Pet Grooming Orange County

Spring Safety for Cats

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Spring Safety for Cats

Spring is just around the corner and many of us are already enjoying the warmer weather in Southern California. Unfortunately, hundreds of cats are injured during the spring. The cause of these springtime injuries might surprise you.

Cats love windows. They use them to watch birds and people passing by. They enjoy the warm sun and spring breezes, and they often sleep beside them. However, cats frequently lean on screens and sometimes pounce against them when excited. If the screen isn’t properly latched, or the window has no screen at all, the cat can easily fall. This happens so often that it is known as “high-rise syndrome”.

It only takes about five or six inches for a determined cat to slip through an opening, and regardless of what you’ve heard, cats do not always land on their feet. Even a short fall can cause serious injuries.

The best way to prevent injuries to your cat this spring is to make sure that your window screens are securely in place. Never open your windows more than three or four inches. This will allow the fresh air inside without allowing your cat to force its way out.

When opening doors that lead outside, make sure that your cat isn’t lurking nearby, planning its great escape. Make sure that your doors always close securely behind you whenever you leave the house. Also, it’s important that children and guests know this rule as well. If you are planning a trip away from home, you will need to let your pet sitter know that your cat is an “indoor only cat” and that they need to be very careful not to let them out of the house.

Unfortunately, high-rise syndrome is a sad reality for many pet lovers and their furry companions. While you enjoy the warmer weather of the spring and summer you will want to make sure that is a safe one for everyone, including your four legged friends!

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. 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!

 

Top Ten Situations That Groomers Face Every Day

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Top Ten Situations That Groomers Face Every Day

Despite what most people believe, pet grooming isn’t just playing with pets and giving them a haircut while they stand perfectly still. There are actually a lot of problems that can occur with grooming, caused by both the pets and their people. Believe it or not, most pets don’t enjoy having to stand still, having their nails trimmed, their ear hair plucked and having noisy clippers dragged all over their body.

Grooming a pet is very different than cutting a human’s hair. While people are able to sit still and actually enjoy the process of having their hair cared for, pets often soil themselves, wiggle constantly and sometimes even bite their groomer.

Let’s take a closer look at the top ten situations pet groomers face every day:

  • Groomers leave work looking like they’ve been in a fight
    One of the many ways that pets show their displeasure is by flailing about. This can happen while they are being groomed, bathed or simply when they are picked up. As they flail about, their claws dig into their groomer’s flesh, leaving them looking like they’ve been fighting with a thorn bush all day long.
  • Groomers must deal with persistent customers
    Many pet parents believe that persistence will pay off when trying to get a grooming appointment. These customers often try to get a same day appointment and refuse to give up, even when the groomer is booked solid for weeks.
  • Groomers are often paranoid about the way they smell
    Groomers spend their entire workday surrounded by a variety of smells including wet dog, urine, feces and bleach. This makes it virtually impossible to leave work smelling like a bed of roses.
  • Groomers must read between the lines
    Pet parents are often vague about how they want their pet groomed. Sometimes they ask for “short” when they only want a light trim, or they tell the groomer to do “whatever they think will look good.” This often leads to problems when their pet doesn’t look exactly how they think it should after their grooming appointment.
  • Appointment times are often ignored
    When a customer is given an appointment time it is generally understood that they should arrive at the correct time. However, many customers feel that appointment times are more like “guidelines” and arriving within a couple of hours of their appointed time is fine.
  • Groomer’s lung is real
    Thousands of tiny hairs blasting everywhere combined with the dander and dirt that comes off of pets and the perfumes in shampoos and sprays can cause significant damage to a groomer’s lungs.
  • A pet groomer’s hands suffer the most
    A pet groomer’s hands are constantly wet from giving baths, they get fried by the dryers, chaffed from the scissors, receive friction burns from the clippers and are constantly getting bit and scratched by pets.
  • Anal glands
    While many grooming shops empty a dog’s anal glands as part of the service, most of the time they will empty their gland’s themselves, often all over their groomer.
  • Pet parents often use misleading words when describing vicious pets
    Just because you call your pet “strong willed” or “a bit snappy” it won’t make it hurt any less when they bite your groomer’s finger off.
  • Matting and knots
    It’s not unusual for a pet parent to bring in an animal that is more knot than pet and claim that they don’t want it shaved. Unfortunately, the groomer must then explain that not shaving a pet in this condition would be inhumane.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality 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!

 

Halloween Costumes for Pets

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Halloween Costumes for Pets

People of all ages enjoy Halloween. It only makes sense that we would want to include our pets in the fun. Pet costumes have come a very long way over the past few years. While choosing the perfect costume for your pet should be enjoyable, remember to always put your pet’s safety and comfort before your own amusement.

Most likely, your pet won’t have any say in what their Halloween costume is going to be. Most pet parents have a very special bond with their pets and in many ways their pet becomes an extensive of their own personality. The costume that you choose for your pet might reflect your special relationship with them or it could reflect what is trending at the moment. You might even choose to wear a matching costume with your pet or make your pet a special sidekick or accessory to your own costume.

Pets typically have a tough time getting used to wearing their costumes. Costumes with headgear are some of the most difficult to get your pet accustomed to. While you might be tempted to wait until Halloween, it’s a much better idea to get them used to their costume before the big night. A pet’s costume should never limit its movement. Pets should be able to run or walk normally without banging into anything. A slow buildup to Halloween with lots of positive reinforcement is probably your best bet at making your pet comfortable with their costume.

Start by putting the costume on your pet for a short period of time. Offer lots of treats and praise them. Remove the costume and repeat this process several times during the weeks before Halloween. This type of training helps to convince your pet that wearing the costume is a positive experience.

No matter how much you prepare it’s still important to know when your pet is uncomfortable. Telltale signs include ears pulled back, tucking of the tail, lowering of the head and immobility. Their costume should be easy to remove in case of discomfort. Also, make sure there are no parts of the costume that can be chewed off and ingested.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming dogs and cats in Orange County, California since 2001. For more information or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!!

 

Fall Pet Care

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Fall Pet Care

Fall is finally here and the holidays are just around the corner. Let’s take a look at the top fall pet care tips:

  • Canned pumpkin is good for dogs. The soluble fiber in pumpkin can help with digestive issues, while the antioxidants and essential fatty acids in the seeds promote healthy skin, fur and urinary health. In addition, the nutrients found in pumpkin might reduce the likelihood of your pet developing cancer. Try adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of canned pumpkin to your dog’s food.
  • Enjoy your time outdoors before the cold weather sets in.
  • Look for signs of allergies. If your pet is itching more than usual, check with your veterinarian to identify possible allergies. Keep leaves raked and grass short to eliminate excessive irritation to your pet’s skin.
  • Brush your pet regularly to prevent shedding. In the early fall pets begin shedding their summer coat to allow room for their winter coat. Regular grooming can help keep excessive amounts of fur from accumulating in your home.
  • Check for fleas and ticks. Talk to your groomer or veterinarian about effective treatments.
  • Keep rodenticides away from pets. During the fall, rodents tend to move inside to avoid cooler outdoor temperatures. Poisons used on rodents are extremely toxic to pets. If they must be used, do so with extreme caution and only put them in places that are inaccessible to your pets.
  • Keep back to school supplies out of reach of pets. Crayons, markers, glue and pencils can all be toxic or cause a choking hazard. Explain to your children that they must keep these supplies away from pets at all times.
  • Remember pet safety when decorating for holidays. Keep electrical cords, small parts and ropes tucked away where pets cannot chew on them or become tangled in them.
  • If you take your pet out during Halloween, keep them close and in reflective clothing whenever possible.
  • Learn the foods that are dangerous to pets. Halloween candy can contain chocolate, which can be deadly to pets. In addition, Thanksgiving dishes can contain onions, garlic or other poisonous foods. Keep an eye on pets trying to steal from the feast.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality grooming services for both dogs and cats in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. 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!!

Harvest Mites and Cats

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Harvest Mites and Cats

Commonly found in grasslands and forests throughout North America, harvest mites are also known as red bugs, trombiculid mites, scrub-itch mites or berry bugs. During their larval stage, harvest mites are referred to as chiggers. This is the stage in which they attach themselves to humans, rodents, cats and dogs. Once the larvae reach their adult stage, they no longer feed on animals.

Although most people believe that harvest mite larvae burrow deep into the skin, this simply is not true. Chiggers live on the skin’s surface. When feeding, they use their small, hooked fangs to pierce the skin and inject powerful enzymes that liquefy the skin cells making it possible for the larvae to consume them. These enzymes irritate the skin, resulting in intense itching.

In cats, harvest mites are usually found around the ears and between the toes. Cats infected with chiggers will chew or scratch themselves, often to the point of self-inflicted wounds. Sensitivity to chiggers can vary greatly from cat to cat. Animals that are frequently bitten might develop severe allergies to the mites.

Harvest mites should be suspected if a sudden onset of intense itching occurs during the late summer or early fall. A veterinarian can make the proper diagnosis and prescribe a safe and effective treatment. Most of the time, a cat will not require further treatment after the mites have been killed. However, in severe cases, anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics might be needed.

Even though humans can be affected by harvest mites, they are not spread from cats or dogs. Harvest mites typically attach themselves to a person’s ankle while they are walking through infested vegetation. A typical human reaction to chiggers involves an intensely irritating rash. Specific treatment is usually not necessary as the larvae are removed during bathing. Preventing harvest mites can be achieved by wearing long pants and socks whenever walking on trails or woods during the late summer and by avoiding high grass or weeds in areas known to be inhabited by chiggers.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality grooming services for both dogs and cats in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. 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!!

 

Summer Safety – Dogs In Cars

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Summer Safety – Dogs In Cars

As the temperatures in Southern California continue to rise it’s important to keep our pets safe. This includes never leaving your dog in a parked car, even for just a few minutes. A car parked in the shade or in the direct sunlight on a warm day can quickly reach dangerous temperatures. It doesn’t take very long at all for a dog to succumb to heatstroke or worse. Sadly, thousands of dogs die every year from being left in hot cars.

If you see a dog trapped in a parked car this summer there are several things that you can do to help. For example, if you know the owner, you can gently let them know that their pet is hot. Most of the time people are unaware of the dangers of leaving their pet unattended in a hot car and this is a great way to begin that conversation with them.

If you see a dog alone in a parked car and you do not know who it belongs to, try speaking with the establishment’s store manager or customer service department. Most of the time they are eager to help you locate the dog’s owner or contact animal control for you. If this is not an option, you can call your local animal control or the police for assistance. Remember that every minute counts when a pet is locked in a hot car.

Bystanders are often the eyes and ears to aid in the prevention of animal abuse and neglect. Getting involved makes a huge difference, especially for those that do not have a voice of their own. If you are uncomfortable reporting a problem, please find assistance from a store manager, animal control, the police, friends or family members.

If you take your pet with you this summer, at some point you might need to stop to run some errands. Whenever possible have a family member stay in the car with your dog with the air conditioner running. If you are alone, you will need to find pet-friendly stores or use drive-ups.

We hope 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. 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!