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.

Should You Let Your Cat Outside?

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There’s a lot of debate over whether or not it’s a good idea to let your cat go outside. While many people believe it’s cruel to keep your cat inside, the statistics and facts prove otherwise. Allowing your cat to go outside exposes them to numerous dangers, reducing their lifespan and putting other animals at risk.

While most pet parents have good intentions when they let their cat outdoors, there are numerous reasons why you shouldn’t. Below, we detail the top reasons why it’s better to keep your cat indoors.

Reduced Lifespan

Allowing your cat outdoors reduces their lifespan by as much as three to five years. Every single time a cat is put outside, their life is at risk. Common dangers include vehicles, other animals, diseases, and ill-intentioned people. While not every cat that goes outside will get killed, their chance of being injured is extremely high.

Reduction in Bird Populations

Cats are natural hunters. Unfortunately, even the best fed housecat will hunt and kill other animals for sport. While you might think that this is a small problem, it’s actually quite large. Cats kill an approximate 1 to 4 billion birds each year in the United States. This not only affects bird populations, it increases the amount of insects we have to deal with, as birds often feed on these common pests.

Overpopulation

Cats reproduce extremely fast. Many people don’t realize that cats can become pregnant at just four months old. Once they give birth, they can reproduce almost instantly, producing a large amount of offspring in just a short amount of time.

It’s important to have your cat spayed or neutered, even if they never go outdoors. Cats are excellent escape artists and will find a way out if they have the opportunity to reproduce. Spaying and neutering reduces the desire to go outdoors and eliminates the chance of reproduction.

Cats Can Easily Become Trapped or Lost

Cats like to squeeze into tight spaces. They will often follow small critters into unfamiliar territory. Once a cat becomes trapped or lost, they often don’t make it home.

Final Thoughts

Many people believe that cats become bored when left indoors. This is true for both outdoor and indoor cats. Cats need regular interaction. Keep your cat happy by playing with them daily. Claws N Paws Day Spa offers a variety of toys for your cat. Please visit our grooming salon to see our selection.

 

 

 

Popular Gifts for Pets

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Our pets bring us so much joy all year round. The holidays are the perfect time to show them how much you appreciate them. If you’ve been wondering what to get your furry friend, we can help! The following are some of our favorite holiday gift ideas for pets.

New Toys

Toys make wonderful gifts for playful pets. Consider choosing toys that are different from anything your pet has already seen. Some of our favorites include Kong toys for dogs (don’t forget the treats to stick inside), feather wands for cats, and laser pointers. These toys provide your pet with hours of entertainment and provide the perfect opportunity for bonding and exercise.

Treats

Pets of all ages are sure to appreciate some new treats for the holiday season. Fortunately, there are numerous treats to choose from at your local pet supply. You can even get your pet gourmet frosted cookies. Just make sure that the treats you choose are appropriate for your pet’s age, type, and weight and that they are meant for consumption by pets.

New Dishes

Over time, dishes can become stained, cracked, and difficult to clean. The holidays are the perfect opportunity to replace your pet’s dishes. Consider upgrading plastic dishes to something more durable and safer such as stainless steel or ceramic. There are numerous options to choose from.

Sweater

Some pets get extremely cold during the winter. This is especially true for small shorthaired dogs such as Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinchers. A new sweater might be just what your pet needs to make it through the winter.

Not all pets appreciate wearing clothing. It’s a good idea to see how your pet reacts prior to spending a lot of money on a new sweater. If possible, take them to the store for a test run.

Holiday Grooming

Grooming helps your pet look and feel its best. This is the perfect gift for any pet! Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service pet grooming for dogs and cats. Holiday grooming appointments are already filling up. Please call 714-962-1005 to reserve your spot today!

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!