Pet Grooming Orange County

Canine Vestibular Disorder

By

Canine vestibular disease is common, especially in older dogs. Symptoms of this condition can be scary. It’s crucial that you take your pet to a qualified veterinarian if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Treatment can ease symptoms and allow your dog to live comfortably. Without treatment, symptoms can quickly become worse.

The vestibular system is responsible for your dog’s balance and sense of spatial orientation. Problems with the vestibular system can make your dog uncoordinated. This can lead to an inability to walk or function properly.

There are two different types of vestibular disease, peripheral and central. Peripheral is much more common. This is the type we will address in this article.

Symptoms

Symptoms of vestibular disease vary by pet. Some dogs experience milder systems than others. Common signs of a problem include head tilting, loss of coordination, circling and stumbling, falling and rolling, and involuntary eye movements from side to side or up and down. Pet parents often say that symptoms resemble those of a stroke.

Causes

Causes of vestibular disease include recurrent ear infections, overzealous ear cleaning resulting in perforation of the ear drum, trauma caused by head injury, stroke, tumors, polyps, meningoencephalitis, hyperthyroidism, and the use of certain medications. Anything that can irritate or damage the nerves of the inner ear can cause this condition.

Occasionally, the disease is present at birth, or it can come on later in life with no apparent cause. This is why vestibular disease is often referred to as old dog disease.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian can diagnose vestibular disease. Diagnosis is typically based on history, physical examination, and neurological assessment. Blood tests, cultures and sensitivity tests as well as cytology will be performed to rule out other possible causes. Treatment varies based on the underlying cause.

Treatment

If an ear infection is to blame, medication should correct the problem. If medication is found to be the cause, discontinuing its use is generally all that is needed. Other causes of the disease are not as easy to treat. Treatment is typically focused on reducing symptoms. Anti-nausea medication might be given to reduce discomfort to your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming in Orange County. Our groomers understand that pets need care even when they’re suffering from this common condition. We take care to ensure that pets with vestibular disease are comfortable throughout their grooming appointment. Please call 715-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

Flea Treatment – Keeping Your Pet Safe

By

It seems like fleas have been worse than ever this year. Unfortunately, this warm weather is expected to last well into November, making flea season especially long.

Many Orange County families struggle to control fleas on their pets and in their homes. Flea products can be expensive, and traveling to and from the vet every month isn’t always an option for today’s busy family. It can be tempting to opt for grocery store options in an effort to save both time and money. However, many over the counter flea products can be dangerous for your pet.

Flea Shampoo

Despite their harmless appearance, flea shampoos often contain harsh chemicals, which can be harmful to your pet. In fact, the insecticides in flea shampoo have poisoned several pets.

Symptoms of insecticide poisoning include seizures, difficulty walking, dilated pupils, extreme sleepiness, decreased heart rate, vomiting, excessive drooling, and diarrhea. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, it’s crucial that you get them to their veterinarian as soon as possible.

Spot Treatment

There are numerous over the counter spot treatment products available today. These products are applied once a month to the base of the neck. While Frontline and Advantage are generally safe to use, the products provided by other companies have caused severe reactions in several pets.

Spot treatments are responsible for 80% of all deaths related to flea treatment. Reactions can come on suddenly, even if you’ve used over the counter spot treatments before. When in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Talk to your veterinarian about safer options for your pet.

Flea Collars

Flea collars used to be the flea treatment of choice for families everywhere. Today, we have better options and know more about the harmful effects of these products.

Flea collars can cause severe allergic reaction. These collars supply a constant stream of insecticides, which can leach into your pet’s skin causing neurological issues and even death.

If you are having difficulty dealing with fleas, it’s important to speak with your veterinarian about safe treatment options. It’s also important to treat your home to prevent fleas from re-infecting your pet.

Please contact us at 714-962-1005 to discuss your flea treatment options with one of our experienced groomers.

Choosing a Groomer

By

Choosing a Groomer

From mobile grooming, to grooming salons, and bathing at home, you have many options when it comes to grooming your pet. It can be difficult to figure out which choice is best.

Grooming Your Pet At Home

Grooming your pet at home can be difficult. Most pets don’t like to be bathed, and they may behave worse for their family. Also, improper grooming such as not rinsing properly or not releasing the anal glands can lead to problems for your pet.

Using the wrong shampoo can irritate your pet’s skin. If you do decide to bathe your pet at home, never use human shampoo, even baby shampoo. 

Mobile Grooming

Mobile grooming is another popular option. However, there are no regulations on mobile groomers and many are inexperienced and overworked.

The owners of many popular mobile grooming services do not provide adequate training for their groomers. Since their groomer’s earnings are based on the number of pets they groom, they will often take on more than they can handle. This can affect the quality of service and the level of safety they are able to provide.

Grooming Salon

A grooming salon is a physical location where you can meet your groomer and actually see them working with other pets. The right salon will have experienced groomers, each able to provide a variety of services.

Bringing your pet to the grooming salon should be an enjoyable experience. The groomers should take the time to answer all your questions and properly care for your pet. Never choose a grooming salon that takes an assembly line approach to grooming.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has provided pet grooming to numerous pets in our Orange County community for over fifteen years. Our groomers have extensive experience providing grooming for both dogs and cats. We’ve even had the unique opportunity to work with exotic pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits.

Please stop by our salon to meet our groomers and learn about the services we offer. While here, you’ll be able to see the love and care we provide each and every pet that walks through our door. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment today.

 

Things to Consider Before Visiting the Dog Park

By

Things to Consider Before Visiting the Dog Park

From socialization to exercise, your local dog park offers so much for your pet. This is the perfect spot to spend your days this summer. However, there are a few health risks you need to consider before visiting the dog park.

Infectious Diseases

Hundreds of dogs visit the dog park everyday. In areas like this, the risk of catching an infectious disease is often higher. Kennel cough and canine influenza are the most common diseases, and can spread through dog parks extremely fast.

It’s important to make sure that your dog is up-to-date on all of their vaccinations before visiting the dog park. Even though dogs may still be able to catch diseases they’ve been vaccinated for, vaccinated pets often experience less severe symptoms.

Avoid sharing bowls at the dog park, as this can increase the likelihood of your dog catching a disease. Instead, bring your own collapsible dish. It’s also important to clean up after your pet. This helps reduce the spread of intestinal parasites.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas can be easily passed from one dog to the next. You’ll need to protect your dog before visiting the dog park. There are several different flea treatments available today. Your veterinarian can provide you with recommendations.

Check your pet for ticks after leaving the dog park or any other grassy or wooded area. If you find a tick, don’t attempt to remove it yourself. Improper removal can cause the head to break off inside your pet. This can lead to infection. Take your pet to your vet or groomer for tick removal.

Heatstroke

Anytime you take your dog outside during the summer, you run the risk of heatstroke. Heatstroke is a serious condition, requiring immediate medical intervention. Without prompt treatment, heatstroke can be deadly.

Make sure you have plenty of cool, fresh water available for your pet, and that you encourage them to spend some time in the shade. If you notice anything odd about your pet’s behavior, remove them from the sun immediately.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming from our full service grooming salon in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to setup a grooming appointment for your pet.

 

Skin Issues Are Common in the Summer

By

Skin Issues Are Common in the Summer

Missing fur, scratching, bumps, and lumps are all extremely common during the summer. As Orange County’s premier grooming salon, we frequently discover skin issues that well meaning pet parents have missed. This is due to the fact that we get your pet wet, which gives us an up close view of their skin.

If your groomer notices anything out of the ordinary during your pet’s appointment, they will let you know. However, it is up to you to take your pet to a licensed veterinarian to discover and treat the underlying cause.

Common Causes of Skin Problems in Pets

Skin issues are extremely common during the summer. Common problems include missing fur, irritated skin, hot spots, foxtails, fleas, ticks, and even sunburn. Your groomer can treat some issues, such as fleas and ticks, quickly and easily. If skin is irritated, we will use a soothing shampoo to prevent further irritation. However, it is up to you to determine the underlying cause.

Most of the time, skin issues are caused by allergies or fleas, which can be addressed quickly and easily. However, it’s important to remember that even something small could be a sign of something more serious. For example, missing fur could be caused by allergies, or it could be a symptom of cancer. This is why it is so important to have your pet checked by a vet at the first sign of a problem.

Although your groomer has lots of experience with pets and are knowledgeable about several different skin conditions, they do not have the training or tools needed to properly diagnose your pet.

If your pet experiences skin issues during the summer, your veterinarian will likely prescribe a special shampoo. Please bring this shampoo with you to your grooming appointment.

Orange County Pet Grooming

Claws N Paws Day Spa provides a wide range of grooming services for both dogs and cats. Our experienced groomers will analyze your pet’s skin during their appointment and notify you of any issues. However, the advice of your groomer should not be considered a substitute to the advice provided by a licensed veterinarian.

Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment for your pet.

 

 

Caring For Disabled Pets

By

Caring For Disabled Pets

Caring for a disabled pet can be extremely challenging. Special needs pets require extra help doing the things that most of us take for granted. They must be handled carefully and require lots of patience and care.

Grooming a special needs pet can be difficult. Many disabled pets have a hard time standing on their own, let alone jumping in and out of a standard bathtub. These pets may become frightened from the hose or the other sensations they experience while being groomed. Grooming these pets at home is usually not an option.

Finding A Groomer

When choosing a groomer, it’s extremely important that you take the time and effort needed to find a grooming salon that is able to properly care for your pet. In addition to having experience working with disabled pets, they should be kind and caring towards the animals they work with.

Before making an appointment, ask the groomer if they would mind if you looked around their facility and watched them interact with other pets. Make sure you ask them about their experience with special needs and disabled pets. This will help you determine their ability to properly care for your pet.

Check out the grooming facility. Look to see if they have a low tub and ask if they are able to groom on the floor. Make sure the salon has adequate space for your pet without having to put them in a crate or kennel.

Orange County Grooming Salon

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional grooming for special needs pets. We have experience working with a wide range of conditions and disabilities and understand the special care that your pet requires.

We have a low tub and are able to bathe and groom on the floor. We have areas where your pet can be kept outside of a kennel and we provide the option of waiting with your pet while they are being groomed.

Please stop by our grooming salon to take a look at our facility. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about grooming your pet.