Pet Grooming Orange County

Professional Grooming Isn’t Just For Dogs

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Professional Grooming Isn’t Just For Dogs

Most people believe that cats groom themselves. However, what cats actually do is frequently lick themselves. This deposits dander filled saliva on the cat and causes them to ingest loose hair, dust and debris. This type of “grooming” is very ineffective which is why cats often suffer from matting, hairballs, dandruff and a variety of other issues. Regular professional grooming can significantly reduce the incidence of these problems.

Matting occurs when loose, shedding hair mixes with grease, dirt and debris to form a tangle on a cat’s coat. As more hair sheds underneath the tangle it becomes bigger. Regular, professional grooming interrupts this cycle and allows the cat to live mat free.

Hairballs are the result of large amounts of hair being ingested when a cat attempts to lick itself clean. Regular bathing and blow drying removes any loose hair so that the cat does not ingest it.

Dandruff appears when dead skin cells are shed. Regular bathing is necessary to eliminate dandruff as well as a variety of other skin conditions.

Unfortunately, fleas are a part of living with cats. Professional grooming is your first defense against fleas along with medicated flea treatments. It is extremely important to exercise vigilant flea control in order to avoid a massive infestation.

Shedding is another concern for most cat owners. A good bath, blow dry and shedding treatment can put an end to this common problem.

Cats are not equipped to remove tangles or mats, take care of their own dandruff and skin issues, eliminate fleas from their coats or clip the sharp points off their claws. Professional cat grooming is the only solution. Regular professional grooming ensures a healthy cat and a happy pet parent.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been offering quality pet grooming services for Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. For the convenience of our clients we now offer the same professional grooming services from our fully mobile pet grooming van. Be sure to book your mobile grooming appointments well in advance. Currently, we are booked until September, 2015. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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Summer Safety – Dogs In Cars

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Summer Safety – Dogs In Cars

As the temperatures in Southern California continue to rise it’s important to keep our pets safe. This includes never leaving your dog in a parked car, even for just a few minutes. A car parked in the shade or in the direct sunlight on a warm day can quickly reach dangerous temperatures. It doesn’t take very long at all for a dog to succumb to heatstroke or worse. Sadly, thousands of dogs die every year from being left in hot cars.

If you see a dog trapped in a parked car this summer there are several things that you can do to help. For example, if you know the owner, you can gently let them know that their pet is hot. Most of the time people are unaware of the dangers of leaving their pet unattended in a hot car and this is a great way to begin that conversation with them.

If you see a dog alone in a parked car and you do not know who it belongs to, try speaking with the establishment’s store manager or customer service department. Most of the time they are eager to help you locate the dog’s owner or contact animal control for you. If this is not an option, you can call your local animal control or the police for assistance. Remember that every minute counts when a pet is locked in a hot car.

Bystanders are often the eyes and ears to aid in the prevention of animal abuse and neglect. Getting involved makes a huge difference, especially for those that do not have a voice of their own. If you are uncomfortable reporting a problem, please find assistance from a store manager, animal control, the police, friends or family members.

If you take your pet with you this summer, at some point you might need to stop to run some errands. Whenever possible have a family member stay in the car with your dog with the air conditioner running. If you are alone, you will need to find pet-friendly stores or use drive-ups.

We hope this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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Summer Haircuts for Cats

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Summer Haircuts for Cats

Many people like their cats to get haircuts for summer. Sometimes it’s because they want them to stay cool, or they simply like the way that it looks. Whatever the reason there are a few things that you should consider before giving your cat a summer haircut.

Unless your cat has a matted coat, a haircut is probably not necessary. It’s actually more important to keep your cat groomed regularly to remove shedding fur. People decide to give their cat a haircut for a variety of different reasons. Summer haircuts can reduce the amount of flying fur from shedding, reduce hairballs and be given for sanitation reasons. If you decide to give your cat a haircut you will want to leave the job to a professional cat groomer. Cats can easily become frightened of clippers, scissors and other grooming tools, making it easy to injure your cat if you are not well trained and experienced.

Common cat haircuts include the lion cut, comb cut, belly shave, sanitary trim and various breed haircuts. Out of all of these the lion cut is probably the most popular summer haircut. It involves trimming all of a cat’s fur except for its head, neck, feet and tail, giving the cat a lion-like appearance. This cut can keep a cat cool even in very hot climates.

The comb cut involves removing all but ½ to 1 inch of your cat’s fur. This cut is perfect for cutting down on hairballs and makes it easy to monitor any skin-related issues that might appear during the summer.

A belly shave removes most of the fur underneath the cat. This cut is typically given to long-haired cats to prevent matting. A sanitary trim involves trimming the hair around the rear to help with sanitation issues.

Whether you decide to get your cat a haircut this summer, regular grooming should still be an essential part of your cat’s life. Ask your groomer which kind of brush to use on your cat and how often to use it. It’s best to begin a grooming routine when your cat is young so that it won’t resist it as it gets older.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Fountain Valley, California. If you need help deciding what kind of haircut to give your cat this summer, please contact us at 714-962-1005.

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Supporting Cat Rescue

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Supporting Cat Rescue

Cat rescue groups are committed to the rescue of homeless, unwanted domestic cats. These small non-profit rescue groups support a no-kill community where they do not euthanize cats that are not adopted. However, not all animals can be adopted into a new home. Some animals are simply too aggressive to be adopted. These animals pose a danger to prospective family members or other animals. Other animals might be too sick or injured to be candidates for adoption. The no-kill concept simply means that no healthy, adoptable animals are euthanized for lack of an adoptive home.

Cat rescue groups are dedicated to finding safe and loving forever homes for the cats and kittens that are under their care. Rescue groups are non-profit organizations. They are funded exclusively through donations. Rescue groups help communities provide safe shelter, veterinary care and socialization for stray, abandoned or abused cats until suitable permanent homes can be located.

Prior to adoption, cats and kittens are tested for diseases, given vaccinations, spayed or neutered and checked and treated for ear mites, fleas and worms. Cats that are spayed and neutered live longer, healthier lives, don’t roam as much or spray to mark their territory and reduce the stray cat population.

There are a few things that you can do to help your local cat and kitten rescue:

Volunteer

Rescue groups frequently need good people that are able to help with rescue efforts, foster cats and bottle-feed kittens. Ask your local rescue group if they are in need of volunteers.

Donate money or items

You can help your local cat rescue by donating money or other items such as cat food, litter, kitten formula, blankets, towels, cat toys and scratching posts. Check with your local rescue group to find out if they are accepting donations.

Support local businesses that support rescue efforts

Many wonderful businesses support rescue efforts. Check with your local rescue to find out who supports them!

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. Additionally, we offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. Claws N Paws also has many wonderful cats and kittens available for adoption. Two doors down from our pet salon we have a consignment shop offering several unique and interesting items. 100% of all profits from pet supply sales at This n That Consignment go directly into our rescue efforts! For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

 

Why Your Dog Might Stink After Its Bath

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Why Your Dog Might Stink After Its Bath

It can be extremely frustrating when your dog starts to smell immediately after its bath. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why this can occur.

Skin Infections

One of the main causes of a stinky dog is bacterial or fungal infections of the skin. These types of infections cause inflammation, bumps, hair loss and an unpleasant odor that cannot be removed by soap. A skin infection can affect some or all parts of a pet’s body. Skin infections are commonly caused by open wounds, a compromised immune system, parasites and skin allergies. Skin infections must be diagnosed by a veterinarian. They are treated with prescription shampoos, ointments, diet change and/or oral medications.

Improper Bathing

Some breeds of dogs are more odorous by nature. Breeds such as basset hounds, Labrador retrievers and cocker spaniels secrete more oil from their scent glands than other breeds. Special shampoos must be used on these dogs to remove the oils and odors without drying out their skin. Wrinkled dog breeds such as pugs, shar-peis, bulldogs and Pekingese also require meticulous bathing to remove dirt and debris from their skin folds. If the dirt is not properly removed during bathing it will attract bacteria and develop a foul odor.

Bodily Fluids and Medical Conditions

If your pet becomes excited or nervous during its bath it might emit fluid from its anal sacs. This stinky fluid can get all over the fur on its backside making them smell awful. These sacs can also become infected, leading to an unpleasant odor that will remain even after bathing. Additionally, if your dog does not receive regular dental care it can develop an odor caused by dental disease and bacterial infections in its mouth. Some illnesses such as kidney disease and diabetes can also cause an unpleasant odor that emanates from your pet’s mouth, even after a bath. Have your pet checked by a veterinarian to rule out dental problems and medical conditions and make sure that you empty your dog’s anal sacs with every bath.

Bathing Frequency

One bath every month is typically sufficient for keeping your pet smelling fresh without drying out its skin. Between baths you can freshen up your dog’s fur with regular brushing. If your dog likes to roll in stinky things, or has an extremely stinky coat, more frequent baths might be necessary.

Wet Dog Odor

If your dog has been properly bathed and has received a clean bill of health from your veterinarian, it shouldn’t continue to smell. If it does, you probably have not properly dried your pet. If the undercoat is not completely dried immediately after a bath, your dog will have an offensive wet dog odor. Power dryers used at most pet salons are the best way to make sure that your pet is completely dry.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!!

 

Hot Spots

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Hot Spots

Hot spots on pets are extremely common during the summer. A hot spot is a localized area of skin that is inflamed and infected. The infection can be superficial or deep. Hot spots are also known as moist dermatitis and acute moist dermatitis.

Hot spots are typically caused and made worse by excessive biting, licking and scratching. There are several factors that can initiate this behavior. Common factors include fleas, mites, other external parasites, insect stings or bites, injuries or allergies. Occasionally animals will start a hot spot out of boredom or during periods of stress.

Hallmark signs of a hot spot include redness, oozing, pain and itchiness. Hair loss might also be present. Sometimes hair can become matted over the lesion, obscuring the size or magnitude of the problem. It is extremely common for a pet parent to notice a small area of inflamed skin on their pet in the morning and arrive home hours later to find that the affected area is much larger. This is because pets often become highly agitated and will not leave the area alone. Sometimes the pet might even growl or snap when the area is touched.

The treatment of hot spots varies depending on the severity of the problem. It is extremely important to have all hot spots promptly checked by a veterinarian as the problem can quickly spread and further skin infection can occur. There are a few things you can do at home to help alleviate the pain of hot spots:

  • Shave the area, allowing air to dry the hot spot
  • Cleanse the area with cool water and a mild skin cleanser
  • Apply a cool washcloth to the area two to four times a day
  • Use an E-collar to prevent licking, biting or scratching of the area
  • Follow your veterinarian’s instructions thoroughly when applying topical medications, bathing or administering oral medication

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Fountain Valley, California. Our experienced groomers understand how uncomfortable hot spots can be for your pet. We can bathe your pet in their prescription shampoo and assist you with your pet’s topical medication. We can also safely remove the hair from around most hot spots. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!!