Pet Grooming Orange County

7 Things Your Groomer Wish You Knew

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7 Things Your Groomer Wish You Knew

As Orange County’s premier pet groomer, we’ve seen a lot of pets come and go. As a pet parent, there are a few things you should know about the grooming process. These tips are not only beneficial to the overall health and well being of your pet, they also help make the grooming process easier for everyone involved.

  1. Start preparing your pet for grooming early
    It’s almost impossible to properly groom a pet that is nervous or aggressive. It’s crucial that you begin preparing your pet early. Touch their feet often and socialize them with other pets and people. This not only benefits your groomer, it also helps with trips to the vet and even the park.
  2. Brush your pet regularly
    Unless your pet has very short hair, if they aren’t brushed regularly their coat can easily become tangled and matted. Begin brushing your pet as soon as it comes home and continue doing so at least twice a week.
  3. Keep Calm
    Our pets can tell when we’re anxious and upset. It’s important that you remain calm when dropping off your pet for grooming. Don’t stop in to check on your pet either. This only adds to their anxiety, making the grooming process more difficult and lengthy.
  4. Be specific
    Keep in mind that your groomer sees a lot of pets throughout the day. All of these pets will be getting something different. Be very specific with what you want. If you are hoping to get a specific haircut, a picture can help.
  5. Listen to your groomer
    Your Groomer is specially trained to take care of your pet. They know what will work and what will not. Even if you have an idea of what you would like, it’s important to listen to your groomer’s suggestions and concerns.
  6. Matted pets will be shaved
    Matted fur is unattractive and painful for your pet. Mats often hide sores and skin conditions. Matted fur must be shaved. De-matting is both dangerous and inhumane.
  7. Prices can change
    We always do our best to be up front about the costs involved with grooming. However, sometimes it’s impossible for us to know the condition of your pet’s coat until we’ve begun the grooming process. The same is true for your pet’s temperament. While we will always attempt to contact you, it’s important to remember that price quotes can change.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service grooming and mobile grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

 

Holiday Safety

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Holiday Safety

Many of us have already begun thinking about the holidays. There are parties to plan, decorations to hang and menus to prepare. With everything going on, you might not have considered how the holidays can affect your pets.

This time of year can be extremely stressful to pets. There are a number of unique challenges that come with the holidays. It’s up to you to keep your pets happy and healthy.

Halloween

People dressed in costumes ringing your doorbell all night can upset even the most docile pet. It’s a good idea to keep your pets locked in a dark, quiet room until the evening fun has ended.

Keep in mind that chocolate is toxic to pets and too much sugar can lead to upset stomach or worse. Keep candy bowls out of reach of pets at all times, and make sure you instruct guests and children to never feed candy to your pets.

Holiday Meals

Many foods traditionally prepared during the holiday season are deadly to pets. Fatty foods can cause life-threatening pancreatitis and onions and garlic are toxic. In addition to these dangers, bones can splinter and cause damage to your pet’s digestive tract. Always let your guests know that your pets are not allowed to eat table scraps.

In order to avoid temptation or your pet consuming dropped food, it might be best to keep pets away from the table during holiday meals.

Holiday Guests

It’s important to understand how your pet feels about strangers in your home. While some pets relish in the attention, others can become fearful and aggressive with guests.

It’s up to you to let your guests know the proper way to treat your pets. This is especially true if children will be staying with you over the holidays.

Consider Boarding Your Pet

The best way to avoid stress and danger for your pet over the holiday season is to make sure they are in a safe, controlled environment. Consider boarding your pet on the days you feel might pose the biggest problem.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers high quality holiday grooming and cats only boarding. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information or to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

Spotting the Signs of Kidney Disease in Pets

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Spotting the Signs of Kidney Disease in Pets

Kidney disease is extremely common in both dogs and cats. In fact, as many as 1 in 3 cats and 1 in 10 dogs will develop this condition within their lifetime. As a pet parent, it’s your responsibility to notice any changes with your pet. Early treatment can stop or slow the progress of kidney disease.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease

The symptoms of kidney disease are a result of your pet’s body trying to compensate for the kidney’s decreasing ability to properly flush toxins from the system.

Signs of kidney disease include:

  • Reduced skin elasticity
  • Dry gums
  • Unkempt appearance
  • Over grooming the recto genital area
  • Saliva stains around genitals
  • Urine scalding
  • Fur loss around the kidneys and bladder
  • Constipation
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Vision problems
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urine output
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Weakness
  • Bad breath
  • Depression

Many of these symptoms might be signs of another illness. It’s important to have your veterinarian examine your pet if you notice any changes to their health or behavior.

Types of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease might be chronic or acute. Chronic kidney disease can be hard to spot because symptoms develop slowly. Acute kidney disease happens suddenly and typically requires emergency treatment.

Kidney disease becomes more common as pets increase in age. Pets that have suffered from acute kidney disease are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease later on. Certain breeds of dogs might be more susceptible to this condition.

Early treatment of kidney disease gives your pet the best possible chance at a long and happy life. When caught early, progress of the disease can be stopped or slowed.

Catching the Signs of Kidney Disease

Your groomer will examine your pet at every visit. Regular grooming is important as it can help you catch changes to your pet that you might have missed.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service pet grooming in Orange County, California. Our experienced groomers are well trained to spot the signs and symptoms of a number of diseases. However, grooming should never replace regular check-ups with a qualified veterinarian.

Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Grooming Tips for Dogs

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Fall Grooming Tips for Dogs

As we officially make the switch from summer to fall, it’s time to say good-bye to the short haircuts of summer and welcome in the longer coats of winter. This transition requires some extra care on your part.

Longer coats are more prone to tangles and matting. Special care must be taken to keep your dog happy and healthy this fall. The following tips can help.

Brushing

Breeds with shorter coats, such as Labradors and Chihuahuas, need to be brushed once a week to remove loose hair, dead skin and to disperse natural oils throughout the coat. Dog breeds with longer hair, like Yorkshire Terriers and Collies, should be brushed daily. Without regular brushing, long coats will become tangled and matted. If mats develop close to the skin, your dog will need to be shaved. This is not ideal for the cooler months of fall and winter. Ask your groomer for brush and comb recommendations for your pet’s coat.

Bathing

Regular bathing is an excellent way to prevent unwanted skin and coat problems in the fall and winter. However, you need to be careful not to bathe your pet too often as it can dry out their skin. It’s recommended that you have your pet bathed every four to six weeks. At this time, a professional groomer can check your pet’s skin and coat for issues, trim their nails and clean their ears. Regular grooming is an essential part of taking care of your pet.

Flea Control

Many people believe that fleas are not a problem during the fall and winter. While these pests do hibernate when temperatures drop, just one warm day can wake them up. It’s important to continue treating for fleas throughout the fall and winter.

Protect Your Pet From Lawn Chemicals

The cooler weather often means spending more time outdoors with our pets. However, it’s important to remember that many people treat their lawns with dangerous chemicals during the fall. Fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides can all be dangerous if licked off the paws and ingested. After spending time outdoors, wipe your pet’s feet before coming inside.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service pet grooming and mobile pet grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

Help Your Cat Beat the Heat – Safety Tips for Summer

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Help Your Cat Beat the Heat – Safety Tips for Summer

Summer is an excellent time of year for trips to the beach, camping and a variety of other outdoor activities. While you’re outside enjoying the warmest days of the year it’s important not to forget about your cat. This August has been extremely hot in Southern California. Help your feline friends beat the heat and stay safe with the following tips.

Never Leave Your Cat in the Car

We hear it all the time in regards to kids and dogs, but no creature should ever be left in a hot car. Vehicles can reach dangerous temperatures in just a few minutes. If you must take your cat out of the house, make sure that they stay with you wherever you go. If you will be running errands in places that do not allow pets, it’s a better idea to just leave them at home.

Keep Their Water Cool

Cats tend to drink a lot more when they are hot. Make sure that they always have plenty of clean, fresh water available. Keep your cat cool by adding a few ice cubes to their water.

Give Them a Cool Place to Sit

Even though indoor cats have plenty of shade, they love to sunbathe. Your cat can overheat and develop heat stroke from lying too long in direct sunlight. Give them a cool place to sit instead. Freeze a water bottle and wrap it up. Place it under a pile of blankets and place the pile in their favorite spot.

Open the Windows

Opening windows in the evening is an easy way to cool off your home. The house will collect cool air while you sleep. You can trap this cooler air inside by closing the windows in the morning. Just make sure that your screens are properly secured. Cats love to sit in windowsills and they can easily fall out.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers cat grooming in Orange County, California. Our groomers have many years of experience working with cats. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Are Fleas Becoming Resistant to Popular Flea Treatments?

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Are Fleas Becoming Resistant to Popular Flea Treatments?

We’ve seen it coming for a long time. Fleas are becoming more and more resistant to flea treatments. Veterinarians are now recommending that pet parents stay away from popular flea treatments like Frontline and Advantage. These products are no longer effective at getting rid of fleas.

It appears that these tiny insects have mutated in order to survive. The more popular the treatment, the more likely it will be ineffective at keeping fleas at bay. With the increasingly warm weather we’re experiencing in Southern California, it’s obvious our flea problems aren’t going to disappear any time soon.

Fleas continue to feed on their hosts for their entire lifecycle. During that lifecycle, they also lay hundreds of eggs. For the best control, you need to treat your pet, your home and your yard.

Flea Control in Orange County, CA

Many vets are now recommending the use of ingestible flea treatments like Comfortis. Comfortis is extremely effective at eliminating fleas on both dogs and cats.

Home treatment with Flea Busters powder is also recommended. Flea Busters powder is a safe alternative to harsh, potentially dangerous chemical flea treatments. One treatment with this highly effective powder typically lasts for several years. In fact, many people report they do not need to treat their pets after treating their home. However, it’s recommended that you use a backup method if your pet spends a lot of time outside.

Orange County Professional Pet Grooming

As an Orange County pet groomer, we’ve seen many flea products come and go. We’ve also noticed many of these products becoming ineffective. We use and recommend Comfortis and Flea Busters powder. Flea Busters powder is available in our shop and Comfortis is available through your veterinarian.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming in Orange County, California. We have a full service salon and offer mobile grooming from our state-of-the-art mobile grooming van. Our groomers have many years of experience working with pets of all ages. Although we primarily see dogs and cats at our grooming salon, we are able to provide grooming services for a wide variety of animals. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up your next grooming appointment.