Pet Grooming Orange County

Autumn Safety

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Autumn Safety

Summer is officially coming to an end. Autumn will bring crisp breezes, gorgeous foliage and everything pumpkin. Autumn also comes with some unique dangers for our pets. It’s important to do all you can to keep your pet happy and healthy this fall. The following tips can help.

Keep School Supplies Away From Pets

As the school year gets into full swing, you might find your home full of school supplies. When ingested, common items such as glue, markers, crayons and pencils can all cause a problem for your pet. Dogs especially seem to like the taste of glue. These everyday items can upset your pet’s stomach and even cause a dangerous blockage. Make sure that school supplies are kept well out of reach of pets.

Beware of Mushrooms

Mushrooms grow everywhere during the fall. While many types are not dangerous, others are toxic. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, fever and elevated heart rate. Without proper treatment, mushroom poisoning can cause liver and kidney failure within three to seven days. Whenever possible, keep your pets away from mushrooms and watch them for signs of mushroom poisoning.

Keep an Eye Out for Snakes

If you enjoy hiking with your dog, make sure that you watch for snakes. During the fall, snakes begin preparing for hibernation and they are much more likely to strike. It’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about the venomous snakes in your area.

Keep Pets Away From Holiday Treats

During the fall, our homes tend to be full of food. From Halloween candy to calorie-dense casseroles, these treats can be deadly for our pets. Keep desserts, candy, fatty meats, bones, gravy and side dishes out of reach of pets and encourage guests not to feed them table scraps. Onions, garlic and chocolate are all extremely toxic to pets, and highly fatty foods can lead to life-threatening pancreatitis.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming for both dogs and cats in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our grooming services.

 

 

 

Fall Grooming

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Fall Grooming

Summer is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner. Many people grow out their pet’s coat during the fall. Even if you plan on keeping it short, you probably want to learn how to properly care for it. The following fall grooming tips can help.

Preventing Mats

With longer hair comes a greater possibility of mats. Mats not only look unsightly, they can cause your pet harm. Mats often hide sores and other skin conditions. The warm, moist skin beneath these tangles provides the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Infections are extremely common in severely matted pets.

Prevent mats and tangles by brushing your long-haired pets daily. Your groomer can recommend the right brush or comb for your pet. Regular grooming appointments are important as well. A professional groomer can find and remove mats before they are able to become a problem. Pets that are allowed to become severely matted must be shaved. Regular grooming is your best defense against tangles and mats.

Regular Bathing

Bathing is important if you want to prevent problems with your pet’s skin and coat. Regular bathing removes dirt and debris, making your pet look and feel their best. During bathing, your groomer will check your pet for any issues with their skin and coat. Baths should be given every four to six weeks. Bathing your pet more frequently can strip the natural oils from their skin, making them dry and flaky.

Fall Haircuts

Many people allow their pet’s coat to grow longer in the fall. However, this isn’t necessary if your pet stays inside most of the time. Whether you decide to keep your pet’s hair short or let it grow for the fall, our groomers can help.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming services in Orange County, California. We provide top notch grooming services from our full service grooming salon in Fountain Valley. Our groomers have years of experience and are well prepared to handle a wide variety of situations. We offer bathing, brushing and haircuts to all breeds of dogs and cats. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Help Your Cat Beat the Heat – Safety Tips for Summer

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Help Your Cat Beat the Heat – Safety Tips for Summer

Summer is an excellent time of year for trips to the beach, camping and a variety of other outdoor activities. While you’re outside enjoying the warmest days of the year it’s important not to forget about your cat. This August has been extremely hot in Southern California. Help your feline friends beat the heat and stay safe with the following tips.

Never Leave Your Cat in the Car

We hear it all the time in regards to kids and dogs, but no creature should ever be left in a hot car. Vehicles can reach dangerous temperatures in just a few minutes. If you must take your cat out of the house, make sure that they stay with you wherever you go. If you will be running errands in places that do not allow pets, it’s a better idea to just leave them at home.

Keep Their Water Cool

Cats tend to drink a lot more when they are hot. Make sure that they always have plenty of clean, fresh water available. Keep your cat cool by adding a few ice cubes to their water.

Give Them a Cool Place to Sit

Even though indoor cats have plenty of shade, they love to sunbathe. Your cat can overheat and develop heat stroke from lying too long in direct sunlight. Give them a cool place to sit instead. Freeze a water bottle and wrap it up. Place it under a pile of blankets and place the pile in their favorite spot.

Open the Windows

Opening windows in the evening is an easy way to cool off your home. The house will collect cool air while you sleep. You can trap this cooler air inside by closing the windows in the morning. Just make sure that your screens are properly secured. Cats love to sit in windowsills and they can easily fall out.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers cat grooming in Orange County, California. Our groomers have many years of experience working with cats. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Common Problems Pet Owners Face

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Our pets bring so much joy into our lives. They are there to greet us when we get home, they are happy to snuggle when we’re feeling blue, and they love us unconditionally. However, living with pets is not always a walk in the park. Sometimes problems arise that can be difficult to deal with. Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems that pet owners face.

Elimination problems

Elimination in inappropriate areas is one of the most common problems reported by pet owners. In fact, it’s among the top ten reasons that pets get abandoned at the shelter. Pets may urinate and defecate in inappropriate areas for a number of reasons. The first step is to figure out why. Common reasons include:

  • Age
    Young pets often eliminate in areas where they aren’t supposed to. With training, most young pets can learn the proper place to go.
  • Medical problems
    Many medical issues can cause inappropriate elimination. If your pet suddenly begins eliminating in the wrong place, it’s a good idea to have them seen by a veterinarian.
  • Territorial marking
    If you have other pets in your home, territorial marking can become a big problem. Spaying and neutering your pets can help.

After you have determined what is causing the problem, you will need to completely clean the area that your pet has soiled. Pet supply stores carry several products that are specially designed for cleaning these areas. If you are unsure where your pet has eliminated, a black light can help. Urine typically glows under a black light.

Destructive Behavior

Dogs love to chew and cats like to scratch. This can become a problem for your furniture and your other belongings. Consider providing your cat with a cat tree and your dog with plenty of toys to chew.

Overactive Behavior

Just like us, our pets can become bored. Long hours inside can make them antsy. When overactive behavior becomes a problem, it’s important to spend more time helping your pet stay active in appropriate ways. Play with your pet regularly. If possible, take them outside for a walk.

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

Bringing Home a New Cat or Kitten

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Bringing Home a New Cat or Kitten

It’s always exciting to bring home a new pet. Many of us can’t wait to introduce them to our friends and family. However, how you introduce your new cat to your household will have a big impact on how well they adjust.

Cats prefer things to be predictable. When you adopt a cat or kitten, you remove them from the life they are used to. It can be difficult for them to adjust to new people, a new environment and possibly even other pets. This can be especially hard on a new cat or kitten after experiencing the stress and noise of the car ride home.

Before Bringing Them Home

Before bringing your new cat home, set everything up for them in a quiet room. In order to reduce the amount of changes your new pet is exposed to, make sure that you get the same brand of food and litter that they are used to.

You will need to take things slowly when introducing your pet to their new home. If at all possible, bring something home that smells like your pet’s old surroundings. This could be a favorite toy or a blanket or towel that they’ve slept on.

Introducing Them to Your Home

Keep your new pet in one room while they adjust to their surroundings. Allow them ample time to get used to you. Sit on the floor and let them come to you. Never attempt to pull them out from a hiding spot. This will only make the transition harder.

Once they are comfortable with you, you can begin introducing them to other family members. Take things slowly and watch your new pet for signs of distress.

Introducing Them to Your Other Cat

If you have another cat, let them sniff each other under the door. Some hissing and growling is normal. Feed them on opposite sides of the door and use a towel to rub their scent on each other. After a few days, you can shut your older cat in the new cat’s room and allow your new cat to explore the rest of the house. Monitoring your cats, begin opening the door a crack when you feed them. Slowly move their dishes closer together, watching for a reaction. Once they seem comfortable with each other you can open the door and let them meet.

Cats and Kittens for Adoption in Orange County, CA

If you are considering adding a new cat or kitten to your family, please consider adopting from us. We have many wonderful cats and kittens for adoption. All of our available felines have been socialized with other cats and people. Many of our kittens have been bottle-fed. Please stop by to see them or call 714-962-1005 for more information.

What NOT To Do When Removing Ticks

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What NOT To Do When Removing Ticks

Many people enjoy going outdoors during the summer. If you will be spending time camping or hiking this year, you might come across ticks. Ticks bury their head in their host and feed on their blood. They can be tricky to spot and even more difficult to remove. Although the internet is full of tips on how to remove ticks, many of these methods are ineffective and dangerous.

Ticks carry several diseases. Just one bite can lead to serious illness. It’s extremely important to protect yourself against these common pests. When spending time in wooded or grassy areas, wear long pants, long sleeves and other protective clothing. Always keep your grass cut short and store wood neatly, away from wooded areas.

If you find a tick on you or your pet, it’s important that you remove it properly. Improper removal increases the chance of infection and can cause the tick’s head to break away from its body. The following techniques should NEVER be used to remove ticks.

Twisting the Tick

Although using fine-tipped tweezers can be an effective way to remove ticks, you should never twist the tick as you remove it. Using a twisting motion can cause the tick’s head to break away from its body, leaving it stuck under your skin.

Burning the Tick

Aside from the possibility of burning yourself, burning a tick can irritate it, causing it to regurgitate. This increases the chance of contracting a harmful disease.

Drowning/Suffocating the Tick

Attempting to drown or suffocate a tick with gasoline, rubbing alcohol, petroleum jelly or something similar will not work. It can take hours for the tick to die, which gives it ample time to spread disease.

Safe Tick Removal

After spending time outdoors, check your pet thoroughly for ticks. Check between the pads of their feet, their ears and through their fur. If you find a tick, try not to panic. Use fine-tipped tweezers or hemostats to grasp the tick close to the skin. Pull straight up slowly to fully remove it. If you are nervous or unsure how to remove ticks, consult with your groomer or veterinarian.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming from our full service salon in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about tick removal.