orange county california

When Professional Pet Grooming Isn’t Enough To Keep Them Cool – DIY Cooling Pad for your Pets

During the summer, it’s extremely important to keep our pets cool. This isn’t just a matter of comfort; intense heat can be detrimental to their health and safety. Protecting your pet from the heat prevents them from overheating and falling victim to heatstroke and heat exhaustion. When professional pet grooming just isn’t enough to keep them comfortable, consider making them a cooling pad. Here’s how:

Search your home or a local second-hand shop for an old sleeping bag that has an outside shell made from nylon or polyester.
Determine how big you would like your cooling pad to be. You will want to make sure that it’s a good size for your pet.
Cut the sleeping bed width-wise to the appropriate size.
Cut a piece of aluminum foil big enough to wrap two ice pack inside and slide inside the exposed portion of the sleeping bag.
Wrap two ice packs into the diagonal corners of the foil. Use tape to secure them if necessary.
Slide the foil and the ice packs into the open side of the sleeping bag. The foil and ice packs should be touching the underside of the nylon or polyester.
Tape up the open end of the sleeping bag.
When the weather warms up, wrap up the pad and place it in the freezer for half an hour. If the pad is too big, remove the ice packs and refreeze them.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. During the summer we offer summer haircuts, belly shaves, baths, brushing, mobile grooming and flea and tick treatments. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

Why Your Dog Might Stink After Its Bath

It can be extremely frustrating when your dog starts to smell immediately after its bath. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why this can occur.

Skin Infections

One of the main causes of a stinky dog is bacterial or fungal infections of the skin. These types of infections cause inflammation, bumps, hair loss and an unpleasant odor that cannot be removed by soap. A skin infection can affect some or all parts of a pet’s body. Skin infections are commonly caused by open wounds, a compromised immune system, parasites and skin allergies. Skin infections must be diagnosed by a veterinarian. They are treated with prescription shampoos, ointments, diet change and/or oral medications.

Improper Bathing

Some breeds of dogs are more odorous by nature. Breeds such as basset hounds, Labrador retrievers and cocker spaniels secrete more oil from their scent glands than other breeds. Special shampoos must be used on these dogs to remove the oils and odors without drying out their skin. Wrinkled dog breeds such as pugs, shar-peis, bulldogs and Pekingese also require meticulous bathing to remove dirt and debris from their skin folds. If the dirt is not properly removed during bathing it will attract bacteria and develop a foul odor.

Bodily Fluids and Medical Conditions

If your pet becomes excited or nervous during its bath it might emit fluid from its anal sacs. This stinky fluid can get all over the fur on its backside making them smell awful. These sacs can also become infected, leading to an unpleasant odor that will remain even after bathing. Additionally, if your dog does not receive regular dental care it can develop an odor caused by dental disease and bacterial infections in its mouth. Some illnesses such as kidney disease and diabetes can also cause an unpleasant odor that emanates from your pet’s mouth, even after a bath. Have your pet checked by a veterinarian to rule out dental problems and medical conditions and make sure that you empty your dog’s anal sacs with every bath.

Bathing Frequency

One bath every month is typically sufficient for keeping your pet smelling fresh without drying out its skin. Between baths you can freshen up your dog’s fur with regular brushing. If your dog likes to roll in stinky things, or has an extremely stinky coat, more frequent baths might be necessary.

Wet Dog Odor

If your dog has been properly bathed and has received a clean bill of health from your veterinarian, it shouldn’t continue to smell. If it does, you probably have not properly dried your pet. If the undercoat is not completely dried immediately after a bath, your dog will have an offensive wet dog odor. Power dryers used at most pet salons are the best way to make sure that your pet is completely dry.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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