger they experience something, the better. Being professionally groomed entails a lot of contact from an unfamiliar person, but an early start will make it almost second nature to your dog. Just remember to always reward your puppy with a treat immediately after his grooming appointment to establish a pleasant association.

On your puppy’s first visit your groomer will likely only bathe, brush and trim your puppy’s face, feet and rear. Most groomers will not do a full haircut on a puppy’s first visit as it can be too much for the pet to comfortably accept.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has many years of experience grooming puppies. We understand that visiting a grooming salon can be stressful for puppies and we will do everything that we can to make it a pleasant experience for them_. For more information, or to schedule your puppy’s grooming appointment, please call us at 714-962-1005.

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Why Pet Grooming Costs So Much

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Why Pet Grooming Costs So Much

Today, consumers everywhere are trying to make sure that they are getting the most value for their money. When it comes to pet grooming, it’s difficult to see the value when you only see the end product and your pet can’t exactly tell you about their grooming experience. This leads many pet parents to wonder why pet grooming costs so much.

What most people do not realize is that being a pet groomer is a skilled profession. Professional pet groomers must go through several years of training and experience in order to become a professional in the industry. Charging between $40 and $80 per groom is normal for a professional pet grooming salon. We understand that this is typically higher than what it costs to get your own hair cut. Let’s take a closer look at why:

Time and Endurance

If you’ve ever bathed your pet at home then you probably already know that it’s not an easy task. They don’t sit still, they attempt to jump out of the tub and they scratch and paw the entire time. This process can take up to one hour per pet and might even require the assistance of additional employees because of how physically intensive it can be. From shampoo to towel dry, grooming a pet takes much more time and is far more physically demanding than cutting a human’s hair.

Skill and Technique

A pet groomer must clip and cut your pet’s hair in multiple directions. This is because a pet’s hair does not grow in just one direction or two. It grows in hundreds of different directions and each must be tended to individually during their haircut. One example would be your pet’s armpit fur which grows towards their stomach while their leg hair grows towards their rear. Both of these areas are directly next to each other, creating quite a challenge for your pet’s groomer.

Services Provided

When you bring your pet to the groomer they don’t just bathe your pet and cut their hair, they also provide many other services as well. They trim your pet’s nails, clean their ears, pull out their ear hair, express their anal glands and inspect their skin for irritations and parasites. If you were to add up all of these services for a human it would total much higher than what it costs to groom your pet.

In order to keep your grooming costs as low as possible, you must get your pet groomed regularly and keep their fur properly maintained. If you show up for your grooming appointment with a matted pet, your groomer will have no choice but to charge you for the extra time it takes to insure your pet’s safety and overall quality of their groom.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality professional pet grooming in Orange County, California. To schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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

 

Reducing Your Pet’s Stress When Visiting The Groomer

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Reducing Your Pet’s Stress When Visiting The Groomer

Pets can experience a significant amount of stress when visiting a pet salon, especially for the first time. While it might not be possible to completely eliminate their stress, there are ways to ensure that it is minimized during these visits.

An important first step is to make sure that your pet’s arrival to the grooming salon is a pleasant one. As you enter the salon, talk to your pet in a happy tone of voice that communicates that this will be a nice experience. Always avoid using anxiety ridden tones, as this will solidify your pet’s fears. Offer treats to your pet upon arrival and provide extra treats for your groomer to offer them. For cats, dropping a bit of canned tuna through the door of their pet carrier can work wonders.

When you bring your cat to the grooming salon, make sure that any wire, or parts that they can see through, are covered. This will ensure that your cat will not become frightened by unfamiliar sights. It is always best for your cat to remain in its carrier at the grooming salon as it is familiar territory that does not smell of other cats or dogs. Your groomer will take your cat out only for grooming and then return them to the carrier until it is time for them to go home.

Frequent socialization visits are an extremely important part of reducing stress for your pet. You should take your pet to the groomer often so that they can get to know the staff and become familiar with the facility. Consider bringing your pet to the groomer, even if they don’t require grooming. Have the groomer talk to your pet and offer them treats. These visits can help your pet understand that “bad things” don’t always happen when they visit the salon. Most groomers will be happy to accommodate these types of visits as they will make your pet easier for them to handle and care for.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming in Orange County, California. Our experienced groomers understand the anxiety that pet’s sometimes feel when visiting a pet salon. We will do our best to reduce your pet’s stress whenever possible. However, sometimes pets are too fearful for us to groom and must be taken to their veterinarian.

For more information or to set up your next grooming appointment, please contact us today!

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

Humane Grooming

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Humane Grooming

At Claws N Paws Day Spa the health, safety, care and comfort of your pet are our primary concerns. Our experienced team is here to offer you and your pet the exceptional service that both of you deserve. We understand the special bond that you share with your pet and we value their health and well-being as much as you do. This is why we practice Humane Grooming at Claws N Paws Day Spa.

Our professional groomers understand that your pet has many emotions and they will always take into consideration the effect that a grooming visit may have on them. At times pets might experience anxiety, nervousness and distress while visiting the grooming salon. Because we value your pet’s feelings, we will always do our best to ensure that your pet feels safe and comfortable throughout their entire visit.

Sometimes a pet’s coat becomes severely tangled or matted. This happens for a number of different reasons. Matted fur is extremely uncomfortable for your pet and can cause several different health problems. De-matting is mentally and physically stressful for pets and can put their health and well-being in jeopardy.

Claws N Paws Day Spa does not offer de-matting for severely matted pets. Partial de-matting services will be performed for an extra fee ONLY if your pet has only a select few mats throughout their coat that are not close to their skin. Severely matted or tangled coats WILL be shaved.

If you wish to maintain the length of your pet’s hair there is no alternative but to keep it brushed and combed out daily between your professional grooming appointments. If this is not an option, we recommend that you schedule weekly maintenance appointments for your pet. If you require assistance in selecting the proper tools to maintain your pet’s coat, we will be happy to assist you.

De-Matting vs. Shaving

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De-Matting vs. ShavingDe-matting vs Shaving

Pet hair can become matted for many different reasons. Allergies, excessive scratching, fleas, lack of regular maintenance and bathing your pet before combing them out can all lead to matted hair. Once your pet’s hair becomes matted you will have to decide whether to de-mat or shave your pet’s coat. The answer will depend on the degree of the matting. If the matting is extensive or very tight, then the most humane thing you can do is shave them off. Matted hair is extremely painful and uncomfortable for pets.

Severe matting can lead to a number of different health conditions including:

  • Hotspots
  • Sores
  • Fungal and bacterial infections
  • Yeast infections
  • Flea infestations
  • Moist eczema
  • Mites and lice
  • Scalding from urine and feces
  • Eye and ear infections
  • Severe itching

De-matting is time-consuming and can be extremely painful for your pet. While there are a large number of sprays, conditioners, shampoos and tools available to assist you with mat removal, there is no grooming shortcut that will simply make the mats fall out. Once your pet’s hair becomes damaged it is impossible to reverse the damage to the hair shaft. The damaged hair must be removed much like split ends on a human’s hair. The end result of de-matting is much less attractive than the end result of shaving. Additionally, because of the time it takes to properly de-mat, de-matting is much more expensive than simply shaving your pet.

De-matting of both younger and older pets can cause severe mental and physical stress, placing their health and well-being in jeopardy. De-matting large areas can easily lead to brush burns, which can be just as serious as a third degree burn on a human. In addition, de-matting younger pets can make them fearful of the grooming process, leading to biting and other difficulties.

Shaving the matted hair is the most humane thing to do. How short it must be shaved depends on how tight the mats are and what must be done in order to make your pet look good. Sometimes only certain areas must be shaved, such as the ears or the belly.

Frequently, mats will be so tight that they actually pull up the skin. This makes it easy to nick or seriously injure your pet if you aren’t careful. Shaving matted pets is best left to a professional groomer. A professional groomer understands exactly how to remove the mats and make your pet look their best.

Once the pet’s matted coat is removed, the skin underneath is typically red and irritated from lack of air circulation. Occasionally a severely matted pet will have sores and/or infections underneath that require veterinary treatment. This is caused by the matting and is NOT a result of shaving.

Regardless of whether you choose to de-mat or shave your pet, professional grooming for matted pets is more expensive. The very best way to prevent matting in the first place is to brush and comb your pet daily between regularly scheduled professional grooming appointments. If this is not an option, then it is recommended that you book weekly maintenance grooming appointments so that a professional groomer can brush and comb your pet’s hair for you.

Claws N Paws Day Spa practices Humane Grooming. We will NEVER attempt to de-mat a pet if we feel that it will cause them harm.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s pets since 2001. For more information please contact us today!

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