Pet Grooming Orange County

Should I Shave My Dog For Summer?

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Should I Shave My Dog For Summer?

As temperatures continue to rise in Orange County there is one question that we constantly hear at our grooming salon. Everyone wants to know if they should shave their dog for summer. While some people shave their dog every year, the answer isn’t as clear cut as you might believe. Many breeds actually need their coat in the summer to stay cool.

Double-Coated Breeds

It’s not a good idea to shave double-coated breeds including Samoyeds, Huskies, Malamutes, Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Shelties, Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs and many more.

Double-coated breeds have two layers of fur to protect them. The long guard hairs protect them against snow, ice and water. The soft undercoat keeps them warm and dry.

During the winter, the undercoat might be so thick that you cannot find your dog’s skin. In the summer, double-coated breeds shed their undercoat, leaving only the guard hairs. These guard hairs protect your dog from sunburn and insulate them against the heat.

When NOT to Shave

Unlike single-coated breeds whose coats continue to grow, double-coats only grow to a certain length. After it reaches this length, it just stops growing. When you shave a single-coated breed the hair grows back unaffected. Shaving a double-coat can ruin it forever.

Shaving short-haired breeds during the summer can cause problems as well. A dog’s coat protects it from the sun. Once removed, your dog will be more prone to sunburn and skin cancer.

Keeping Dogs Cool

It’s important to remember that dogs cool down differently than humans. Dogs cool down by panting. Their coat also plays an important role in keeping them cool. It’s hard for us to understand because we think of their coat as extra clothing. When we are hot, stripping off clothing can help. It’s not the same for our pets.

If you decide to shave your pet this summer, you will need to protect them from the sun. Keep them indoors and always provide fresh water. If you’re undecided, a belly shave can be an excellent choice. Shaving the hair on the belly allows dogs to cool off by laying on cool surfaces.

Please contact us with your summer grooming questions. Our full service salon is located in Fountain Valley, CA and our phone number is 714-962-1005.

The Dangers of Natural and Alternative Treatments for Pets

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The Dangers of Natural and Alternative Treatments for Pets

In today’s increasingly medicated world, many of us are turning to natural and alternative treatments. This can be an excellent option for a number of conditions. However, it’s extremely important to remember that natural remedies carry risks as well. In fact, some can be toxic and even deadly. Before attempting any natural treatment on your pet, it’s important to thoroughly research its safety. Always check with your veterinarian if you are unsure.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil is commonly recommended for a number of conditions. While tea tree oil is considered safe for use on humans, it can be deadly to pets. Over 75% of pets exposed to 100% tea tree oil will have an adverse reaction. Symptoms typically develop within 12 hours of exposure and can last up to 3 days. Lethargy, muscle in-coordination and elevated liver enzymes are common with exposure. Before using tea tree oil of any kind on your pet it’s extremely important to consult your veterinarian and dilute the oil to .1 to 1 percent. That’s a dilution of one drop of tea tree oil to 100 drops of a carrier oil such as coconut oil.  Tea tree oil should never be given orally to pets.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Many people turn to hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds. However, this home remedy should never be used on pets. Hydrogen peroxide not only kills the bacteria in a pet’s wound, it also destroys the cells necessary to heal the wound. This dramatically slows healing time and can even increase the chance of problems later. Instead of hydrogen peroxide, clean bites and wounds on pets with plain water or a saline solution like the one you use to clean your contact lenses.

Garlic

Many people believe that garlic can help prevent fleas and other parasites. In fact, the Internet is full of suggestions such as putting fresh chopped garlic on your pet’s food or giving them over-the-counter garlic supplements. The problem with these options is that there is absolutely no scientific proof that it works and garlic can be toxic to pets. Garlic contains substances that damage red blood cells in both dogs and cats. Giving garlic to your pet can quickly lead to life-threatening anemia.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming services in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up your pet’s next grooming appointment.

 

Orange County Pet Grooming – When Only The Best Will Do

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Orange County Pet Grooming – When Only The Best Will Doorange county pet grooming

Our pets help keep us happy and healthy. They provide us with unconditional love, they are there when we need them and they never judge us. Numerous studies have shown that living with pets reduces stress levels and the chance of stress-related health problems. For all they do for us and more, our furry companions deserve the very best when it comes to grooming.

Stress-Free Environment

Pet grooming can be stressful for pets. It’s important to find a grooming salon that has experience working with pets of all ages and temperaments. Timid pets require a gentle and patient groomer to help them get used to the grooming process.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been providing quality grooming services to pets in Orange County since 2001. Our friendly and professional groomers have many years of experience and understand that grooming can be stressful. We always take the time necessary to ensure pets feel comfortable and safe. Our clean and quiet grooming salon provides the perfect environment for pets to adjust to being away from their family.

Whether it’s your pet’s first or 100th time being groomed, we always provide grooming with a loving touch!

(We will always do our best to accommodate your pet, however for their safety and ours, pets that become aggressive when scared must be groomed by their vet.)

High Quality Grooming Services

Different pets have different grooming needs. Pets with very long hair require careful grooming to prevent tangles. Pets with thick hair must be properly groomed to ensure that their undercoat is properly cleaned and loose hair is removed. Dogs that are not thoroughly dried can develop odors that can make your entire home smell terrible.

Claws N Paws Day Spa understands the different needs of different pets. We have years of experience working with a number of different breeds. Our professional groomers offer grooming services for dogs, cats, guinea pigs and more! Grooming services include haircuts, baths, nail trims, ear cleaning and flea treatments. We also offer mobile grooming for most areas of Orange County.

Come by to see why we are your best choice for pet grooming in Orange County!

 

Preparing for Summer With Your Pet

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Preparing for Summer With Your Pet

Spring is in full swing and the warmer weather has officially arrived in Southern California. Soon the sweltering heat of summer will be upon us. Between hot concrete, fleas and excessive shedding, summer can be extremely difficult for our pets. You’ll want to make sure that you’re well prepared.

Dealing With the Heat

With their thick fur and delicate foot pads, there are many dangers for our pets in the summer. Dogs are prone to both heat stroke and sunburns. Burns can lead to infections and even skin cancer. If your dog spends most of its time outdoors then you will need to make sure that you provide them with a safe space out of the sun. Food and water dishes should be kept out of the sun as well to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks love the warm, humid air of summer in Orange County. You’ll need to check your pet regularly for signs of fleas. If left untreated, fleas can cause life-threatening anemia. If your pet ingests fleas, they can develop a tapeworm infection. Tapeworms resemble sesame seeds or small grains of rice.

If you enjoy taking walks with your dog in grassy areas then you will need to also inspect them for ticks. Ticks can cause Lyme disease and other health problems for both humans and pets.

Excessive Shedding

Your pet’s coat will probably shed more during the summer. Shed hair can make a mess of your clothing, furniture and your pet’s coat. As dead hair falls out it can become tangled with healthy hair. This can cause your pet’s coat to become matted. Mats are extremely painful for your pet and must be shaved.

The best way to prevent mats and reduce shedding is with regular grooming. Use a wire slicker brush to groom your dog at home. A monthly visit to your groomer can help remove loose hair and make your pet feel cool and comfortable during the summer. For pets with long hair, a belly shave or haircut can keep their coat more manageable.

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

Price Quotes (And Why What You Pay Might Be Different)

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Price Quotes (And Why What You Pay Might Be Different)

As Orange County’s premier grooming shop we see a lot of pets come through our doors. We have many regular clients that know us on a first name basis. We’ve done a variety of haircuts from Mohawks to breed cuts. Pets of all shapes and sizes visit our salon every year.

No matter what breed or mixed breed your pet is, we’ve probably seen it. We’ve also seen our fair share of scared and aggressive pets. However, time and experience has taught us that it’s often healthier for these pets to be sedated and cared for by an experienced vet.

PRICES QUOTED ARE BASE PRICES ONLY

One thing that we run into time and time again is people expecting us to honor prices quoted over the phone. The fact of the matter is we cannot accurately quote how much it will cost to groom your pet until we’ve actually seen them in person. Certain factors determine the cost of grooming. These factors include (but are not limited to) coat condition, behavior and whether or not your pet has fleas.

Coat Condition

Pets that are matted will be shaved. This takes a skilled approach and quite a bit of time to accomplish. Mats are often extremely close to the skin. They can hide a variety of skin problems and parasites. If not properly removed, mats can cause potentially dangerous skin infections.

If your pet is matted, you WILL pay extra. This extra cost is for the additional time and care it takes to groom your pet.

Behavior  

Pets that aren’t groomed regularly are often fearful. For these pets, their only defense is to bite their groomer. The sights, sounds and smells of the grooming salon can cause even the sweetest pet to turn aggressive.

Pets that bite DO cost extra. We usually have no way to predict how a pet will behave until we begin the grooming process. Please note that extremely scared or aggressive pets will be sent home without being finished.

Fleas and Other Parasites

If we discover fleas while grooming your pet you WILL be charged for de-fleaing. This service is not optional. We must treat your pet for fleas to protect the other pets that visit our salon.

We will do our best to let you know upon arrival if your pet has fleas. However, sometimes tangled hair and mats hide fleas and we cannot see them until we remove the matted hair.

We will always do our best to provide you with the most accurate quote. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible until we’ve begun the grooming process. Please be advised that prices quotes represent our base price. Your actual grooming fee might be more.

The best way to get an accurate quote is to be completely honest about your pet’s coat condition, behavior and to let us know whether or not they have fleas. For more information about our prices, please call 714-962-1005.

 

Dog Grooming Once a Month VS Once a Year

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Dog Grooming Once a Month VS Once a Year

Getting your pet groomed regularly is extremely important to their overall health and well-being. Regular grooming is not only good for their skin and coat, it also has many social and emotional benefits.

Grooming short-haired dogs

Many people believe that short-haired dogs don’t need regular grooming. This is not the case. Short-haired dogs still shed and are prone to many skin conditions and parasites. Regular bathing helps remove loose hair and can help you catch skin issues before they are able to become a much bigger problem.

Dogs that spend a lot of time indoors will also require regular nail trimming. Nails that are allowed to grow unchecked can break or crack, causing your dog severe discomfort. Many breeds of dogs are also prone to ear infections. Ear infections are painful and can lead to future problems with hearing.  A monthly bath includes a nail trim and ear cleaning.

Grooming long-haired dogs

Long-haired dogs that do not get groomed on a regular basis can become matted. The skin underneath matted fur is often irritated and prone to sores and infection. The mats can hide skin problems and parasites such as ticks and fleas. Removing matted fur takes time and patience. The process will cost you a lot more money than regular grooming will.

Getting used to the grooming process

Dogs that are bathed regularly have a chance to get used to the grooming process. The sights, smells and sounds of a grooming salon can be frightening to dogs. Regular visits allow them to experience these things and adjust at their own pace.

When your dog is bathed only once a year they will not get used to the grooming salon and can become fearful and aggressive with their groomer. This can be a big problem if you ever find that you have to have your pet groomed immediately. Most grooming shops will not accept dogs that are aggressive or showing signs of great distress.

Quality pet grooming in Orange County

Dogs benefit most when groomed every four to six weeks. Claws N Paws offers full service pet grooming and mobile pet grooming services in Orange County, California. For more information, please call 714-962-1005.