Pet Grooming Orange County

Taking Care of Your Puppy’s Coat

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Small puppies require regular grooming. This helps them become accustomed to being brushed and bathed. It also helps keep their coat free from tangles and mats. This is especially important for longhaired breeds.

Regular Brushing

Brushing is important for both long and shorthair breeds. Regular brushing removes dead hair and stimulates the production of natural oils, which help moisturize your puppy’s skin and coat. For shorthaired breeds, brushing reduces the amount of shedding. This might not seem like a big deal now, but can become a major problem when your pet grows up. Getting them used to being brushed now will save you a lot of trouble in the future.

Longhaired dogs become tangled and matted extremely easily. These mats are uncomfortable for your pet and can lead to nasty skin infections and other issues. It might be helpful to use a wide toothed comb on your puppy prior to brushing.

Nail Trims and Ear Cleaning

Puppy nails are naturally sharp. These nails will continue to grow over time. If not trimmed regularly, they can become uncomfortable and cause problems for your pet. Getting your pet used to having their nails trimmed now can prevent future problems.

Certain breeds of dog are more prone to ear infections. Usually the first sign of a problem is spotted during routine ear cleaning. Keep your puppy’s ears clean using soft cotton pads and a safe ear cleaning solution.

Professional Pet Grooming

If you are unsure how to groom your new pet, we can help. Claws N Paws offers pet grooming for pets of all ages. We know how to properly care for your new pet so that they become comfortable with the grooming process. It’s recommended that you bring them in early and often, even if they only need a nail trim. This helps them get used to the sights and smells of the grooming salon.

Nail trims do not require an appointment. If you’d like have your puppy bathed, please call 714-962-1005 to schedule an appointment. Please let us know the age of your puppy when calling. This helps ensure that we reserve enough time to properly care for your pet.

 

Celebrating the New Year With Your Pet

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It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone. If you’re like many Orange County residents, you’ll be celebrating the New Year surrounded by friends and family. If you’ve chosen to enjoy this holiday at home, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Keep Your Pet Safe and Comfortable

As much as you might want to include your pet, they probably won’t appreciate the sights and sounds of the celebration. In fact, it might be a good idea to consider boarding them for the evening. The right boarding facility will keep them safe and reduce the amount of exposure your pet has to the loud noises that are commonly present this time of year.

If you choose to keep your pet at home, make sure that they are comfortable. Playing soft music or leaving the television on can provide a welcome escape from the fireworks and other sounds of the celebration. It’s also important to make sure your pet cannot get outside. When pets become startled, they run. This creates a safety hazard for themselves and others if they run into traffic. If they run too far, they might not find their way home. This is why it’s so important that you make sure your pet cannot get outside.

If you are having guests over to celebrate the New Year, make sure they know not to leave doors open and not to let your pet outside. It might be a better idea to keep your pet in a safe, quiet room instead of allowing them to join your party. This is safer for your pet and they might appreciate it more, especially if they are nervous around new people.

Some pets enjoy being the center of attention. If this sounds like your pet, you might want to let them join the party. Just make sure that your guests know not to feed them any table scraps. Party foods are often loaded with fat and sugar. They might also contain ingredients that are toxic for your pet. The best way to avoid upset stomach and other issues is to make sure they don’t get anything they aren’t supposed to eat.

Claws N Paws Day Spa hopes that you and your loved ones have a Happy New Year!

 

Traveling With Pets

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Most of us view our pets as members of the family. It’s only natural to not want to leave them home when you travel. However, it’s important to plan in advance if you want to take your pet with you on vacation. The following tips can help.

Accommodations

One of the hardest parts of traveling with pets is finding pet-friendly accommodations. Fortunately, there are several hotels and motels that allow pets for a small fee. Vacation rentals are another option.

Make sure that you indicate that you’re traveling with pets when looking for a place to stay. It’s also important to follow all of the rules regarding the type and number of pets allowed. These rules are in place to protect property and future travelers. Failing to follow them could affect your ability to bring pets in the future.

Bring Special Foods and Medications

Most places you go will have places to buy pet food and other necessities. However, selection can be limited. If your pet is on a special diet or they take medication, you will need to bring these items with you on vacation. In fact, it might be a good idea to bring your pet’s food unless you are absolutely certain you can get it where you’re going. Switching your pet’s diet suddenly can upset their stomach. This can negatively affect your vacation.

Bring Important Paperwork

It’s a good idea to bring any important paperwork such as vaccination records and other veterinary information. You might need this information in the unfortunate event that your pet requires emergency care during your trip. These documents might also be required if you decide to have your pet groomed or placed in a boarding facility while traveling.

Bring Comforts of Home

Pets can become stressed when traveling. Providing them with familiar objects such as their bed, toys, leash, and/or dishes can help them feel more comfortable.

Claws N Paws offers pet grooming in Orange County, California. When traveling to the beach this holiday season, bring your pet in for some much needed pampering. We offer full service grooming for both dogs and cats. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our grooming services.

Why Your Matted Dog Needs to be Shaved

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Most people have every intention of taking care of their dog’s coat. Unfortunately, busy schedules and life events can get in the way. When this occurs, your longhaired friend can become matted. A matted coat is painful and can hide skin problems and parasites.

A matted coat is different than tangles. Tangles can typically be worked out with your fingers or a comb. They do not hinder your ability to view your dog’s skin. When your dog’s coat is matted you cannot see their skin. The fur develops a mat-like quality that covers some or all of the body. A severely matted coat can stretch from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose. Dogs in this condition will often have feces and urine stuck in their fur.

A Matted Coat Can Hide Skin Issues and Parasites

Since mats prevent you from viewing your dog’s skin, they can hide serious issues. Fleas and ticks are common under a matted coat, as are sores from the constant skin pulling that occurs as a result of having a severely matted coat. Moisture can become trapped under mats, causing fungal and other skin infections. This is uncomfortable and can cause your dog to smell. Treatment of these conditions cannot take place until the mats are removed.

Attempting to comb or brush mats causes extreme pain. Using scissors to remove mats is not a viable option either. You can easily cut your dog’s delicate skin when cutting mats. Bathing a dog with mats causes the mats to become tighter, increasing the amount of pain your dog endures.

At Claws N Paws Day Spa, we will not cause your dog unnecessary pain or distress. This is why we will only shave a matted pet. Shaving removes the mats quickly and safely. This relieves your dog of pain and enables you to treat any underlying skin problems or parasites. We will not bathe matted pets until all mats have been removed.

We are already booking holiday appointments. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment today!

Why Does My Dog Smell Bad?

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Pet parents can become obsessed with the various smells that come with living with a dog. Sometimes the smell is easily resolved, other times it’s related to a health problem that requires treatment. It’s important to get to the root cause of the smell to determine whether or not your pet requires more than just a bath.

Bathing At Home

Bathing your dog at home can help them smell better. Unfortunately, this is often temporary. Most dogs begin smelling bad shortly after being bathed. Sometimes, they even smell worse after a bath.

Most people do not have the tools and equipment needed to properly clean their pet at home. A professional groomer uses high-powered sprayers and dryers to get them clean and ensure they are completely dry after their bath. This is important. Leaving your pet wet can cause them to develop a mildew-like smell shortly after being bathed.

Most people don’t realize that their dog requires their anal glands expressed during their bath. This is especially true for small dogs, as they do not have the muscle strength needed to clear these glands themselves. The anal glands are located on either side of the rectum. They fill with fluid, which can turn solid and cause serious health problems if not removed regularly. If not expressed, these glands can cause your dog to smell extremely bad.

Skin Conditions

Dogs are prone to several skin conditions that can cause them to smell. These conditions might cause oily skin, bald patches, or sores to develop. Sometimes the only sign of a problem is a continuous yeast-like smell that does not go away with regular professional bathing.

If your dog is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to take them to a qualified veterinarian. A vet will diagnose the problem and prescribe the appropriate medication. This is typically a special shampoo, although your vet might prescribe other medications as well.

Ear Infection

Ear infections often cause the ears to smell. If you notice a bad smell coming from your dog, inspect their ears. Call your vet if dirt, redness, or other irritation is present.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming in Orange County, CA. We can help you determine the cause of your dog’s bad smell. Please contact us to set up an appointment.

 

 

Kitten Adoptions

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Claws N Paws Day Spa has been caring for pets in Orange County, California for sixteen years. While many people already know about our pet grooming services, not everyone knows that we also have several rescued cats and kittens available for adoption. These sweet felines are eagerly waiting for someone to give them a chance at a happy life.

We Take Donations!

Many of the kittens we have available for adoption were found as newborns. These kittens have to be bottle-fed and socialized before they are able to find a new home. This takes a lot of time and effort. It also costs a lot of money.

Kitten formula is expensive. So is the veterinary care and medicine these babies often need. This is the reason we ask for donations whenever possible. The money we collect for our rescue does not go back into our grooming shop. Every cash donation goes directly towards caring for our foster cats and kittens.

If at all possible, please consider donating to our rescue. In addition to money, we also accept towels, blankets, formula, cat and kitten food, and litter donations.

Adopt, Don’t Shop

Kittens in pet stores usually come from puppy mills, or commercial breeders. These breeders see the animals in their care as profit makers. They generally do not provide the attention or medical care required to raise happy, healthy pets. As a result, pets from pet stores are often sick or badly behaved. Purchasing animals from a pet shop allows this type of breeding situation to continue. If you are looking for a cat or kitten, please consider adoption.

All of the cats and kittens we have available for adoption are healthy, up-to-date with their vaccinations, spayed or neutered (when old enough), and socialized with people and other pets. Our bottle-fed babies are some of the sweetest kittens you’ll ever meet.

Stop by our grooming salon in Fountain Valley, California to meet our available cats and kittens. Each has its own unique personality. Our groomers will be happy to help you find the perfect fit for your family. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our cat and kitten rescue.