Pet Grooming Orange County

Controlling Ticks

By

Ticks pose a major threat to your pet and home. Ticks are painful to pets and have the ability to spread disease. In rare cases, a tick can consume enough blood to cause anemia. It is for these reasons that controlling ticks is extremely important to your pet’s well-being.

When Ticks Strike

Ticks usually sit on the tips of grasses or other plants, waiting for a host to brush past. They look for warm and moist places on an animal to attach themselves. If you suspect that your animal has a tick, first check between the toes, in and around the ears, in the “armpits,” around the neck, and near the base of the tail. However, a tick can situate itself anywhere on your pet. Make sure that, wherever you search, you look deep within the fur. Ticks are small and very easy to miss.

What to Do If You Find a Tick

If you do find a tick on your pet, removing it successfully is crucial. This limits how much blood the tick can consume. Ticks can be removed using either fine-point tweezers or specialized tick removal tools. Wear gloves to avoid the spread of unwanted disease. Grab the tick as close to your pet’s skin as possible, and pull out its entire body with one straight outward motion. It is important not to squeeze the tick to avoid breaking it. Pieces left embedded in an animal’s skin may cause infection. Clean the area surrounding the tick bite with alcohol, and keep an eye on the wound for a few days. Write down the date that you found that tick in case an infection or disease does occur.

Prevention

Even a pet who is outside for a brief time may be exposed to ticks. Because it is impossible to regulate every space your pet comes into contact with, it is important to practice regular prevention. Methods range from spot-on medications to tick collars. Your vet can provide you with the best information on tick products. Keep in mind that these products use sensitive chemicals and must be approved for your specific pet. Every pet is unique!

Meanwhile, there are various ways to ensure that your home and yard are tick-free. Ticks are attracted to a messy yard. Mow the lawn often and dispose of leaf litter and old furniture. Ticks will have less places to hide and will be more likely to move onto another yard. Keeping ticks out of the home is a similar process. Organization is the most important step; a clean home will be less likely to attract ticks. Prevention is important because, in the case that ticks do enter the home, it will become necessary to call an exterminator. This is an expensive and extremely invasive process.

Claws N Paws Day Spa provides grooming for dogs and cats. Visit our location in Fountain Valley, California, or contact us at 714-962-1005 for more information on our grooming services.

Why Is My Cat Eating That?

By

Most cat owners have asked themselves this question. Cats chew on anything they can get their teeth on, from plastic bags to houseplants. This compulsion to eat nonfood items is called pica, and it is caused by a variety of reasons.

Is it Pica?

Pica describes the actual consumption of nonfood objects. Sometimes cats will suck on nonfood objects without actually consuming them. Cats who exhibit this behavior generally suck on soft or fuzzy objects such as wool blankets and even their owners’ hair. It arises in cats who were weaned from either their mother’s milk or a bottle too early, and it is not directly associated with pica. However, cats with this tendency must be monitored. They may begin to actually consume these inedible objects.

Chewing alone can be a routine feline activity. Cats are adventurous creatures, meaning that many chew objects out of pure curiosity. Many cats, for example, chew on plastic objects. This may become a habit. However, a habit of chewing plastic may eventually develop into pica depending on why the cat exhibits this behavior.

The best way to determine whether your cat has pica is to catch them in the act of eating nonfood objects. However, this may be difficult. Look out for changes in your cat’s digestive health. These include constipation, vomiting, fatigue, decreased appetite, and diarrhea. Any of these symptoms may be a result of pica.

Explanations

A cat may develop pica in response to their environment or lifestyle. They may be experiencing dietary deficiencies. This is especially true in cases where cats consume litter or plant material; they are looking to add more sustenance to their diets. They may also be affected by their environment. Cats who lack stimulation may turn to chewing as a fun hobby. Playing with them and making sure that they have exciting toys is a great way to keep your cat happy. A happy cat will be less likely to develop pica. Cats may also chew nonfood items as a way to relieve stress and aggression. This is common after a move or when a new pet has been introduced into the home, but every situation is unique. Ensure that your cat’s needs (proper diet, clean litterbox, etc.) are fulfilled in order to limit any stress your cat may be feeling.

Something More Serious

The reasoning behind this behavior is sometimes more complicated. If an improved diet and stress-free lifestyle is not helping your cat, consider a trip to the vet. The behavior of eating nonfood items may in fact be its own compulsive disorder. It may also be symptomatic of diseases such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.

Claws N Paws owns and operates a full-service dog and cat grooming salon as well as a cat boarding facility, both located in Fountain Valley, California. For more information on our services, contact us at 714-962-1005.

The Benefits of CBD Oil For Pets

By

The 2018 Farm Bill made the use of Cannabidiol (CBD) derived from hemp legal in all states at the federal level. This was due to the significant medical benefits it provided. Since then, the CBD industry has boomed, and many pet owners are taking advantage of CBD to treat their furry friends.

Why CBD?

While CBD is often associated with medical marijuana, it does not provide nearly the same results. Rather 

than creating a psychoactive “high,” CBD targets specific cannabinoid receptor sites in the central nervous systems of humans and our beloved pets. The result is a calming sensation free of intoxicating effects.

CBD is most commonly known to relieve pain and reduce anxiety, but it has many other effects. It is known to regulate appetite, promote better sleeping patterns, and enhance skin and heart health. In pets with more severe concerns, CBD products can be used to treat epilepsy and even prevent cancer.

Unlike many prescribed medications, CBD has no significant side effects for pets. This allows pet owners to use the products for a wide variety of reasons without worry. CBD can even be used to calm pets during Fourth of July fireworks or stressful home construction.

A New Market

Because CBD was approved for public consumption so recently, product labels can be misleading. Companies will often label their products as having more CBD than is actually included. Rather, these products rely on unnecessary additives and fillers. Owners using these products will assume that the pet has received a proper dosage, but in truth the effects will be diminished or even eliminated. Caring pet owners find themselves in a difficult position when selecting CBD products. It can be hard to know which companies to trust.

About the Product

Claws N Paws carries CBD products from 4 A Higher Good, a company devoted to health and healing using only organic ingredients. Their products do not contain unnecessary fillers, featuring short lists of ingredients that are easy to follow. These products have been tested and approved by the Claws N Paws staff, earning them their place in our display case. Furthermore, 4 A Higher Good is a local Huntington Beach company that is quickly available for all inquiries. More information can be found on their website.

Claws N Paws carries hemp extract treats, pet tinctures, and anti-itch skin and coat conditioner at our full-service grooming salon. Contact us at 714-962-1005 or visit our location in Fountain Valley, California for further inquiries about our CBD products.

Is It Worms?

By

Worms are extremely common in pets. In fact, most pets will have worms at least once in their life. Fortunately, worms are easily treated. All it takes is a trip to your vet and a pill given twice within a two week period.

How Pets Get Worms

Puppies and kittens can get worms from their mother. They can also get them later in life from playing outside, digging in dirt, grooming themselves, eating raw or undercooked meat, and eating infected insects and pests.

Symptoms of Worms

Worms get bigger over time and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Many pets show no signs of infection. Common symptoms include:

  • Bloody stool
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive licking of the hindquarters
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Poor appetite
  • Poor growth
  • Potbelly appearance
  • Rice-like segments found at base of tail
  • Visible worms in vomit or stool
  • Weight loss

It’s important to note that many of these symptoms can indicate another disease. This is why it’s so important to have your pet seen by a qualified vet. A simple stool sample can help determine if worms are causing the problem.

Types of Worms

Dogs and cats can become infected with a wide range of worms. The most common types include:

Roundworms – Roundworms are the most common form of worms. Most pets become infected at a young age.

Hookworms – Hookworms suck blood. These parasites can cause severe blood loss in pets.

Tapeworms – Caused by ingesting infected fleas, tapeworms are flat, segmented worms. You can tell if your pet has tapeworms by inspecting their tail. The segments look like little grains of rice.

Whipworms – Considered a highly infectious worm, pets infected with whipworms are at high risk of reinfection.

Final Thought

It’s important to remember that having worms isn’t a reflection of the care you give your pet. Pets can get into a lot of things and worms take advantage of this opportunity. If you suspect your pet has worms it’s important to have them seen by a qualified veterinarian. Diagnosis is typically quick and easy and treatment is as well.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers grooming for dogs and cats. Please contact us at 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

 

 

 

Can Dogs and Cats Live Together?

By

It’s commonly known that dogs and cats don’t get along. However, this isn’t always the case. As Orange County’s premier grooming salon, we’ve seen several families where dogs and cats are best friends. It’s important to note that this doesn’t always happen overnight. It often takes a lot of time and patience to convince household pets to tolerate each other. Sometimes they never become friends but they do learn to share their space.

Start Young if Possible

The best cat/dog relationships start when one or both pets are young. When introducing a dog into a household with cats, it’s generally best to start with a puppy. This will seem less threatening to your cats and gives you an opportunity to train the dog not to chase. This can take some time as dogs have a natural instinct to chase and cats will instinctively run, making it even more satisfying for your dog.

If you decide to bring home a kitten to play with your dog, you must take care to ensure it doesn’t get hurt. This can be difficult if your dog is large. You will need to watch them very carefully together. Just one grab and shake could seriously injure or kill your kitten. It is up to you to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Enforce the Rules

It’s important to ensure that both the cat and the dog understand the rules. Do not let them chase each other or steal each other’s food. This might take some time as both must adjust to their situation. Rewarding good behavior lets them know they’ve done something right. This is a much better approach than punishing your pet for bad behavior.

Make Sure You Spend Time With Both Pets

Even if the transition goes smoothly, your pets may feel left out if you spend too much time with one and not the other. Make sure that you set aside plenty of time for both pets.

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

Is It a Stray?

By

People often find cats roaming around their yard. These cats might pass through or they might stay for quite some time. Occasionally, they decide to stay forever, never leaving the confines of your backyard. Most of the time, the cats that visit are neighborhood pets. This is typically the case even when cats appear to be quite scared. However, sometimes these cats are strays in need of human assistance. It’s important to know the difference before you intervene.

What to Do If You Find a Cat

If a cat has made your backyard their permanent home and you’re absolutely sure it doesn’t leave, you’ll need to do some investigating. Put up signs around your neighborhood with a description of the cat. Make sure you also post a description on social media websites. This is often the first place people go when looking for their cat.

Facebook has several excellent groups for posting information about lost and found pets. Seek out these groups and ask if you can post a picture. It might also be helpful to post a picture at local grooming shops and vets.

Just make sure you verify the owner before handing over the cat. Require a picture of them with the cat before releasing it.

If you don’t hear anything for at least two weeks, you’ll need to contact the shelter. Contact your local animal shelter to report a stray cat. Aside from social media websites, pet parents will visit the shelter searching for their lost pet.

It’s important to note that it is illegal to keep a cat that you have found. You must allow the shelter to attempt to find its owner first. You can put a hold on the pet for adoption if the owner doesn’t come. This prevents the cat from being euthanized in the sad instance that the owner isn’t found.

Special Considerations

Feeding stray cats is not recommended. Leaving food outside encourages other cats and wild animals to enter your yard. This puts your family as well as all neighborhood cats at risk.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers cat and dog grooming and cat adoptions from our full service grooming salon in Fountain Valley. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment today.