Pet Grooming Orange County

Things to Consider Before Visiting the Dog Park

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Things to Consider Before Visiting the Dog Park

From socialization to exercise, your local dog park offers so much for your pet. This is the perfect spot to spend your days this summer. However, there are a few health risks you need to consider before visiting the dog park.

Infectious Diseases

Hundreds of dogs visit the dog park everyday. In areas like this, the risk of catching an infectious disease is often higher. Kennel cough and canine influenza are the most common diseases, and can spread through dog parks extremely fast.

It’s important to make sure that your dog is up-to-date on all of their vaccinations before visiting the dog park. Even though dogs may still be able to catch diseases they’ve been vaccinated for, vaccinated pets often experience less severe symptoms.

Avoid sharing bowls at the dog park, as this can increase the likelihood of your dog catching a disease. Instead, bring your own collapsible dish. It’s also important to clean up after your pet. This helps reduce the spread of intestinal parasites.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas can be easily passed from one dog to the next. You’ll need to protect your dog before visiting the dog park. There are several different flea treatments available today. Your veterinarian can provide you with recommendations.

Check your pet for ticks after leaving the dog park or any other grassy or wooded area. If you find a tick, don’t attempt to remove it yourself. Improper removal can cause the head to break off inside your pet. This can lead to infection. Take your pet to your vet or groomer for tick removal.

Heatstroke

Anytime you take your dog outside during the summer, you run the risk of heatstroke. Heatstroke is a serious condition, requiring immediate medical intervention. Without prompt treatment, heatstroke can be deadly.

Make sure you have plenty of cool, fresh water available for your pet, and that you encourage them to spend some time in the shade. If you notice anything odd about your pet’s behavior, remove them from the sun immediately.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming from our full service grooming salon in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to setup a grooming appointment for your pet.

 

Summer Safety

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Summer Safety

Summer has officially arrived in Southern California. This is the time of year when many of us will be spending more time outdoors enjoying the park, beach, and time with our family. You might also be spending more time with your pets.

It’s important that you do all you can to keep your pets safe this summer. The following are our top safety tips for summer.

Never Leave Your Pet in the Car

Even if it doesn’t seem that hot outside or you plan on leaving the window open a crack, your pet can still fall victim to heatstroke if left in a hot car. The temperature inside your vehicle can reach dangerous levels in a very short amount of time. Pets left in hot cars become distressed quickly.

Heatstroke causes permanent damage to organs, and even death. Never leave your pet in your car, even for a minute. If you know that you’ll be going somewhere that your pet is not allowed, it’s always better to leave them at home.

Check the Temperature of Sidewalks and Roads

A dog’s paws are sensitive and can easily become burned by hot concrete or asphalt. Before walking your pet, make sure that you check the temperature of the ground. The same is true for outside areas of your home. If it’s too hot for you, then it’s too hot for them.

Burns are painful and can become infected as pets continue to walk on dirty surfaces. If your pet’s feet become burned, it’s important that you have them checked by a licensed veterinarian.

Avoid Spending Too Long in the Sun

While a day at dog beach might seem like a lot of fun, it’s important that you don’t spend too much time in direct sunlight. Pets can get dehydrated and develop heatstroke quickly.

Make sure that your pet has plenty of fresh water at all times and that they have access to shade. Watch your pet for strange behavior and signs of dehydration. Remove them from the heat as soon as a problem is detected. Prompt medical treatment is required if your pet is suffering from heatstroke.

We hope you have a safe and relaxing summer!

Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Dealing With Foxtails

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Dealing With Foxtails

The warm weather has officially arrived in Southern California. This means more beach days, more backyard BBQs, and more time spent outdoors. This is also the time of year when foxtails become a problem.

Foxtails are barbed seedpods that form on a special type of grass. As these pods dry, they can easily become stuck to your pet’s fur. Once attached, they burrow their way into the skin. This can be a major problem, as foxtails do not break down inside the skin. When left untreated, foxtails can cause serious infection and even death.

Although foxtails can be a problem on any part of the body, they are more likely to occur between the toes and inside the nose, ears, and mouth. Signs of embedded foxtails include redness, swelling, discharge, and pain.

Spotting Foxtails

It’s important to know how to spot the signs of a problem. If your pet is exeriencing any of the following, you should take them to your veterinarian right away:

  • Swelling and/or redness
  • Limping
  • Excessive licking between the toes or around the genital area
  • Head shaking
  • Head tilting
  • Squinting or redness of the eye
  • Pawing at the face
  • Constant sneezing

Preventing Foxtails

Pets with curly hair and long ears are at the greatest risk for foxtails. After spending time outdoors, it’s important to inspect your pet thoroughly. Check their feet, in their ears, and through their fur. If not embedded, foxtails can easily be removed. However, once they have entered the skin, you will need the help of an experienced veterinarian to remove them.

Foxtail removal can cost $700 or more. It’s best to prevent a problem in the first place. Avoid areas with long grass. Check your pet regularly after spending time outdoors. Keep long hair trimmed to prevent foxtails from becoming stuck. This also makes it easier to locate and remove them.

Claws N Paws Days Spa can help keep your pet groomed this summer. We have experience working with cats, dogs, and other pets. We are your best choice for pet grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to setup a grooming appointment.

 

 

Caring For Disabled Pets

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Caring For Disabled Pets

Caring for a disabled pet can be extremely challenging. Special needs pets require extra help doing the things that most of us take for granted. They must be handled carefully and require lots of patience and care.

Grooming a special needs pet can be difficult. Many disabled pets have a hard time standing on their own, let alone jumping in and out of a standard bathtub. These pets may become frightened from the hose or the other sensations they experience while being groomed. Grooming these pets at home is usually not an option.

Finding A Groomer

When choosing a groomer, it’s extremely important that you take the time and effort needed to find a grooming salon that is able to properly care for your pet. In addition to having experience working with disabled pets, they should be kind and caring towards the animals they work with.

Before making an appointment, ask the groomer if they would mind if you looked around their facility and watched them interact with other pets. Make sure you ask them about their experience with special needs and disabled pets. This will help you determine their ability to properly care for your pet.

Check out the grooming facility. Look to see if they have a low tub and ask if they are able to groom on the floor. Make sure the salon has adequate space for your pet without having to put them in a crate or kennel.

Orange County Grooming Salon

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional grooming for special needs pets. We have experience working with a wide range of conditions and disabilities and understand the special care that your pet requires.

We have a low tub and are able to bathe and groom on the floor. We have areas where your pet can be kept outside of a kennel and we provide the option of waiting with your pet while they are being groomed.

Please stop by our grooming salon to take a look at our facility. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about grooming your pet.

Clean and Protect Your Dog’s Ears With Zymox Ear Cleanser and Ear Solution

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Clean and Protect Your Dog’s Ears With Zymox Ear Cleanser and Ear Solution

Dogs of all breeds and ages suffer from ear infections. These infections can be itchy, painful, and downright annoying. Ear infections may occur in one or both ears.

Ear Infection Causes and Symptoms

Quite a few things can cause ear infections to develop including parasites, allergies, growths, ear hair, and water trapped inside the ear. Ear infections can be persistent and recur often, especially in dogs with floppy ears.

Symptoms of an ear infection include:

  • Head shaking
  • Scratching the ears
  • Rubbing ears on the floor or furniture
  • Discharge from the ears
  • Foul smell in ears
  • Redness of the earflaps or ear canal
  • Aggression or other signs of pain when ears are touched

Dogs with ear infections might scratch excessively. This can lead to wounds to the face, neck, and ears. If left untreated, ear infections can move to the middle or inner ear, causing more serious problems including head tilt, incoordination, inability to walk or stand, hearing loss, and severe, unrelenting pain.

Dogs that suffer from recurrent ear infections are also more prone to ear hematomas. Persistent head shaking and scratching can cause these fluid filled sacs to develop on the earflaps. Ear hematomas must be treated by your veterinarian and often require surgery to resolve.

Zymox Products Clean and Protect Sensitive Ears

As Orange County’s premier grooming salon, we see a lot of dogs with ear infections. These infections can cause discomfort to both pets and their owners. Ear infections are often difficult to treat and can lead to thousands of dollars in vet bills.

We are pleased to announce that we now offer Zymox Ear Cleanser and Zymox Enzymatic Solution for dogs that suffer from chronic ear infections.

Zymox Ear Cleanser uses bioactive properties to gently clean and protect even the dirtiest ears. This cleanser does not contain any harsh chemicals and will not irritate sensitive ears.

Zymox Ear Solution contains a combination of hydrocortisone and bioactive enzymes. This helps form an antimicrobial defense against infections. This is an effective antibiotic-free solution to chronic ear infections.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers Zymox Ear Cleanser and Ear Solution for both dogs and cats. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information or to schedule a grooming appointment.

New Dog? Schedule Their First Grooming Appointment Today

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New Dog? Schedule Their First Grooming Appointment Today

There are few things as exciting as bringing home a new dog. While you might be tempted to allow them to join in with all your normal activities, it’s important that you give them ample time to adjust to their new surroundings.

Consider blocking off a small area while your new friend adjusts to the sights, smells, and sounds of your home. This will make potty training easier as well.

Provide your new pet with high quality food and plenty of fresh water. Give them a special space where they can retreat if needed. A crate works well for this purpose. The crate you choose should be large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around. Your dog will likely use this space when it feels overwhelmed.

Socializing Your New Pet

It’s important to socialize your new pet. Take them on walks and watch how they interact with other pets and people. Make sure that you watch them carefully and keep them leashed. Keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to ensure that your dog does not bite other people or pets. Dog bites can cost a lot of money and cause your dog to be placed on quarantine at the shelter.

It’s also important to get your pet used to being groomed. Set-up a grooming appointment as soon as your pet receives their shots. During their first appointment, your groomer will bathe your pet, trim its nails, and clean its ears. This appointment helps get your pet used to the grooming process.

Your new pet will likely be nervous about being groomed. This is totally normal and should be expected. It’s important for you to have a positive attitude when dropping off your pet. If you are nervous, your pet will be as well.

Orange County Pet Grooming

You can get your dog used to the grooming process by touching the nails and ears and brushing them at home. If your pet has long hair, use a comb to remove any tangles. However, don’t attempt to remove any mats as this can cause discomfort and harm to your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. We are excited to meet you and your new pet! Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.