Pet Grooming Orange County

Household Dangers to Cats You Might Have Not Considered

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Household Dangers to Cats You Might Have Not Considered

We all know about the obvious hazards such as rat poison and electrical cords. However, there are many other things that pose a risk to our felines. Many of these things you probably didn’t even realize could cause a problem. Let’s take a look at the top six household dangers for cats.

Human Medications

Every year, the ASPCA manages around 40,000 calls from people whose cats have ingested or come in contact with over the counter and prescription medications. These drugs are listed as the number one hazard for pets. It is crucial that all medications are kept out of reach of cats at all times.

Veterinary Medications

Although these medications are prescribed for the treatment of pets, it’s not uncommon for medications to be improperly applied or dispensed. It’s important to make sure that you understand your veterinarian’s recommendations before giving your pet any type of medication.

Household Cleaners

Many people know that household cleaners can be toxic to people, especially children. However, there are several cleaners that can be dangerous to cats as well. Cats that lick their paws after walking on recently cleaned surfaces can suffer from poisoning. Certain products can cause respiratory problems and gastrointestinal distress if inhaled. Care should be taken when using household cleaners around your pet.

Mini Blinds

Cats can easily become tangled in mini blind cords. These cords can be extremely tempting to play with, especially for kittens. Use a squirt gun or pennies in a can to discourage climbing on blinds or playing with cords.

Plants

Several plants are toxic to pets. If ingested, these plants can lead to life-threatening kidney failure. Your veterinarian can provide you with a list of pet safe plants for your home.

Plastic Bags

Plastic grocery bags can seem like a fun toy for cats. They love to roll on them and listen to the crinkling sounds they make. However, allowing your cat to play with these bags can lead to suffocation and choking. Always keep them out of reach of pets.

There are several things that can cause harm to your cat. It’s a good idea to evaluate your home for dangers if you wish to avoid problems in the future.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service cat grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up an appointment today.

Recognizing and Treating Ear Infections in Dogs

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Recognizing and Treating Ear Infections in Dogs

Regular ear care is extremely important for dogs of all ages. Cleaning your dog’s ears helps keep them free from debris and helps you spot ear infections sooner. Regular cleaning also helps prevent infections from happening in the first place.

Causes of Ear Infection

Ear infections are common. They are caused by buildup of yeast and bacteria in the ear canal. They can also be caused from water trapped in the ears. This is why regular cleaning, especially after swimming and bathing, is important. Cleaning the ears helps remove wax buildup, yeast, dirt and bacteria from the ears. It also helps dry any water that is left after swimming.

Ear Infection Symptoms

Spotting an ear infection can be tricky. Dogs cannot tell us when their ears are bothering them. It’s important to look for any changes in behavior. Excessive head shaking or ear scratching are possible signs of a problem. Foul smelling ears typically indicate an infection. Your dog’s ears might also become red, swollen and sensitive to the touch.

If your dog exhibits any or all of these symptoms, it’s crucial that you contact your vet. Ear infections are painful and can become worse over time.

Treating Ear Infections

A quick trip to the vet can help you determine whether or not your dog is suffering from an ear infection. Veterinarians often use a swab to test to determine the exact cause of the infection. This is a quick and easy procedure.

Depending on the severity and cause of the infection, you might be given eardrops, oral antibiotics or medicated ear wash. Sometimes, all of these treatments are prescribed at the same time. It’s crucial that you follow your veterinarian’s recommendations and use all of the medication prescribed for your pet. Stopping a medication too early can cause the infection to come back.

Preventing Ear Infections

Although some dogs are more prone to ear infections than others, regular ear cleaning can help prevent infections from returning. This also helps you spot the signs of an ear infection early, when they are easier to treat.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help keep your dogs ears clean. Ear cleaning is included in our basic groom and bath service. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment for your dog.

 

 

Stopping Cats From Clawing on Furniture

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Stopping Cats From Clawing on Furniture

Clawing is a natural behavior for cats. Cats scratch to mark their territory and sharpen their claws. While totally natural, cats can do a lot of damage to furniture, drapes and carpet. In fact, it’s one of the reasons why people surrender their cats to the shelter.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to stop your cat from destroying your home. Let’s take a look at the top three ways to stop your cat from clawing your furniture.

Use Deterrents

If you want to stop your cat from scratching your favorite chair, then you need to make it as unpleasant as possible for them. There are many products available over the counter to deter cats from scratching.

Cats are extremely sensitive to both smell and touch. Deterrent sprays smell bad to cats and sticky strips are annoying. Both of these deterrents are extremely effective.

Offer Alternatives for Your Cat to Scratch

In order to stop your cat from scratching your furniture, you need to offer them a suitable alternative. Cats need to scratch. If you take away their favorite scratching place, they’ll naturally move to another one. Offer your cat scratching posts, boards or furniture. You might need to experiment with different types until you find the one your cat prefers.

Trim Your Cat’s Nails

You might not be able to stop the scratching altogether, but you can reduce the amount of damage being done. Trim your cat’s nails every four weeks. If you are unsure how to cut their nails, or your cat is being uncooperative, visit Claws N Paws Day Spa for a kitty pedicure.

In order for these methods to be effective, you must work with your cat to discover what works and what does not. Try using different types of scratching materials and deterrents.

These tips can help decrease or eliminate unwanted scratching. These options are much more humane than declawing or surrendering your cat.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help keep your cats claws trimmed. We offer full service grooming for cats. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment. Nail trims do not require an appointment.

Winter Grooming for Dogs: Why It’s Important

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Winter Grooming for Dogs: Why It’s Important

Many people believe that dogs do not require regular grooming throughout the winter. However, grooming during the winter is extremely important to your dog’s health and well-being.

Dogs are more susceptible to skin and coat issues in the winter. Their skin can become extremely dry from indoor heating. This can cause excessive licking and scratching, leading to painful sores and infection.

A dog’s coat can become tangled and matted if not properly maintained. This is especially true for double-coated breeds. Matted fur is extremely painful. If it becomes wet from snow, frost or rain, it can increase your pet’s discomfort.

Regular grooming helps you spot problems with your pet’s skin and coat. This allows you to address these issues before they can become a much bigger problem. The following tips can help you take care of your dog this winter.

Keep Them Dry

When spending time outdoors, your pet’s coat can become damp from frost or rain. A damp coat can cause chills and dry, itchy skin. It’s important to properly dry your dog’s coat immediately after returning home.

Brushing

Make sure that you continue to brush your pet throughout the winter. Brushing helps prevent tangles and mats. It also helps your pet shed their winter coat. Brushing stimulates the skin to produce more oil. This helps moisturize the skin and protect it from damage caused by dry indoor heating.

Nails

You probably won’t take your dog on as many walks during the winter. Without the hard ground to wear them down, nails can quickly become too long. Long nails are prone to cracking and breaking. Make sure you trim your dog’s nails every four to six weeks.

Professional Grooming

Professional grooming is the best way to ensure your pet’s skin and coat is well maintained throughout the winter. During your pet’s grooming appointment they will receive a bath, blow dry, nail trim, ear cleaning and thorough brushing.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service grooming throughout the winter. We use soothing oatmeal shampoo to protect and moisturize their skin. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

 

Helping Your Pet Lose Weight

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Helping Your Pet Lose Weight

You might have noticed that your pet is looking a little chubbier than usual. Maybe guests are starting to mention that your pet looks quite round. Obesity in pets is extremely common. Unfortunately, pets that are overweight face a number of challenges.

Pets that are overweight are more prone to arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and other serious health problems. In fact, overweight and obese pets rarely live as long as their slimmer companions. Pet’s cannot change their diet on their own or begin an exercise plan without your help. It is up to you to help them lose weight and get in shape. The New Year is the perfect time to help your pet shed those extra pounds.

Diet

Diet plays a big role in the overall health of your pet. The food that you feed your pet affects every part of their body, from their skin and coat to their weight and energy. You can help your pet lose weight by decreasing the amount of food that you feed them. Your veterinarian can help you determine the right amount of food for your pet. For the best chance of success, you will need to stick to the guidelines provided.

Table scraps can cause weight gain and be dangerous to your pet’s health. Fatty foods can lead to life-threatening pancreatitis in dogs. Foods like onions, garlic and chocolate are toxic. It’s important to avoid giving your pet table scraps.

Exercise

Regular exercise is an important part of losing weight. Exercise is good for both your pet’s mental and physical well-being. Play with your pet and take them on walks as often as possible.

Overweight pets are more prone to arthritis and other joint problems. Extra weight can put a lot of pressure on their delicate joints. Keep exercise sessions short and watch your pet for signs of distress. You’ll be able to increase the amount of exercise as your pet begins losing weight.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. Our full service salon is conveniently located on Brookhurst Street in Fountain Valley. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

Cat Grooming Tips

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Cat Grooming Tips

Cats require regular grooming to stay happy and healthy. Cat grooming includes caring for your pet’s skin, coat, nails, ears and teeth. Regular grooming can help you spot issues with your pet’s skin sooner, allowing you to treat them before they are able to become a much bigger problem.

It’s important to remember that not all cats will tolerate being groomed. If your cat fights the grooming process, it might be best to take them to a professional groomer. This is the best way to avoid injury to yourself and your cat.

Bathing

Cats generally take very good care of their coat. Occasionally, they might get into something sticky, smelly or dirty. Older and disabled cats might not be able to clean themselves properly. If this is the case, you’ll need to give your cat a bath.

Use only warm water and shampoo meant for use on cats. Human or dog shampoos can irritate your cat’s skin and eyes.

Brushing

Brushing your cat helps remove dead hair, dirt and grease from their coat. It also removes dead skin cells, improves circulation and encourages the skin to produce more oils. This moisturizes and improves the condition of the skin and coat. Depending on your cat’s coat, you should brush them at least once or twice a week.

Ear Care

Your cat’s ears can become dirty with debris and wax. Check your cat’s ears once a week for build-up. This can also help you spot the early signs of infection or ear mites.

Nail Care

Your cat uses their feet for climbing, scratching, jumping and landing. You’ll need to inspect them regularly for injury and trim your cat’s nails every four to six weeks. Be careful when trimming the nails that you don’t cut into the vein. This can cause bleeding and pain for your cat.

Dental Care

Your cat needs to have their teeth checked regularly for damage and infection. Your veterinarian can let you know if your cat requires deep cleaning. Between vet appointments, have your pet’s teeth brushed with a pet-safe brush and toothpaste.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers cat grooming from our full service salon in Fountain Valley. Bath and haircut appointments include nail trims, ear cleaning and brushing. We also offer teeth brushing for an additional charge. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.