Pet Grooming Orange County

Why You Should Never Give Animals Away For Free

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Why You Should Never Give Animals Away For Free

When you make an animal a part of your family you make a commitment to that animal’s care and safety. Animals are not able to speak up for themselves, so it is up to you to ensure that all of their needs are met. If you can no longer keep your pet, your responsibility to them does not change. You are still required to make sure that they will be well taken care of in your absence.

Why people give up pets

There are a number of reasons why people give up pets. Sometimes they must move to a place where pets are not allowed or they find themselves unable to afford their pet’s care. Occasionally situations arise where an owner must suddenly give up their pet within a short amount of time. This is when many people are tempted to offer their pets for free because they believe that it will help the find a new home quickly.

What happens to pets that are given up for free

Unfortunately, criminals often pickup free animals. Pets that are given for free can be subjected to abuse, torture, death or being used for experiments. The people that do these unspeakable things don’t look any different than you or me. They might be well dressed, clean cut individuals that are easy to talk to. They will likely talk to you about how much they like your pet and will offer to care for them when you cannot. These people are con artists.

Other options

If you must find your pet a new home, please ask for an adoption fee. People looking for animals to abuse will not pay for them. An adoption fee ensures that your pet will not be used for animal testing and other horrible crimes. An adoption fee also ensures that a person can afford to take care of your pet’s basic needs. After all, if a person cannot afford to pay a minimal adoption fee, how will they ever be able to afford to care for your pet?

If you do not have the time to safely rehome your pet, please give them up to a pet rescue. This option ensures that your pet remains safe until it finds a quality home where it will not be mistreated.

For more information, please call Claws N Paws Day Spa at 714-962-1005.

 

Understanding the Importance of Micro-chipping Your Pet

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Understanding the Importance of Micro-chipping Your Pet

Every day, hundreds of pets go missing. If you browse Craigslist you’re sure to find tons of lost and found ads. It doesn’t matter how safe you think your pets are; accidents happen all the time. Dogs, cats and small animals can all escape. Unfortunately, many of these pets never find their way home.

What happens to lost pets?

Most lost pets will get picked up by animal control or helpful citizens. These people always try to find the pet’s owner. The first step is having them scanned for a microchip at a veterinarian’s office or at the shelter. If no chip is found, then the pet goes into a database or waits at the shelter for their family. Families that find pets will usually post ads on Craigslist or other social media websites.

With so many options, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start when trying to find your pet. The best way to prevent the heartache of losing your companion is by having them micro-chipped. This simple procedure takes only seconds but could mean the difference between being reunited with your furry friend and never seeing them again.

Micro-chipping your pet

Your veterinarian can quickly and easily insert a microchip in the loose skin between the shoulder blades. This procedure requires no anesthesia is very similar to getting a vaccine. The microchip is registered with you and your pet’s information. Unlike collars and ID tags, a microchip provides a permanent ID that can never fall off or become lost.

Microchips do not require batteries or charging, and they are not tracking devices. When a microchip scanner is passed over them, they emit just enough power to transmit a unique identification number to the scanner. The number gets called into a pet registry service who contacts the person registered to your pet’s microchip.

It is extremely important for you to activate your pet’s microchip. This is not automatically done by your vet. If you are unsure how to activate it, ask your vet for details. If you move at any point during your pet’s life, you will need to update your information with the microchip company!

Every pet should be micro-chipped

Claws N Paws Day Spa strongly encourages everyone to have their pet micro-chipped. We’ve seen numerous pets safely reunited with their families. Unfortunately, we’ve known many more that never were. It’s been our experience that micro-chipped pets stand a much better chance of being found.

For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

 

 

Grooming Tips for Long-Haired Cats

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Grooming Tips for Long-Haired Cats

Cat owners tend to think of their cats as fairly self-sufficient. Cats enjoy a lot of alone time, they groom themselves and they teach themselves to use their litter box. However, if your cat has long hair, they will require your help with regular grooming. Long-haired cats can become matted easily, leading to painful sores and infections.  They are also more prone to problems from digesting hair.

Cat Grooming Tools

You’ll need a few tools to keep your pet looking and feeling its best. Start with a good quality wire slicker brush. You’ll also need an undercoat brush with a combination of wide and narrow teeth, a comb and a flea comb. Before using these, you will need to make sure that all of your tools are intended for use on cats. Dog grooming tools are typically too hard for use on a cat’s delicate skin. If you are unsure of which tools to use, contact your local cat groomer.

Start Young and Build Your Cat’s Trust Over Time

Starting your cat’s grooming routine when they are young ensures long-term success. You can introduce your cat to a gentle comb or brush when they are as young as eight weeks old. Work slowly and use a soft voice as your kitten adjusts to being brushed. Groom all areas, including their belly and tail. Start slowly, and only do what they will allow. Offer treats after each grooming session. For the best results, groom your cat daily.

If your cat is older, it’s important to begin a grooming routine as soon as possible. Start by brushing their back. Talk to them and offer treats. Once they are used to having their back brushed, you can start moving to other areas of their body. Work slowly and never do more than they will allow.

What To Do When You Find Mats

Mats are clumps of tangled fur. They can be small like peas or large like golf balls. They are usually found against the skin. When left alone, mats grow in size and pull on your pet’s skin. They can be extremely painful and sores can easily develop underneath them.

If you find mats on your cat, it’s important that you don’t try to pull them out. Because a cat’s skin is so thin, pulling and cutting mats is dangerous, and can cause serious injury to your cat. A professional cat groomer can remove mats from your cat quickly and safely. They can also provide you with some tips on how to prevent them from returning.

For more information about cat grooming, please call us at 714-962-1005.

Coconut Oil for Dogs

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Coconut Oil for Dogs

Coconut oil has become extremely popular in recent years because of its many health benefits for humans. However, coconut oil can be beneficial to dogs as well. Most of us already know the benefits of giving our dogs oils such as Omega-3, fish and flaxseed. What you might not realize is that coconut oil can also be used to help support your dog’s health.

Coconut Oil to Support Overall Health

The fats in coconut oil are considered conditionally essential, meaning that under certain circumstances, such as during pregnancy and early growth, they are essential. The Medium Chain Fatty Acids found in coconut oil are also found in the milk of humans and other mammals.

Coconut oil is comprised of more than 90% saturated fats. It contains 64% Medium Chain Fatty Acids. These acids are made up of 48% lauric acid, 8% caprylic acid and 7% capric acid as well as myristic and palmitic acids. In addition to Medium Chain Fatty Acids, coconut oil also contains 2% linoleic acid and approximately 6% oleic acid.

Most of the health benefits of coconut oil come from lauric acid. Lauric acid is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. Capric and caprylic acid are also known for their antifungal properties. Medium Chain Fatty Acids provide an immediate source of energy. In dogs, coconut oil can be used to balance the thyroid and help overweight dogs lose weight.

Coconut oil is believed to increase metabolism, provide a higher level of energy, boost the immune system and speed up the healing process. As an added bonus, coconut oil can improve a dog’s skin and coat, aid digestion and reduce allergic reactions.

Safety and Usage

Coconut oil has been proven safe for pets including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and guinea pigs. Coconut oil is well tolerated, although extremely large amounts can cause loose stools.  It oxidizes slowly, allowing it to be stored for up to two years.

The best type of coconut oil is organic, virgin or extra virgin. Whenever possible, purchase coconut oil in glass jars instead of plastic. When cold, coconut oil is a white solid. Once warm, it becomes a clear liquid.

As a daily supplement, give ¼ tsp coconut oil per 10 lbs of your dog’s body weight. Gradually increase the amount to 1 tsp for every 10 pounds. For therapeutic and medicinal doses, double the amount given. Adding the coconut oil to your dog’s food can help avoid digestive issues.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming from our full service pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. To schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

Pet Grooming – What You Want VS What You Get

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Pet Grooming – What You Want VS What You Get

Most people have a general idea of what they want their pet to look like after grooming. Sometimes pet parents will offer their groomer what they feel is an accurate description, only to find that their pet ends up looking totally different than what they had pictured in their head. These people are often confused as to what happened. There are actually many reasons why what you want isn’t always what you get at the grooming salon. Let’s take a look at why.

Puppy Cuts and Other Vague Descriptions

The term puppy cut seems to mean something different to everyone. While your groomer will do the best they can, not all dogs will end up looking like a puppy. It’s just not possible to reverse the clock (although we’d all like to sometimes). Instead of using vague descriptions to describe the type of haircut you want, make sure that you give a detailed description and ask your groomer exactly what will be done. Sometimes pets just don’t have the right hair, or enough of it to create the cut you want. Talking to your groomer will ensure that you better understand what your pet will look like after they are done being groomed.

Poor Coat and Skin Conditions

Sometimes the reason your groomer can’t do what you want is because your pet’s skin or coat isn’t in optimal condition. Severe tangles and mats cannot be removed without shaving. So if your pet is completely matted and you ask for a light trim, we’re not going to be able to pull that off for you.  The same goes for if they have mats in certain areas like where the collar sits. While we will discuss your options and do the best we can, you need to understand that we will always put the health and safety of your pet over giving them a particular haircut.

Occasionally, skin conditions will prevent us from giving your pet the haircut you would like. Skin issues, like bacterial and fungal infections, can hide under a thick coat. These might not become obvious until we begin the grooming process. Unfortunately, skin problems can cause unsightly sores and bald spots that just don’t work with certain haircuts. Whenever possible, skin conditions should be treated by your veterinarian before their grooming appointment.

Our groomers will do everything in their power to make your pet look perfect. However, we would like you to understand that some things simply are out of our control.

For more information, please call 714-962-1005.

Why you Might Not Always Get What you Expect From Pet Grooming – Part Two

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Why you Might Not Always Get What you Expect From Pet Grooming – Part Two

Last week we discussed why you might not always get what you expect when you bring an aggressive pet to the grooming salon. We would like you to understand that we will always do everything we can to communicate a problem with you. However, some things are deal breakers. We will NEVER do anything to put the health and safety of your pet or our groomers at risk. Truly aggressive pets will be sent home unfinished. They WILL NOT be allowed to return to our grooming salon.

As always, if you are not satisfied with your pet’s haircut please do not hesitate to let us know. Posting your concerns on social media does not allow us the opportunity to help you understand why your pet doesn’t look as you expected.

OLDER FIRST TIME OR ONCE A YEAR GROOMING

It’s natural for older pets that have never visited a grooming shop to be scared. The sights, sounds and smells are overwhelming for even younger pets. Older pets don’t have the reflexes they used to. They often don’t see or hear well. When they must suddenly endure a bath and haircut it can be overwhelming for them. Older pets are much more susceptible to problems from stress.

We will not continue grooming a pet if it is causing them an unnatural amount of distress. If you are bringing us an elderly pet that has never been groomed, or that hasn’t been groomed in years, there is a good chance that they will not end up looking like you expect. The same is true for pets that only come once a year. ALL PETS SHOULD BE GROOMED EVERY 4-8 WEEKS THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

MATTED PETS

Pets that are extremely tangled or matted need to be shaved. If they are scared of the clippers, or have never been groomed before, this might be impossible to do. While we will do everything in our power to remove mats and tangles, we need you to understand that this is a delicate process. Pets that struggle or fight us excessively might not get finished.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s pets since 2001. We understand how important your pet is to you and that is why we will never do anything to put their health or safety at risk. For more information please call 714-962-1005.