Pet Grooming Orange County

The Problem with Fleas on your Cat

By

The Problem with Fleas on your CatFleas on pets

Fleas can quickly take over your home and your cat. Fleas bite both people and pets, causing welts and intense itching. These tiny pests are not only difficult to live with, but they can also cause some serious problems as well. Let’s discuss the problems associated with fleas on your cat.

Tapeworms

Fleas are an essential part of a tapeworm’s life cycle. If your cat swallows an infected flea, it will end up contracting these intestinal parasites. Tapeworms can cause serious problems for your cat including malnutrition and intestinal blockage. These problems aside, the sight of tiny wriggling tapeworms on your cat or in their litterbox will be enough to send you running to your vet for medication. However, treating the tapeworm infestation is only a small part of the battle, as long as your cat is still coming in contact with fleas, they are subject to re-infection.

Anemia

A cat that has a severe flea infestation is not only suffering from the intense itching these pests can cause, but they can also cause your cat to die. Every time a flea bites your cat, it takes a little of its blood. If your cat has a large number of fleas on it, they can consume so much blood that your cat becomes anemic. Even though cats of any age can become anemic from fleas, the most likely to suffer are young kittens and elderly cats. Controlling fleas can protect your cat from this life-threatening situation.

Allergies

Cats that are repeatedly exposed to fleas can develop a flea allergy causing them to react strongly to every single flea bite. Cats with flea allergy scratch and lick constantly. Their skin becomes red and inflamed causing obvious distress. Flea allergy can also cause your cat to lose fur and develop sores. In severe cases you might see cracked, crusty brown patches that ooze clear fluid or pus.

Dealing with fleas can be an ongoing battle, especially in California where the weather is ideal for fleas all year long. Fleas must be dealt with aggressively and quickly to avoid serious problems for your cat. In order to ensure that fleas are dealt with properly, your cat and home must both be treated.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of orange county’s pets since 2001. We can help you rid your pet of fleas. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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

Common Cat Haircuts

By

Common Cat Haircutsclaire_anderson

A cat’s coat is important for a number of different reasons. It keeps the cat warm and allows it to regulate its temperature. Most of the time a cat will keep its fur groomed on its own. However, sometimes the fur might require extensive grooming and clipping. Grooming a cat’s fur can contribute to the overall health and comfort of the cat, especially if the coat has become matted. There are many different grooming styles for cats. Let’s take a closer look at the most common cat haircuts.

Stripped

Also known as shaving or clipping, a stripped grooming style involves shaving the cat’s fur close to its body. This style of grooming is necessary if your cat’s fur is extremely matted.

Lion Cut

The lion cut is a grooming style where the cat’s body is clipped short but the fur on the head, feet and tail are left alone. This type of haircut is extremely popular for cats as well as some breeds of dogs.

Sanitary Haircut

A sanitary haircut does not affect the overall appearance of the cat’s fur. In fact, most people will not even notice that this type of haircut has been given. A sanitary haircut is a functional haircut. Cats with longer fur sometimes get excrement stuck in their fur. A sanitary cut trims down the fur in such a way that this will not become an issue.

Partial Haircut

A partial haircut involves clipping the fur on the cat’s inner thighs, armpits, chin, tail and sanitary area. The fur on the cat’s back, sides and tail are left as they are. This type of grooming neatens up the cat’s appearance.

Peekaboo Haircut

A peekaboo haircut involves shortening the fur on the cat’s underside and blending the length into the longer fur on the cat’s back. While this type of haircut gives the cat the appearance of a full coat, it reduces the work necessary to maintain the cat’s underside which can easily become matted and full of debris.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming Orange County’s cats and dogs since 2001. Our experienced groomers understand that grooming can be stressful for cats and know how to reduce that stress while providing them with excellent care. We will be happy to discuss with you which type of haircut is best suited for your feline friend. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

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

Is your Cat Over-Grooming Itself?

By

Is your Cat Over-Grooming Itself?11_07_07

Cats groom themselves for several different reasons. The most common reasons are to remove dirt and debris from their coat, to regulate their body heat and to remove themselves from a stressful situation. However, sometimes the grooming becomes excessive. If your cat is over-grooming one particular area or if it is beginning to remove its fur, your cat could be suffering from something more serious such as fleas, allergies or too much stress. The best way to determine why your cat is over-grooming itself is to consult with your veterinarian. Let’s take a closer look at the most common reasons that cats over-groom.

Fleas

Both outdoor and indoor cats can come into contact with fleas. Fleas attach themselves to a cat’s skin and suck their blood. When a flea’s saliva comes into contact with the cat’s skin, it can cause an allergic reaction. The cat will over-groom itself, sometimes removing its fur, to relieve the itching. Eliminating fleas on your cat and in your home is the only way to stop this type of over-grooming.

Pregnancy

Female cats that are pregnant will constantly groom their genitals in order to prepare themselves for the impending birth. Although this type of grooming might seem excessive it is completely normal.

Stress

One of the leading causes of over-grooming in cats is stress. Stress grooming, or psychogenic alopecia occurs during an extremely stressful period in a cat’s life such as a move or the introduction of a new pet. During stressful times, a cat might focus on one specific area and lick the spot excessively, sometimes removing its fur or causing injury. Cats that suffer from this type of condition typically focus on their abdomen and the inside of their legs.

Ticks

Like fleas, ticks can cause a cat to obsessively groom one area. Ticks are parasites that attach themselves to a cat’s skin and drink their blood. This can cause an allergic reaction that leads to over-grooming.

Food Allergies

Cats commonly develop allergies to the ingredients in commercial cat food such as chicken, fish, corn, wheat and beef. These allergies can appear without warning in cats as young as five months or as old as fifteen years. Giving a cat the same food every day for several months or several years makes it more likely that your cat will develop allergies. When a cat develops a rash from food allergies it will obsessively lick at its paws, legs and stomach.

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!!

Dealing With a Stinky Dog

By

Dealing With a Stinky Dogbath

We’ve all come across a stinky dog. Sometimes the cause is simple such as dog breath or wet fur, sometimes the problem is caused by an underlying medical issue. Stubborn dog smells can signify allergies, ear infections, skin infections, problems with diet or other issues that require a diagnosis from a veterinarian. While some common dog smells can be treated at home, if the problem persists or is severe, it’s imperative that you schedule an appointment with your vet.

Dealing with Dog Breath

Bad breath is typically a sign of plaque buildup on your dog’s teeth. You can help to keep your dog’s teeth clean by offering chew toys and by having your dog’s teeth brushed every time they visit the groomer. Occasionally the smell is from an infection caused by foreign matter that has become lodged in the gums. If regular teeth brushing does not solve the problem, it is wise to have your dog’s teeth checked by a veterinarian.

Dealing with Smelly Ears

Dogs that have droopy ears often have problems with ear infections and smelly ears. This is because moisture gets trapped and wax builds up, providing the perfect home for bacteria, ear mites and fungus. If there is no infection or open sores you can use diluted vinegar, colloidal silver, mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide to clean the ears. If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, a veterinarian can prescribe medication.

Dealing with a Stinky Coat

A coat that is naturally oily can trap odor causing debris, but shampooing too often can dry out your pet’s skin and lead to allergies and infection. Regular grooming every four to six weeks is ideal for dealing with a stinky coat. Your groomer should only use soap-free shampoo. Between baths you can rub baby powder, baking soda or diatomaceous earth into your dog’s coat and then brush it to keep it odor free.

Dogs with thick undercoats have a hard time getting completely dry after getting wet. A damp undercoat can smell terrible. These types of dogs should be professionally groomed to ensure they are completely dry after their bath.

Other causes of dog odor include full anal glands and urine soaked fur. Always have your groomer check and express your dog’s anal glands when necessary and trim the fur around their genitals to keep urine and excrement from sticking to them.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help you keep your dog odor free! Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment today!

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

Grooming Double-Coated Dogs

By

Grooming Double-Coated Dogs maggie

Double-coated dogs have two layers of hair. Closest to the skin they have a heavy undercoat, and then longer, coarser guard hair on the outside. This double-coat acts as a comfortable insulation for your dog during hot as well as cold weather. Popular double-coated dog breeds include:

  • Pomeranians
  • Shetland Sheepdogs
  • Chows
  • Huskies
  • Malamutes
  • Samoyeds

Although most people believe that shaving a double-coated dog will keep it cooler and prevent shedding in the summer, this simply isn’t the case. The thick undercoat hairs shed every spring and early summer, replacing the thick undercoat with fine hairs. Air travels through the long hairs and finer undercoat, keeping your dog cool during hot summer months. When shaved, the undercoat will still shed but your dog will no longer be able to control its natural cooling ability.

The upper guard hairs do not shed. They provide protection against the sun’s rays. When shaved, the dog becomes more susceptible to sunburn, skin irritation and skin cancer. During summer months, your groomer can shave a strip off your dog’s belly. This allows your dog to lay on a cool surface during hot days.

Long hair that is not matted as well as a thick undercoat keep your pet warm during the winter. During the fall, the fine undercoat sheds and is replaced by thick, crimped undercoat hairs. This creates an effective insulation for your dog.

A double coat should never be shaved unless is it matted to the point of no return. Keeping your double-coated dog’s coat brushed and mat free is an extremely important part of allowing good air circulation through the hair. Coats that are not well maintained stifle air circulation and do very little to help cool or warm the body. A severely matted coat is uncomfortable for your dog and can be very painful.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help you keep your dog’s fur maintained. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Mention our blog to receive a free teeth brushing for your pet!!!

 

 

The Dangers of Free In-Home Grooming Ads

By

The Dangers of Free In-Home Grooming Ads

We all enjoy browsing through the classifieds on websites like Craigslist. Even though most of the products and services offered on these websites are legitimate, there are many possible dangers in answering these types of ads.

Recently there has been an increase of people offering in-home pet grooming for a reduced price or for free. Many of these individuals claim that they are professional groomers that are trying to earn money to open a shop or to purchase a mobile pet grooming van. Sometimes they advertise that they are offering services for free or for very little in order to collect before and after pictures for their website. While this might seem like an incredible deal, there are several reasons why you should never allow one of these so-called groomers into your home.

Law enforcement agencies agree that you should never give out your home address when answering classified ads. Once you provide your physical address, you become a potential victim. The individual offering grooming services can use your address to commit crimes against you, or pass your address along to their acquaintances. Remember that scammers on Craigslist are professionals at what they do. Even if they are extremely friendly and professional on the phone or through email, you should never give out your address to strangers. Bogus groomers, once over the doorstep, can become menacing and even violent.

In addition to the dangers of allowing strangers into your home, there are potential dangers for your pets as well. If you don’t take the time to check your pet groomer’s credentials, the consequences could be severe. Inexperienced, unlicensed groomers are more likely to cause serious injuries to your pet including:

  • Cuts
  • Burns
  • Falls
  • Eye Injury
  • Ear Injury
  • Brush Burn

Even though these injuries can happen when you use a licensed groomer, if your groomer is not licensed and is un-insured, then you will be the only one who is responsible for these injuries.

Using a professional, licensed groomer just makes sense. If you are unable to leave your home to bring your pet to the groomer, consider mobile grooming. Never allow strangers into your home, or allow inexperienced groomers to touch your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers mobile grooming for both dogs and cats in Orange County, California. Our pet grooming salon has been in Fountain Valley, California since 2001. For more information, or to set up your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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