Pet Grooming Orange County

Flea Treatment in the Summer

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Summer has arrived. As we prepare to enjoy these upcoming months of warmer weather, so do unwanted pests. The risk that fleas will become a major problem in your home increases drastically during the summer. However, there are many ways to prevent this from happening.

Faster Development in the Summertime

While fleas survive throughout the year, summer provides the optimal conditions for their breeding and spreading. Flea development from egg to adult depends on a certain level of humidity. Eggs cannot survive in low humidity, so humid summers provide the perfect atmosphere for fleas to breed. Fleas do not depend on temperature to reproduce, but warmer weather speeds up development. This makes it easier for a home’s flea problem to escalate into something much less manageable. It is especially important, in this case, to treat for fleas quickly and before the problem spirals out of control.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

The most popular type of flea treatment is over-the-counter medication such as Advantage or Frontline. However, many pet owners are finding that these medications only do half of the job. Their only purpose is to target fleas on the animal itself, and they therefore cannot rid the home of fleas. Fleas can survive without a host for 100 days, and new ones can easily enter a home after an old population has died out. Thus begins a vicious cycle of reapplication which can be potentially dangerous for your pet.

Additionally, over-the-counter medications have confusing and often misleading labels. Many contain ingredients that are potentially harmful to your pet, including essential oils and insecticides. These can have lasting harmful and even fatal effects on your pet. If you do choose to use over-the-counter medications, remember to read the label carefully and understand any risks involved.

Recommended Treatments

Home treatment begins at the host animal. Rather than opting for over-the-counter medication, consider using a flea collar. Flea collars slowly release their preventative ingredients from the collar to your pet’s skin and coat. Fleas that come into contact with these ingredients are immediately killed. Collars are especially effective because they are close to the eyes and face, where the majority of fleas gather. Collars across brands have some different factors, but it is always important to size them correctly. Seresto collars last 8 months and are heavily trusted by the staff at Claws N Paws.

However, a collar alone is not enough to fight a flea outbreak. As previously mentioned, fleas can survive quite a long time off of the host. Furthermore, their bites are painful to both animals and humans. Fleabusters Rx powder kills flea at the larval stage in your carpet. Its ingredients are much safer than common insecticides, and a little powder goes a long way.

Claws N Paws Day Spa is a full-service pet grooming salon in Fountain Valley, California. Our staff is passionate about making sure your pet is safe and flea-free. Stop by or contact us at 714-962-1005 for more information about flea prevention.

The Benefits of CBD Oil For Pets

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The 2018 Farm Bill made the use of Cannabidiol (CBD) derived from hemp legal in all states at the federal level. This was due to the significant medical benefits it provided. Since then, the CBD industry has boomed, and many pet owners are taking advantage of CBD to treat their furry friends.

Why CBD?

While CBD is often associated with medical marijuana, it does not provide nearly the same results. Rather 

than creating a psychoactive “high,” CBD targets specific cannabinoid receptor sites in the central nervous systems of humans and our beloved pets. The result is a calming sensation free of intoxicating effects.

CBD is most commonly known to relieve pain and reduce anxiety, but it has many other effects. It is known to regulate appetite, promote better sleeping patterns, and enhance skin and heart health. In pets with more severe concerns, CBD products can be used to treat epilepsy and even prevent cancer.

Unlike many prescribed medications, CBD has no significant side effects for pets. This allows pet owners to use the products for a wide variety of reasons without worry. CBD can even be used to calm pets during Fourth of July fireworks or stressful home construction.

A New Market

Because CBD was approved for public consumption so recently, product labels can be misleading. Companies will often label their products as having more CBD than is actually included. Rather, these products rely on unnecessary additives and fillers. Owners using these products will assume that the pet has received a proper dosage, but in truth the effects will be diminished or even eliminated. Caring pet owners find themselves in a difficult position when selecting CBD products. It can be hard to know which companies to trust.

About the Product

Claws N Paws carries CBD products from 4 A Higher Good, a company devoted to health and healing using only organic ingredients. Their products do not contain unnecessary fillers, featuring short lists of ingredients that are easy to follow. These products have been tested and approved by the Claws N Paws staff, earning them their place in our display case. Furthermore, 4 A Higher Good is a local Huntington Beach company that is quickly available for all inquiries. More information can be found on their website.

Claws N Paws carries hemp extract treats, pet tinctures, and anti-itch skin and coat conditioner at our full-service grooming salon. Contact us at 714-962-1005 or visit our location in Fountain Valley, California for further inquiries about our CBD products.

Is It Worms?

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Worms are extremely common in pets. In fact, most pets will have worms at least once in their life. Fortunately, worms are easily treated. All it takes is a trip to your vet and a pill given twice within a two week period.

How Pets Get Worms

Puppies and kittens can get worms from their mother. They can also get them later in life from playing outside, digging in dirt, grooming themselves, eating raw or undercooked meat, and eating infected insects and pests.

Symptoms of Worms

Worms get bigger over time and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Many pets show no signs of infection. Common symptoms include:

  • Bloody stool
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive licking of the hindquarters
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Poor appetite
  • Poor growth
  • Potbelly appearance
  • Rice-like segments found at base of tail
  • Visible worms in vomit or stool
  • Weight loss

It’s important to note that many of these symptoms can indicate another disease. This is why it’s so important to have your pet seen by a qualified vet. A simple stool sample can help determine if worms are causing the problem.

Types of Worms

Dogs and cats can become infected with a wide range of worms. The most common types include:

Roundworms – Roundworms are the most common form of worms. Most pets become infected at a young age.

Hookworms – Hookworms suck blood. These parasites can cause severe blood loss in pets.

Tapeworms – Caused by ingesting infected fleas, tapeworms are flat, segmented worms. You can tell if your pet has tapeworms by inspecting their tail. The segments look like little grains of rice.

Whipworms – Considered a highly infectious worm, pets infected with whipworms are at high risk of reinfection.

Final Thought

It’s important to remember that having worms isn’t a reflection of the care you give your pet. Pets can get into a lot of things and worms take advantage of this opportunity. If you suspect your pet has worms it’s important to have them seen by a qualified veterinarian. Diagnosis is typically quick and easy and treatment is as well.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers grooming for dogs and cats. Please contact us at 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

 

 

 

Can Dogs and Cats Live Together?

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It’s commonly known that dogs and cats don’t get along. However, this isn’t always the case. As Orange County’s premier grooming salon, we’ve seen several families where dogs and cats are best friends. It’s important to note that this doesn’t always happen overnight. It often takes a lot of time and patience to convince household pets to tolerate each other. Sometimes they never become friends but they do learn to share their space.

Start Young if Possible

The best cat/dog relationships start when one or both pets are young. When introducing a dog into a household with cats, it’s generally best to start with a puppy. This will seem less threatening to your cats and gives you an opportunity to train the dog not to chase. This can take some time as dogs have a natural instinct to chase and cats will instinctively run, making it even more satisfying for your dog.

If you decide to bring home a kitten to play with your dog, you must take care to ensure it doesn’t get hurt. This can be difficult if your dog is large. You will need to watch them very carefully together. Just one grab and shake could seriously injure or kill your kitten. It is up to you to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Enforce the Rules

It’s important to ensure that both the cat and the dog understand the rules. Do not let them chase each other or steal each other’s food. This might take some time as both must adjust to their situation. Rewarding good behavior lets them know they’ve done something right. This is a much better approach than punishing your pet for bad behavior.

Make Sure You Spend Time With Both Pets

Even if the transition goes smoothly, your pets may feel left out if you spend too much time with one and not the other. Make sure that you set aside plenty of time for both pets.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming from our full service salon in Fountain Valley, CA. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

Does My Hairless Pet Require Grooming?

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Hairless pets have become extremely popular over the past few years. From guinea pigs to dogs and cats, it’s seems like every species has its own hairless version. If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to spend time with a hairless pet you’ll know how warm and cuddly these creatures are, even without the lush coat you’ve come to expect.

Many people with hairless pets have questions about grooming. While these animals do not require brushing, they do have special grooming needs that must be considered.

Bathing

Hairless pets become dirty much faster than your average pet. This is due to excessive skin oils. These oils protect your pet from skin irritation. Unfortunately, they can cause your pet to smell and develop an oily feeling when touched.

Regular baths are important to the care of any hairless pets. However, care must be taken not to dry out their sensitive skin. Use a mild shampoo to thoroughly bathe your pet once to twice a month. Make sure you clean their ears and between their twos as dirt and oils tend to collect in these areas. If irritation occurs, ask your vet for a non-irritating prescription shampoo.

Nails

Make sure that you keep your hairless pet’s nails trimmed as you would any other pet. Nails that grow too long are uncomfortable and pose a risk to your pet. If left to grow, they can curl back into the pads of the feet. This creates an expensive and painful situation for your pet.

Sun Care

Hairless pets do not have the same protection against the sun. This makes them prone to sunburn and skin cancer. If possible, keep your pet out of the sun. These breeds are best kept indoors. You can purchase special sunscreen from your local pet supply or your vet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers grooming for hairless pets from our full service pet salon in Orange County, California. We have extensive experience working with hairless pets and understand what it takes to keep them clean. Please contact us at 714-962-1005 for more information about grooming.

 

Why it’s Important to Get Your Cat Vaccinated

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It seems like every year more and more illnesses claim the lives of our pets. Fortunately many of these illnesses can be prevented. Modern medicine makes it possible for humans to treat and prevent numerous diseases that previously wiped out massive populations of pets.

Your cat depends on you to keep them healthy and comfortable. They rely on you for everything they need from food and water to shelter and medical care. They cannot tell you when they need to go to the vet. That is up to you to decide.

Regular vaccinations help keep cats safe from dangerous diseases such as feline leukemia and FIP. Unfortunately, vaccines are only good for so long. You can’t just get them once and hope your cat will be ok. Vaccines must be repeated at regular intervals to provide the highest level of protection.

Preventing the Spread of Disease

One of the greatest benefits of vaccinating your cat is that it helps prevent the spread of diseases. Even if your cat spends its entire life inside, you still put other cats at risk by not vaccinating. Cats are notorious escape artists. Even the most content house cat can find its way outdoors. If this occurs, an unvaccinated cat can easily contract a number of diseases from coming in contact with the feces of other cats, fighting with neighborhood cats, or even drinking contaminated water. Once infected, your cat can spread disease to even more cats.

If everyone vaccinated their cat, these diseases might cease to exist. If nothing else, they’ll become a lot less common.

Other Considerations

In addition to vaccinating your cat it’s also extremely important to have them spayed or neutered. Having your cat “fixed” prevents them from reproducing, reducing the number of stray, unvaccinated cats around. This is better for everyone, especially the cats and kittens left to fend for themselves.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming as well as cat and kitten adoptions from our full service grooming salon in Fountain Valley, CA. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our services.