Pet Grooming Orange County

Dealing With Skunk Smell

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Dealing With Skunk Smell

Skunks are extremely helpful creatures. They enjoy dining on destructive pests such as insects and rodents. Yet skunks cause intense feelings of fear and disgust for many individuals. This is because of their characteristic smell and the fact that they can spray this scent on people and their pets.

In Southern California, the most commonly seen skunks are black with white stripes. They have a bushy, squirrel-like tail. Skunks are pretty comfortable in suburban areas and are often found in parks and under wooden decks. They are nocturnal, and typically begin foraging for food at sunset.

Why skunks spray

Regardless of what you might believe, skunks do not enjoy spraying people. In fact they will only spray if they feel genuinely threatened. Skunks spray when defending their young and when they are cornered. However, spraying is never their first defense. A skunk will growl, spit and use other tactics in an attempt to threaten their attacker first. If all of these methods fail to work, they will lift their tail and release their strong smelling spray at their target.

While people typically leave skunks alone, dogs tend to be a little more persistent. This is why you often hear about dogs getting sprayed.

What to do when your dog gets sprayed

If your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, you must take immediate action. Skunk spray odor can last for months and often gets worse when your pet becomes wet. Complete removal of skunk odor isn’t usually possible, even with multiple baths, so you must chemically alter the compounds in the spray to eliminate the smell.

While there are several commercial products available to remove skunk odor, most pets are sprayed late at night or early in the morning, when pet supply shops are closed. At home, you can mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. The soap breaks up the oils in the skunk spray, allowing the other ingredients to do their work. After applying this solution to your pet, you will need to thoroughly rinse them with water. Be very careful not to get the solution in your pet’s eyes and mouth. You can use a sponge to apply it around their face, if necessary.

After treating your pet at home, you will need to replace the lost moisture to their skin. Consider bringing them to a professional groomer for a soothing oatmeal bath and conditioning treatment.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming for dogs and cats. For more information about removing skunk odor, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Regular Pet Grooming Can Help Reduce Shedding

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Regular Pet Grooming Can Help Reduce Shedding

In other parts of the world, pets shed their fur in seasons. As the weather changes, house pets grow and lose their hair in cycles. In Southern California, the weather changes aren’t significant enough to cause this to happen. Instead, our pets tend to shed all year round. This adds up to a lot of hair on our carpets, furniture and clothing. While brushing your pet at home can reduce the amount of loose hair on your pet, regular grooming is your best defense against excessive shedding.

Professional grooming removes loose hair

Professional pet grooming helps remove dead hair in several ways. When your pet receives a bath at the pet salon, your groomer’s goal is to remove as much loose hair as possible. This starts with the way that the warm water is directed into their fur. The shampoo is then massaged deep into their coat, encouraging loose hair removal. After their bath, pets are dried with a high powered hand dryer. This dryer removes even more loose hair, preventing it from ending up in your car or home. Once dry, your pet is thoroughly brushed. This final brushing takes care of any extra hair that might be left over after the bath.

Regular trips to the groomer reduces shedding

Professional pet grooming is an extremely effective way to control shedding. For best results, pets should be groomed every four to six weeks. Even though it might be tempting to bathe your pet more often, additional baths between monthly grooming visits should be avoided as they can dry out the skin. Dry skin is itchy and more prone to damage and infection. Between baths, pets can be brushed at home to remove any loose hairs and prevent tangles. Ask your groomer which type of brush is best for your pet’s coat.

Quality pet grooming in Orange County, California

Claws N Paws Day Spa is located in beautiful Fountain Valley, California. We offer full service pet grooming for both dogs and cats from our Southern California based pet salon. We also offer mobile grooming from our fully equipped mobile grooming van. Our professional pet groomers have several years of experience and are properly equipped to handle a variety of different grooming situations. Please give us a call if you’ve been having a hard time dealing with excessive shedding. We can be reached at 714-062-1005.

Make Your Holiday Grooming Appointments Now!

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Make Your Holiday Grooming Appointments Now!

The holidays are right around the corner and you are probably busy getting ready. Many people are picking out menus, preparing for houseguests and decorating their homes. We all want everything to be perfect. When preparing for the holidays make sure that you don’t forget about your pet!

Even if you always schedule your pet’s monthly appointment a few days in advance, or if you haven’t considered how dirty they will become between now and when your guests arrive; keep in mind that your pets will likely need some grooming attention this holiday season.

Holiday appointments book up quickly!

During the holiday season Claws N Paws Day Spa is extremely busy. We attend to each pet individually and we do not run our salon like an assembly line. This is why we only have so many holiday grooming spaces available. In order to reserve your pet’s holiday grooming appointment, you must schedule it now. Please keep in mind that even if your pet visits us every month, you will still need to schedule their holiday appointment in advance.

Holiday grooming for every pet

Holiday grooming might be different for every pet. For many, it will be their regularly scheduled bath and haircut. Occasionally, pet parents wish to try a different haircut for the holidays. We’ve done everything from breed cuts to Mohawks.

Shorthaired pets also require grooming during the holiday season. These pets typically visit us for their regular bath and nail trim. Professional bathing prevents shedding and offensive odors. (No one likes to pet a stinky dog.)

Reserve you pet’s space today!

Claws N Paws Days Spa offers full service pet grooming from our salon in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile grooming to many areas of Orange County. Holiday grooming appointments are available for both dogs and cats. Holiday grooming might include a bath or a bath and a haircut. Please specify the type of appointment you would like when calling.

Claws N Paws is booking holiday appointments now. To reserve your pet’s space, please give us a call as soon as possible. You can reach us at 714-962-1005.

 

 

Pet Grooming Isn’t Just for Dogs

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Pet Grooming Isn’t Just for Dogs

When most people think of professional pet grooming they picture a dog in a bath. While dogs do require regular grooming, other pets can benefit from pet grooming as well.

At Claws N Paws Day Spa we’ve taken care of a lot of different animals. We’ve seen many dogs and cats but also guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles and even a pig. Let’s look at the most common reasons why pets visit the grooming salon:

Nail Trims

Most indoor pets can benefit from regular nail trims. When living inside on carpet or other soft surfaces, pets aren’t able to wear down their nails. Overgrown nails can lead to problems with walking and other activities. When nails are overgrown they are more likely to get caught on things and tear. This can lead to bleeding and significant discomfort for your pet. We recommend that indoor pets get their nails trimmed every 4-6 weeks.

Bathing

Although cats and dogs can benefit from regular bathing, other pets might also require an occasional bath. Older pets in particular have a harder time grooming themselves and tend to get matted easily. Sometimes a good combing will do, other times a bath might be required. Keep in mind that certain exotic animals such as rabbits should never be bathed unless absolutely necessary.

Haircuts

Any pet with longer fur can become tangled and matted. If you aren’t combing your pet every day, eventually they will need a haircut. Exotic pets with hair that grows in front of their eyes might also benefit from a trim to help them see. Speak with your groomer to decide your best options.

Your Pet’s First Appointment

Your pet’s first visit to the grooming salon can be stressful for both you and your pet. When making your appointment be sure to let us know what type of animal you will be bringing and whether or not it is their first time being groomed. We try to schedule exotic pets at times when we expect it to be quiet at the grooming salon. Bring your pet in a secure carrier with a blanket and some of their favorite food or treats. Don’t expect everything to get accomplished at the first appointment. It usually takes pets a while to get used to the grooming process.

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

Inside the Grooming Salon – When your Pet Doesn’t Look Exactly as you Hoped

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Inside the Grooming Salon – When your Pet Doesn’t Look Exactly as you Hoped

When you bring your pet into the grooming salon you probably have an idea of what they will look like when you pick them up. You might have requested a specific haircut or style that you think will look perfect on your pet. While we try to accommodate every request, please understand that the success of your pet’s grooming is up to your pet, not us.

The nervous pet

From brand new puppies to elderly cats, we deal with a lot of nervous pets. When pets are nervous they shake, wiggle, fidget and sometimes try to bite. Soiling themselves is also a common reaction to stress. All of these reactions affect the outcome of their grooming appointment. A pet that constantly moves or attempts to bite is not going to get the same haircut as one that stands perfectly still. If your pet has an accident after their grooming is completed, they are probably going to get another bath. This might mean that you will have to wait at pick-up or take them home a little damp.

Keep in mind that a nervous pet is a stressed out pet. Stress can negatively affect your pet’s health so we will do whatever is necessary to reduce their stress. That might include cutting the grooming appointment short. Your pet’s safety is always our number one concern.

The matted pet

Sometimes pets come in extremely dirty and matted. Even a few mats on the belly or behind the ears can affect a pet’s haircut. Mats are painful and harmful to your pet, as they often hide bacterial and fungal infections of the skin. The only way to safely and humanely remove mats is to shave them off. If your entire pet is matted then their entire body will be shaved. We understand that this is probably not what you want. The best defense against mats is regular brushing at home and monthly grooming appointments.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional dog and cat grooming from our grooming salon in Orange County, California. We also offer mobile grooming for many parts of Orange County. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Irritation After Grooming

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Irritation After Grooming

We all know that pets can become itchy when they have fleas. What you might not realize is that excessive dirt and tangled hair can also cause itching. After your pet has been professionally groomed you probably expect them to feel fantastic. They look good and they smell good. But what if they won’t stop itching? Many things can cause skin irritation after grooming. Let’s take a look at the top reasons:

Grooming too much

Most people shower daily so it’s only reasonable to assume your pet should get a weekly bath, right? Not so much. The more often you bathe your pet the more likely it is that you will dry out their skin. This is because every time you bathe your pet you remove oils from their skin. These oils protect their skin and are essential to their health. Even very mild shampoos will dry out a pet’s skin when used too often.

If you bathe your pet between their monthly visits to the groomer their skin will not have any oils left to protect them against professional strength shampoos, brushing and the warmth from the dryer. Once groomed, they will itch constantly because of dry, flaky skin. To avoid this problem try to stick to once-a-month bathing. Use dry pet shampoo in between grooming appointments only when necessary. The exception to this rule would be if your pet requires regular baths with a special shampoo prescribed from your vet.

Waiting too long between grooming appointments

Dirt and dust accumulates in pet hair, causing irritation to the skin. When left too long this irritation continues to get worse, sometimes developing into sores.  Excessive dirt and moisture can cause fungal and bacterial infections of the skin that may not be noticed until after grooming. Sometimes a pet is so dirty that it masks the fact that their skin is irritated. When a pet is matted, the extent of the problem is typically revealed after a haircut. The pet was unable to scratch before the dirt or matted fur was removed. Once removed, the pet begins to scratch, often escalating the problem. This type of irritation is not caused by grooming.

Other types of irritation after grooming

Part of the grooming process is expression of the anal glands. The anal glands are sacs on either side of the anus. These sacs fill with fluid and most small dogs are unable to release it on their own. Your groomer uses a special, non-invasive technique to gently assist them in the removal of this fluid. If it’s been too long since your pet was professionally groomed then this fluid can begin to turn solid. When left far too long, the anal glands can become impacted, which is a serious problem requiring veterinary assistance. Your dog might scoot their butt after their bath. This is a normal response to having their anal glands expressed. Unless you see signs of worms or your pet continues to scoot for more than three days, you don’t need to be concerned.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming for both dogs and cats. To schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.