Pet Grooming Orange County

Chain Stores VS Sole Proprietor Groom Shops

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Chain Stores VS Sole Proprietor Groom Shops

When it comes to grooming your pets you have many options. You could attempt to do it yourself, you can take them to one of the many large chain stores for grooming, or you could visit your neighborhood sole proprietor groom shop. Let’s take a closer look at chain stores VS sole proprietor groom shops.

At most chain stores, your pet will have a different groomer each time they visit. This can cause a multitude of problems. One issue is that if your pet has had grooming problems in the past, the new groomer might not be aware of these problems. Therefore they will not be able to work with your pet to help them overcome certain fears they might have about the grooming process. This is just one of the many reasons why most people prefer to take their pets to small, privately owned grooming shops.

Large pet stores typically require little to no training to be hired. While most chain stores will start new hires as brushers/bathers, an untrained person in this position can still cause serious harm to pets. For example, using the wrong type of brush can easily cause brush burns and the wrong drying tool or method can be fatal.

Many small grooming shops will allow you to stay while your pet is being groomed and they will never use cage dryers. Most independent groomers will also listen to what you want. This is not the type of individualized service that you can expect from a large chain store.

Most groomers and pet parents agree that smaller grooming shops are better than large chain stores in terms of service, quality and pet care. However, it is always a good idea to talk to the groomer, inspect the shop and make sure that you are comfortable before you leave your pet for grooming. Consider visiting the grooming salon with your pet before you even schedule your first grooming appointment.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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Rescue Goes Hand in Hand With Pet Related Businesses

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Rescue Goes Hand in Hand With Pet Related Businessesconsignment rescue efforts

You probably already know that pet shops that host animal adoptions are far better than those that sell pets for profit. This is because most of the pets sold in pet stores come from inhumane puppy and kitten mills. However, other pet related businesses can also work with pet rescues to benefit both their individual profits as well as the efforts put forth by the rescue group.

As more and more cities are banning the sale of live pets in pet shops, more people are turning to rescue groups to find their animal companions. Rescue groups need as many outlets as possible to showcase their available pets. Pet related businesses are able to provide that outlet.

When pet related businesses and pet rescues partner together they create a mutual working relationship. Pet related businesses looking to partner with rescue groups should look for groups that are well-organized, offer ongoing support when needed and are able to expedite the adoption process. This is extremely important as one of the main complaints about adopting from pet rescues is that the adoption process takes too long. When there is a significant hold up, potential adopters are more likely to change their mind.

When businesses that sell pet supplies partner with rescue groups they might give a portion or all of the profits of those sales back to the rescue. Funding is an extremely important part of keeping an animal rescue running. Without proper funding, animals cannot be fed, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, or properly cared for. Supporting small businesses that help pet rescue is an excellent way for consumers to get involved with the rescue of domestic pets.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. Claws N Paws also has many wonderful cats and kittens available for adoption. We have a consignment shop two doors down that offers many unique and interesting items. 100% of all profits from pet supply sales at This n That Consignment go directly into our rescue efforts! For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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IBS in Pets – A Common Misdiagnosis

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IBS in Pets – A Common Misdiagnosis

Pets and humans are both susceptible to irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS. However, IBS is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed illnesses in both pets and humans. Severe pain, diarrhea, vomiting and gastrointestinal issues could actually be a sign of gluten intolerance. In humans, gluten intolerance is caused by either celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Gluten intolerance in pets is not typically classified as either, but it does present itself in very similar ways.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune intolerance of gluten. Celiac disease causes the immune system to attack the protein element of common carbohydrates such as wheat, barley and rye. Once triggered to attack, the immune system targets the villi inside the intestinal wall, negatively altering the surface area of the inside of the bowels.

In addition to causing severe pain, gluten intolerance can cause pets to become bloated, experience diarrhea, vomit repeatedly and develop skin conditions. Loss of appetite and significant weight loss could also be a sign of digestive discomfort.

Complications associated with gluten intolerance in pets include weight loss, fatigue, diminished vitality and an increased susceptibility to infection. If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, it is important to consult with your veterinarian immediately.

If your veterinarian suspects gluten intolerance they will typically recommend an exclusion diet. While there is no specific test to confirm gluten intolerance in pets, an exclusion diet can confirm the diagnosis if there is a lessening of symptoms. If it is discovered that your pet has a gluten sensitivity it is extremely important that you remove all sources of gluten from your pets diet permanently.

Many companies offer pet foods made with gluten free grains such as rice, millet, corn or amaranth. While oats are naturally gluten free they are often processed with the same equipment as wheat. This makes the oats contaminated with gluten. Look for commercially prepared pet foods that advertise as “grain free”. If you are unable to find dry pet foods that do not contain gluten, consider switching to canned pet foods.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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Summer Haircuts for Dogs

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Summer Haircuts for Dogscoolpup

In hot climates like we have in Southern California, many pet parents wonder if they should have their dog’s coat cut or shaved during the summer. This is often a top concern when it comes to dogs with especially long or thick coats. Pet experts don’t always agree on whether it’s best to give a dog a summer cut or to just allow nature to run its course. The answer varies for pet parents depending on their personal preferences and how much time they have to spend on their pet’s care.

If your dog has a very thick coat or it is a double-coated breed such as a husky, malamute or German shepherd then you might be considering a summer cut for your pet. While many people believe that these breeds will become too hot during the summer, the thick coat actually acts as an insulator, keeping the dog’s body temperature constant while the air trapped between the undercoat stops the outside air from interfering with the dog’s metabolism. These types of dogs cool down by panting, laying with their bellies exposed and by lying flat on a cool surface. The double coat stops any negative effects caused by the climate, both hot and cold.

Keeping your dog’s coat maintained can help to keep them cool during the summer months. Clean, well maintained fur allows for proper air circulation. Dirty, matted fur reduces the effectiveness of the coat and can actually lead to skin infections, pain and worsening of flea and tick problems. Regular, professional bathing and grooming during the summer months can keep your dog cool and comfortable by removing dead hair, preventing painful tangles and mats and helping you detect flea and tick problems before they are able to get out of hand.

Dogs with very long hair, such as yorkies, maltese and shih-tzus can all benefit from a summer haircut. Trimming a dog’s fur makes it much more manageable and can help them stay cooler. Whenever possible, at least ½ an inch to an inch of hair should be left in order to protect the dog’s skin from the damaging rays of the sun. A professional groomer can help you decide on you the best type of summer cut for your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help keep your dog cool and comfortable this summer. For more information or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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Importance of Rabies Vaccines

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Importance of Rabies Vaccines

In the United States vaccinations for dogs and cats are common. This makes it easy to forget the reason why we vaccinate in the first place. Vaccines for pets were created in response to past outbreaks and epidemics that killed thousands of animals. These outbreaks are far less common now because of widespread vaccination programs. However, in developing countries and shelters everywhere, you can see the negative effects of not vaccinating. Pets are euthanized every day because of preventable illnesses.

While parvovirus and distemper infections are common in developing nations, the disease causing the most problems worldwide is rabies. Worldwide, rabies kills approximately 55,000 people every year. In areas where animals are not typically vaccinated for rabies, the disease can quickly spread from animals to people and escalate into a full blown outbreak.

The best way to prevent rabies outbreaks is by vaccinating a large enough portion of the animal’s population in order to create what is referred to as “herd immunity”. Herd immunity creates a level of resistance sufficient enough to prevent the virus from causing an outbreak. While individual animals might become sporadically infected, the overall number of animals infected remains low.

In the United States, if your pet remains unvaccinated and does not catch the disease it doesn’t mean that the practice of not vaccinating is safe. It only means that your pet is lucky enough to live in a country where the level of illness is relatively low because many other pets are vaccinated. However, if your pet ends up in a shelter situation or other location with a large number of unvaccinated animals, the likelihood of your pet becoming sick is extremely high. Worse still, this type of situation increases the likelihood of an outbreak in the United States. In fact, outbreaks of rabies in all parts of the world can be found with a quick Google search.

Claws N Paws Day Spa requires proof of vaccination before grooming. This is to protect our groomers and clients from preventable diseases. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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Matted Hair is Dangerous for your Pet

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Matted Hair is Dangerous for your Pet20150402_092205

When an animal’s coat is not properly cared for it can become matted. When the mats are bad enough they can become like a coat that surrounds the pet’s entire body. At this point the matted coat must be shaved off, typically in one big piece. Matted hair can be extremely dangerous to the health of your pet. Let’s discuss why:

  1. Matted hair traps moisture, insects, fleas and bacteria. Often time’s sores develop under the mats.
  2. When a dog has severely matted ears, the tightness of the mats can cause the delicate blood vessels in the tips of the ears to burst. This causes blood to pool under the hair on the tips of the ears. These hematomas can be extremely painful for your pet. When the matted hair around the tips of the ears is shaved, they will typically bleed. This is caused by the mats and is not the fault of the groomerPets that are severely matted must be shaved very close to the skin. This increases the chance of irritation of the skin and injury to your pet.
  3. When an animal’s coat is matted down to the skin, every time they scratch their nails catch the mats and tears at the skin. This can quickly lead to rips in the skin. These rips usually require stitches and antibiotics after the pet has been shaved down by a professional groomer.
  4. The eyes, ears, mouth, paw pads and sanitary areas are extremely prone to serious, life-threatening infections when a pet’s coat is matted.
  5. Aside from the physical effects of matted fur, the animal’s behavior can change as a result of the constant pain and discomfort. Dogs can get snappy and bite without provocation and cats might disappear into their occasional hiding spots for days on end.
  6. In order to avoid mats and the health problems associated with them, you must take the time necessary to properly care for your pet’s coat. Use a metal comb and/or a slicker brush several times a week and have your long-haired dog or cat professionally groomed every five to eight weeks.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been offering professional pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, 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!!