Pet Grooming Orange County

How to Spot Fleas

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Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. With summer, comes a number of issues for our pets. One of the most common skin problems pets experience during the summer are fleas. Fleas cause intense itching and skin irritation. They can also cause allergic reactions and anemia in severe cases. It’s important to learn how to spot these common pests.

Look for Signs of Fleas

Fleas drink the blood of pets. They can cause bumps and sores on both pets and people. Often these pests cause a row of bite marks as they jump from one area to the next. This is more obvious on humans because we aren’t covered in fur. When searching for fleas on your pet, you’ll need to spend a little more time looking.

Part your pet’s hair and inspect close to the skin. Look for flea dirt, which looks a lot like coffee grounds. When wet, flea dirt turns the color of blood. Flea dirt is the droppings of fleas. In severe infestations, flea dirt is easy to see. It is more difficult to spot on pets with only one or two fleas.

Look for actual fleas. Part the fur and look for small insects running over the skin and in the fur close to the skin. These insects are small and reddish brown in color. Inspect your entire pet, especially around the base of the tail and the ears.

What to Do if You Find Fleas

If you find flea dirt or fleas you will need to treat both your pet and their environment. The best way to treat for fleas is with a treatment provided by your vet. Unfortunately, fleas have become immune to many of the usual treatments including Advantage and Frontline. Your veterinarian can provide you with the best treatment available today.

It’s important to note that over the counter flea treatments should never be used. In addition to being ineffective at killing fleas, these treatments are dangerous for your pet. Many animals have died from their use.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming services in Orange County California. We can help you determine the best flea treatment for your pet. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information.

Most Common Cat Grooming Questions

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Pet parents often have questions about grooming their cats. While cats don’t need as much grooming as dogs, they do require some basic care. This is especially true for long-haired breeds. Cats require regular brushing, nail trims, ear care, and occasional baths. In addition to keeping your pet happy and healthy, regular grooming helps expose skin issues, which can be uncomfortable for your pet.

As Orange County’s premier cat grooming salon, we meet a lot of new pet owners. The following details the most common cat grooming questions we hear.

When should I start grooming my cat?

It’s important to get your cat accustomed to grooming as early as possible. Hold your cat in your lap and brush them with a soft bristled brush. It’s normal for cats to think you’re trying to play. Continue brushing them, they will understand soon enough that this isn’t playtime.

Make sure you touch your cat’s feet, ears, and tail regularly so they get used to being handled. This will go a long way towards improving their grooming experience.

What do I do if I find mats in my cat’s coat?

Tangles can easily become mats if you do not regularly groom your cat. Mats are painful and can hide skin conditions. It’s important to remove all mats from your cat’s coat.

NEVER attempt to remove mats on your own. Cat skin is extremely thin. Bring your cat to an experienced groomer to have all mats removed.

Do cats really need baths?

Cats groom themselves a lot. This is why most people believe their cat does not need a bath. However, this isn’t always the case. Older and overweight cats might have more difficulty getting themselves clean. If your cat isn’t cleaning itself, oils can gather on the coat, contributing to body odor.

Can I use my shampoo to bathe my cat?

Human shampoos, even baby shampoo, are too harsh for your cat. It’s important to NEVER use human shampoo when bathing your cat. Use a shampoo that’s specially designed for use on cats.

What can I do if my cat struggles during its bath?

Most cats do not enjoy getting wet. It’s important to make bath time as stress-free and enjoyable as possible for your pet. Start slow and offer treats. Use basins filled with water as opposed to running water over your cat.

Contact your local grooming salon if you need help bathing your cat. Claws N Paws Day Spa has years of experience giving cats baths and haircuts. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

Can Placing a Litterbox Outside Convince a Lost Cat to Come Home?

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When your cat is lost, you’ll likely do whatever you can to get them back. Lately, a graphic has been traveling around social media explaining that placing their litter box outside will encourage your lost cat to come home. The image claims that cats can smell their litter box up to one mile away. If this seems too good to be true, you’re probably right. While cats can smell their litter box from quite some distance, it’s more likely that this method will do more harm than good. Read on to learn why.

Attracting Wild Animals

A litter box placed outside is more likely to attract wild animals and neighborhood strays than your lost cat. Animals like coyotes and mountain lions are drawn to the smell of urine. These animals can scare your cat away if it’s hiding somewhere in your yard. They can also cause serious harm to your cat.

You’ll want to keep your cat safe until it comes home. This includes not bringing wild animals into your yard.

Most Cats Stay Close to Home

Research shows that most indoor cats are found close to home. This means that your cat has likely found a hiding space in your either front or back yard. The best way to get your cat back is by using a live animal trap (available at your local shelter or feed store), or waiting until your cat comes home on its own.

When you put out your cat’s litterbox, you run the risk of bringing wild animals into your yard as mentioned above. This puts your cat at risk and increases the chance that they will run from the area. The further away your cat travels, the less likely they are to make it back home.

Final Thoughts

Everyone likes an easy solution and it can be tempting to try everything when looking for a lost cat. However, you need to think about how your actions might affect the situation. It’s never a good idea to place the litter box outside. Consider getting a live trap instead. Your veterinarian, local rescue group, and/or groomer can provide you with more information about locating your lost cat.  

 

Common Dog Grooming Questions

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Your dog relies on you to keep them happy and healthy. Allowing your pet’s coat to become dirty, tangled, and matted not only looks bad, it also makes your dog uncomfortable. Tangles can easily turn into mats, or densely tangled clumps of fur. Matted fur pulls on delicate skin and makes it impossible for you or your pet to see (or scratch) underneath. If left untreated, mats can spread throughout your pet’s entire body. This causes numerous problems for your pet as moisture, bacteria, and fungus often hide under mats. This is why it’s so important to take the time necessary to properly groom your dog.  

Many pet parents have questions when it comes to caring for their pet’s coat. Below are the most common dog grooming questions we hear.

How do I make my dog less anxious about grooming?

Many pets are nervous about visiting the groomer. These pets are usually not accustomed to being touched in sensitive areas like the snout, eyes, ears, paws, tail, and groin. You can ease your dog’s anxieties by working with them at home. Touch their ears and paws regularly. Give them a plenty of praise throughout the process.

How do I prevent shedding?

Some breeds are more prone to shedding than others. You need to brush your dog regularly if you want to reduce the amount of fur around your home. Brush them outside for five minutes every day.

Do I need to brush my long-haired dog?

While brushing your long-haired dog might take some time, it’s important to their health and comfort. Comb or brush your dog at least every other day.

How can I get my dog to enjoy bath time?

If you bathe your dog at home, you’ll want to make their bath is an enjoyable experience. Never chase your dog or force them into the tub. This will only make them anxious. Instead, offer treats and praise while you gently coax them into the tub.

How can I get rid of my dog’s tear stains?

Certain dog breeds are more prone to tear stains than others. These rusty stains stretch from the corner of the eye down each side of the nose. This is more obvious on white or light-colored dogs. Talk to your vet about treatment and prevention of tear stains.

Can I trim my dog’s nails?

It’s not uncommon for dogs to cower in fear from nail clippers. Fortunately, it is possible for your dog to tolerate, or even enjoy, getting their nails trimmed. Make sure you give your dog plenty of praise while trimming their nails. You’ll need to be consistent and trim their nails every two to four weeks. Take your dog to a professional groomer if you’re nervous about trimming their nails.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, CA. For more information about our services or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

Celebrating the New Year With Your Pet

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It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone. If you’re like many Orange County residents, you’ll be celebrating the New Year surrounded by friends and family. If you’ve chosen to enjoy this holiday at home, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Keep Your Pet Safe and Comfortable

As much as you might want to include your pet, they probably won’t appreciate the sights and sounds of the celebration. In fact, it might be a good idea to consider boarding them for the evening. The right boarding facility will keep them safe and reduce the amount of exposure your pet has to the loud noises that are commonly present this time of year.

If you choose to keep your pet at home, make sure that they are comfortable. Playing soft music or leaving the television on can provide a welcome escape from the fireworks and other sounds of the celebration. It’s also important to make sure your pet cannot get outside. When pets become startled, they run. This creates a safety hazard for themselves and others if they run into traffic. If they run too far, they might not find their way home. This is why it’s so important that you make sure your pet cannot get outside.

If you are having guests over to celebrate the New Year, make sure they know not to leave doors open and not to let your pet outside. It might be a better idea to keep your pet in a safe, quiet room instead of allowing them to join your party. This is safer for your pet and they might appreciate it more, especially if they are nervous around new people.

Some pets enjoy being the center of attention. If this sounds like your pet, you might want to let them join the party. Just make sure that your guests know not to feed them any table scraps. Party foods are often loaded with fat and sugar. They might also contain ingredients that are toxic for your pet. The best way to avoid upset stomach and other issues is to make sure they don’t get anything they aren’t supposed to eat.

Claws N Paws Day Spa hopes that you and your loved ones have a Happy New Year!

 

Winter Grooming Tips

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During the winter, our pets need special care. It’s up to us to make sure they look and feel their best. The following are our top winter grooming tips for pets.

Brush More Often

You might have noticed your pet is shedding more now than they did in the fall. This is due to indoor heating. Just like us, our pets tend to spend more times indoors during the winter. Most animals do not enjoy being outside in the cold. Unfortunately, the warm indoor temperatures can cause your pet to begin shedding its winter coat. Without regular brushing, this can make a huge mess. It can also lead to mats as the hair tangles on its way out.

During the winter, make sure you brush your pet daily. If you notice any tangles that you can’t easily remove, it’s time for a trip to the groomer.

Take Care of Your Dog’s Feet

Many people travel out of town during the winter. If you’ll be taking your dog to an area where it snows, you need to take extra care of their feet. Snow, ice, and the salt used on roads and pavements can cause injury to your dog’s feet. After playing or walking outside, rinse your dog’s feet with warm water.

It might be a good idea to have your groomer remove the hair between the pads of your dog’s feet prior to visiting the snow. This will help keep snow and ice from sticking to their fur.

Set Goals

Many of us become overwhelmed with everything we have to do this time of year. Instead of trying to set aside hours of time for grooming your pet, set small goals that are easier to keep. Five minutes a day might be all you need to keep your pet happy and healthy.

 Schedule a Grooming Appointment

Regular grooming helps keep your pet’s coat healthy and clean for longer periods of time than grooming at home. Instead of placing the burden on yourself, schedule a grooming appointment for your pet. At Claws N Paws Day Spa we are well prepared to handle all of the brushing, bathing, and grooming your pet requires this winter. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment today.