Pet Grooming Orange County

Should Your Dog Be Allowed in Your Pool?

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Should Your Dog Be Allowed in Your Pool?

Temperatures have been at an all time high in Southern California. If you are one of many lucky Orange County residents with access to a swimming pool, you might have wondered whether or not your dog would enjoy going for a swim.

Swimming is excellent exercise for both people and dogs, and it can provide a welcome relief from the scorching heat. Before allowing your dog in your swimming pool, there are a few things you need to consider.

Safety

Pets and wild animals can easily fall into your swimming pool. Once inside, they might not be able to find a way out. Unfortunately, animals die in backyard swimming pools all the time. It’s crucial that your pet is not permitted alone around your pool.

Safety gates and fences provide an effective way to keep animals from entering your pool without permission.

Cleanliness

No matter how clean you think your dog might be, they will still bring about three times more dirt and bacteria into your pool than the average person. When dogs swim, they leave behind fecal matter, insects, body oils, hair, and more. Unless you have an industrial strength filter, this contamination can stay in your pool for a very long time.

Contamination in your pool increases the chance of spreading disease. Contaminated water can lead to diarrhea as well as infections of the skin, ears, and upper respiratory tract. If you allow your dog to swim in your pool, you will need to add more sanitizer than usual.

Rinse

It’s a good idea to rinse your dog after they’ve been swimming in your pool. Just like humans, the chemicals used to keep your pool clean can irritate your dog’s skin and eyes. After swimming, gently rinse your dog with clean, fresh water.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming at our full service grooming salon in Fountain Valley, California. Our groomers can help keep your pet clean and comfortable this summer. Our services include bathing, brushing, and summer haircuts. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment today.

 

 

Home Remedies for Dogs

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Home Remedies for Dogs

When your pet is not feeling well, it’s natural to want to do whatever you can to make them feel better. Home remedies can be a useful way to help relieve the symptoms of upset stomach and dry skin. However, It’s important to remember that even mild symptoms can be a sign of a much bigger problem. Always consult your veterinarian for a diagnosis. The following home remedies can be used until you can get your pet to their vet.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin E oil can be used to protect your dog’s skin against the harmful effects of the sun. It can also be used to moisturize dry skin and treat minor skin conditions. Break vitamin E capsules apart and apply the liquid to warts, calluses and dry spots.

Pediatric Liquid

If your pet is experiencing diarrhea, they can become dehydrated. Offer them clear, unflavored pediatric liquid to drink. Keep in mind that this is not a substitute for veterinary care. You should consult your veterinarian if the diarrhea continues.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile can help soothe your dog’s stomach. It decreases muscle spasms and cramps and reduces inflammation of the stomach and intestinal lining. Offer your dog chamomile tea in their food or water. You can also hand feed it to your dog with a needle-less syringe.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal has been used for years for it’s soothing properties. Oatmeal reduces inflammation of the skin and can be extremely beneficial to dogs suffering from itchy skin and feet. Grind oatmeal into a fine powder and add water to make a paste. Apply the paste to hot spots and other inflamed areas.

There are many things you can do to take care of your pet. Home remedies are quick, easy to use and inexpensive. However, they cannot replace the advice of your veterinarian. Check with your vet before treating your pet for severe dry skin, hot spots or upset stomach.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming from our full service pet salon in Fountain Valley, CA. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

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.

Common Dog Skin Issues

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Common Dog Skin Issues

Dog skin issues are extremely common.  Dry skin, itching and hot spots can have multiple causes. It’s important to identify and treat skin problems early, before they become a much bigger problem.  Let’s take a look at the more common dog skin issues:

Dry skin

Dry skin is extremely common for dogs of all breeds. Most cases of dry skin are caused by temperature changes. Just like humans, dogs get dry skin when it is cold. Using a humidifier indoors during colder months might help. In addition to temperature changes, using human shampoo, or low quality dog shampoo when bathing your pet can strip the natural oils from your dog’s skin and coat. This can lead to skin irritation as well as dry skin.

Allergies

Dog skin allergies can be caused by foods, environmental factors and inhaled irritants. Common reactions to allergens include rashes, hives, itching, baldness and irritability. The most common dog skin allergen is a reaction to the saliva of fleas. This is different than a skin reaction to a flea infestation, as it only takes one flea to create an allergic reaction. Speak to your groomer about how to treat and prevent fleas.

Hot spots

Hot spots are wounds that are moist and hot to the touch. They have a tendency to spread like wildfire. Hot spots might be caused by fleas, an allergic reaction, poor pet grooming, an irritant or an infection. Hot spots start as small wounds that are then licked and scratched by the dog until they become infected. Because of the wide range of possible causes, hot spots require a trip to your veterinarian.

Skin diseases and infections

There are so many different dog skin diseases and infections that it can be difficult to know where to start. Common dog skin diseases range from impetigo in puppies to breed specific diseases of the skin. If you suspect that your dog has a skin disease or infection it’s important to take them to the vet for advice and medication. Grooming should not be attempted until after diagnosis because many infections can be spread through the grooming process.

We hope that 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. We can help you with your pet’s grooming needs this spring. 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!

 

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!!

 

Is Your Dog’s Disease Linked to Their Food?

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Is Your Dog’s Disease Linked to Their Food?

Many illnesses can be traced back to your pet’s food. Low quality pet food encourages infestations of insects, mites and molds, leading to chronic allergies. However, grain mites that feed on poor quality feed grains can quickly combine with insects to create a far bigger issue for your dog. These mites can pick up and spread the spores of extremely dangerous molds that are capable of producing some of the world’s deadliest natural toxins.

Molds are members of the fungi family. Unlike other fungi such as mushrooms, molds are invisible to the naked eye. They reproduce by creating small, seed-like particles known as spores. Because molds and mold spores are microscopic, they can spread easily by traveling on the small bodies of mites and weevils. When this occurs it doesn’t take very long for an entire bag of grain to become contaminated.

Just like humans, dogs can be allergic to the molds and mold spores commonly found in pet foods. However, the greatest danger lies in the potential for ingestion of the poisons produced by these molds. Symptoms of mold poisoning can include:

  • Fever
  • Jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes
  • Dark colored urine
  • Persistent violent bouts of vomiting
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Death

Even small amounts of the mold can accumulate in a dog’s liver, causing cancer to develop over time. Once the mold enters the liver there is no antidote and no known cure. Any amount of mold in your pet food should be considered unsafe. Every single time you choose to feed your dog commercial pet food made with cheap, low quality cereal grains you are putting them in danger.

In order to protect your dog from these potential dangers you must never buy cheaply-made dog food and avoid dog foods that contain grain by-products or mill waste. Dog food ingredients are often the most overlooked cause of serious disease in healthy dogs. Don’t allow your dog to become one of the ones affected.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, 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!